Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:23 pm
The planes at Lackland are a sad story (in my opinion). They sit in the weather, improperly painted from time to time, and virtually unseen by the general public. The best thing that has happened was the transfer of the B-24 to Duxford for restoration and display. Although there was an outcry over that aircraft leaving the US, at least it is being properly cared for and enjoyed by large numbers of people. Don't even get me started about the "gun turrets" (if you can call them that) mounted on some of the aircraft. They'd be better off "slick"...
Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:55 pm
APG85 wrote:The best thing that has happened was the transfer of the B-24 to Duxford for restoration and display.
Agreed.
Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:59 pm
GoogleEarth'd Lackland AFB yet? I was just looking and they have added quite a few more aircraft. I don't remember but has that B-29 always been there? I have more picture of the parade field that I'll have to find.
I do recall while I was there for Boot and Tech school that a group came out and appearently bought the Grumman HU-16B Albatross that resided on the Parade field. The story goes that when they openned the aircraft up they found unexpended RATO bottles. Pretty dangerous I imagine in the Hot Texas Sun. At that point I'm sure EOD got involved. Afterwards they towed the old seaplane to Kelly AFB right next door and were given a time limit to get her flying again. I'm pretty sure they made since the HU-16B never returned to the parade field. Anybody know about the Serial of the Grumman and where she is at now?
Shay
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Semper Fortis
I do recall while I was there for Boot and Tech school that a group came out and appearently bought the Grumman HU-16B Albatross that resided on the Parade field. The story goes that when they openned the aircraft up they found unexpended RATO bottles. Pretty dangerous I imagine in the Hot Texas Sun. At that point I'm sure EOD got involved. Afterwards they towed the old seaplane to Kelly AFB right next door and were given a time limit to get her flying again. I'm pretty sure they made since the HU-16B never returned to the parade field. Anybody know about the Serial of the Grumman and where she is at now?
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:23 pm
The B-29 came over from Kelly when they re-aligned it. The Hu-16 in the late 70s' early 80s' went to a couple of CAF types in San Antonio, know they landed it atleast one time on Canyon Lake and didn't get arrested, but sorry I don't know the final disposition of it.
Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:34 pm
Where on Kelly did they keep the B-29? You sure we're talking about the same HU-16? This was in 1994 and last time i heard you couldn't get RATO bottles on the open market.
Shay
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Semper Fortis
Shay
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Semper Fortis
Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:41 pm
The B-29 was right at the main gate when they closed the base (oops I mean re-aligned) in front of the new NCO club they opened just in time to shut it, Nope different Hu-16
Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:05 am
The HU-16 was towed off of the display line on the parade ground. It went to Ascher Ward. He and a couple of guys worked on it for several months and then flew it out to California. And it was in the 90s.
Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:26 am
RickH wrote:The HU-16 was towed off of the display line on the parade ground. It went to Ascher Ward. He and a couple of guys worked on it for several months and then flew it out to California. And it was in the 90s.
That would make it 51-5303 according to Warbirds Directory #4