Chandler, Az April 1999

[alhenderson]

Been scanning some slides from a trip to the SW USA way back in 1999. Having scanned several boxes of AMARC overflights I was starting to get a little jaded (AMARC overflights are great, but the pictures do get to be a bit samey after a while!). Happily I then stumbled across a few pictures from Chandler Memorial, Arizona, home to what was then T&G Aviation. I think we called in on the way from D-M to Nellis.. From the pictures, there seemed to be quite a few hercs around!

Looking for all the world like a spares source was N118TG (ex 57-0512). She actually flew again after this and was still intact in Coolidge, Az in 2017 - not bad for a 60 year old airframe!

N118TG by Alistair Henderson, on Flickr

N116TG was in Securite Civile markings, so presumably spent some time in France at some point..

N116TG by Alistair Henderson, on Flickr

N138FF was in a more traditional fire fighting scheme:

N138FF by Alistair Henderson, on Flickr

Whereas N132FF looks like it had the reg painted on with a roller!

N132FF by Alistair Henderson, on Flickr

Ex Aussie C-130A N130PS, thought it was an EC-130Q at first due to the scheme - we saw a few of them lying around in various desert locations.

N130PS by Alistair Henderson, on Flickr

N117TG wearing "Inernational Air Response" titles and named "Iron Butterfly":

Iron Butterfly by Alistair Henderson, on Flickr

And finally, same number of engines, but definitely not a herc! DHC.7 N701AC in the markings of 'Farwest', whoever they were..

N701AC by Alistair Henderson, on Flickr

Hope they're of interest. Always fascinating to see what can be found in far flung corners of the US!

Al.

[Punkrunner62]

Great stuff Alistair, always liked the stored frames in the U.S.A, any more to show us?.
Cheers.

[JAWS]

Awesome stuff Al , always love seeing old planes in the desert . According to Flightaware , N118TG is a regular flyer last noted out of Ellington Field in Houston , TX last Friday 11th . I second Punkrunner62 , got any more ?

[eLaReF]

My visit was '93
Not a lot of those modern turbine-powered things around then!
But lots of round-engined items from Douglas!

[alhenderson]

My visit was '93
Not a lot of those modern turbine-powered things around then!
But lots of round-engined items from Douglas!

Speaking of which, need to see if I can work out such DC-6 is in the background of one of mine. Has "African Queen" scrawled on the nose.. feels like ought to be easy to identify.

[alhenderson]

Awesome stuff Al , always love seeing old planes in the desert . According to Flightaware , N118TG is a regular flyer last noted out of Ellington Field in Houston , TX last Friday 11th . I second Punkrunner62 , got any more ?

Wow, I'd seen a report of her in one piece somewhere, but hadn't realised she was still flying! They just keep on going, these hercs!

I've got a few from some base visits in 99, but no others quite like these, sadly. Still a couple of boxes to scan, and I did spy some Skywarriors and phantoms at Point Mugu

Al

[JAWS]

My visit was '93
Not a lot of those modern turbine-powered things around then!
But lots of round-engined items from Douglas!

Speaking of which, need to see if I can work out such DC-6 is in the background of one of mine. Has "African Queen" scrawled on the nose.. feels like ought to be easy to identify.

This DC-7 ?

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/209362

[alhenderson]

My visit was '93
Not a lot of those modern turbine-powered things around then!
But lots of round-engined items from Douglas!

Speaking of which, need to see if I can work out such DC-6 is in the background of one of mine. Has "African Queen" scrawled on the nose.. feels like ought to be easy to identify.

This DC-7 ?

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/209362

Aha! Perfect! Douglas propliner identification not what it could be

[eLaReF]

My visit was '93
Not a lot of those modern turbine-powered things around then!
But lots of round-engined items from Douglas!

Speaking of which, need to see if I can work out such DC-6 is in the background of one of mine. Has "African Queen" scrawled on the nose.. feels like ought to be easy to identify.

It's been answered - From my album

N90804 Douglas DC-7 c/n 45116 by eLaReF, on Flickr

As it says on the Flickr page, it's ex BOAC!!!

Link to the full album https://www.flickr.com/photos/elaref/al ... 2200707465

[paddyboy]

Hi Alistair

Never seen so many care-worn Herks

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[alhenderson]

My visit was '93
Not a lot of those modern turbine-powered things around then!
But lots of round-engined items from Douglas!

Speaking of which, need to see if I can work out such DC-6 is in the background of one of mine. Has "African Queen" scrawled on the nose.. feels like ought to be easy to identify.

It's been answered - From my album

N90804 Douglas DC-7 c/n 45116 by eLaReF, on Flickr

As it says on the Flickr page, it's ex BOAC!!!

Link to the full album https://www.flickr.com/photos/elaref/al ... 2200707465

There's a lot in that album! Wonder if I was ignoring the "older stuff" (as I had a habit of doing back then!) or if the place had been tidied up by then. Must check my logs...

Al.

[warferry]

Hi, I was at Chandler in 1992 Hard to find then but worth it. Runway is the dirt on which I was standing to take first shot!
Chandler by warferry, on Flickr
The African Queen was listed as a ex BOAC machine, but keep forgetting my age and assume everybody would have heard of her story.
Briefly she and her sister ship were shot at in 1988 by Air to Air missiles while Locus spraying she survived but her sister ship did not.Big story at the time.Terry
.

[alhenderson]

Hi, I was at Chandler in 1992 Hard to find then but worth it. Runway is the dirt on which I was standing to take first shot!
Chandler by warferry, on Flickr
The African Queen was listed as a ex BOAC machine, but keep forgetting my age and assume everybody would have heard of her story.
Briefly she and her sister ship were shot at in 1988 by Air to Air missiles while Locus spraying she survived but her sister ship did not.Big story at the time.Terry
.

Thanks Terry, I had read she was in Africa bug spraying, but had not heard about her being shot at! Bet that wasn't in the contract

Al.

[sschofield]

Hi, I was at Chandler in 1992 Hard to find then but worth it. Runway is the dirt on which I was standing to take first shot!

We were there in October 1996, as you say, we had to find it first! We could see the aircraft from the Interstate but the entrance was not exactly well marked! We eventually figured it out and drove onto the airfield (down the gravel runway!), arrived at the office and were told we could photograph what we liked but to keep clear of undercarriage bays because that's where the Rattlesnakes made their nests and sometimes they fell out!

[warferry]

Hi Stuart I to was told not to go to one of the DC6 as it had a Eagle Owl nest in the engine cowl .
This spotting could be dangerous at times ! Terry