Madras Airport getting crowded

[Larry Kraus]

I suppose that this post could go on a previous update on Jack Erickson's museum,but I'll start a new one anyway.The new hangar built in Madras for the museum will be finished today or tomorrow and the collection will start to move in.At the moment,the Erickson Aero Tanker maintenance hangar is being put to good use.Here are a few pictures that I took this morning>



















Here are some shots out on the ramp yesterday or the day before



























Here's my airplane and our other two DC-7 tankers

[Mark Allen M]

Thanks Larry, that's a fantastic sight. Thanks so much for posting.

M

[JohnB]

Is that Neptune the one from the blimp hangar?

[makin' boost]

This looks great, a summer trip down to Madras is now on the list.

[Larry Kraus]

Yes,they brought the P2V-7/SP-2H over from Tillamook late last year,I think.The entire museum will eventually relocate from Tillamook to Madras.There are a few reasons for the move,one of the major considerations being serious problems with corrosion from the salt air in Tillamook.No such problem in Madras.

I've been a bit like a kid in a candy store for the last couple of weeks with the opportunity to get up close and personal with airplanes that I've been facinated with most of my life.I had the chance to climb around the AD-4W and was somewhat surprised with how compact the cockpit is in this model.I took some pictures while I was in there:













Here are a few shots inside the rear compartment







These two shots look like fugitives from Mark's thread on Canopies





These two show the red rod that comes out of the leading edge of the wing as a warning when the wings are not securely locked in the extended position

[Ken]

Larry, you da man!

[TAdan]

Thanks for the tour Larry. That is a great looking collection. Sad to see them leave the Tillamook hanger, but their concerns make sense, it must be a rough environment for trying to preserve historic aircraft. I hope the Blimp Hanger is able to find new tenants.

[Robbie Stuart]

Thanks Larry, those photos are real interesting.
Robbie

[Silverplate]

Fantastic photos, thanks for sharing. I have never heard of a DC9 tanker. Do they actually use it.

[Larry Kraus]

Tanker 101 is actually an MD-87.Erickson Aero Tanker was founded to develop this airframe as a fire fighting air tanker.The DC-7s came into the company as part of the buy out of the Madras maintenance facility and the air tanker portion of Butler Aircraft.The DC-7 tankers and crews as well as the maintenance equipment and personnel,the hangar at Madras and a few other items were part of the deal.Of course,we (flight and maintence crews) had the option of not following the airplanes.The change from Butler Aircraft to Erickson Aero Tanker described above was finalized in November 2012 and I actually started on the Erickson payroll early last May.

The MD-87s were supposed to be ready to go to work last year,but paperwork issues,among other things has held up approval.The FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for the retardant tank installation was finally approved this month,so the MDs should be able to enter the fire fighting world soon.The retardant capacity on the MD will be 4000 gallons versus 3000 on the DC-7.There are three MD-87s more or less ready they should all be in Madras today.I'll take some pictures of these machines as well as additional pictures of the warbirds the next time that I get to Madras.I live in Redmond and it's about a 65 mile round trip to Madras Airport,so I don't go there every day without a good reason,but I'll probably head back up that way next Tuesday or Wednesday.

[CAPFlyer]

Good to hear from you again Larry. Looks like it's gonna be an active fire season. While sad to see so many fires, maybe it'll get the idiots in DC to start actually fixing the tanker fleet issue and get the MD-87s in the air because San Diego is already hopping and could use a couple more fast birds.

[DH82EH]

Thanks for the great post Larry, really interesting pics.
I always appreciate your input Larry.

Andy Scott

[pjpahs]

What is the nose art on the Harpoon? Can't read it.

[Larry Kraus]

Here are pictures of the nose art on the PV-2.Unfortunately,it's a bit fuzzy for some reason,but the cropped version should be readable.I'll see if I can get a better shot of the art next time that I get to Madras.





Here are a few more shots of that airplane from the other day

[pjpahs]

Thanks Larry for the info on the nose art. The last time I seen the B-17 and FW190 was last year at Warbirds over the Beach and it wasn't soon after they went to Oregon. Making plans for a trip to the west coast and Madras is a must see. I have a nephew , who works for Boeing in Seattle, and Paine field is also a must see. Will plan for both and more.