C-47 departs Richards Field then towed through the town

alfadog

alfadog

Final Approach
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alfadog
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Thought I would share this with y'all. The pilot/owner has a home on the the airpark. Richards Field, 04FA. He is one of the "Richards". I think there are three that own the field. 04FA is where the Luscombe I fly lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQf3s2grQNs

He sold the C-47 to a museum in Portland, TN. They took the wings off at the airport and towed it through town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQm_MS_0T-U

The pilot is a very nice guy and came over to me as I was packing up the Luscombe one day and complimented me on my landings. Needless to say, when I discovered who he was and what his flying history was, I was quite happy with that compliment :yesnod:

As far as that take-off, the original plan was just a taxi test and you can hear that the folks on the ground are a bit surprised by the take-off. He said she was running so nice, he figured he would just go.

As far as the fly-by, no no no, no fly-by there, he says. Just a pass to check for leaks. Said with a big grin. :D Nice guy.
 
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Sad to see it retire. It probably flew out of here at one time. I have a few hours in DC-3's some of my best flying memories.
 
Tim said:
Sad to see it retire. It probably flew out of here at one time. I have a few hours in DC-3's some of my best flying memories.
Click to expand...

Yes, sad. She sounded so nice once those engines were running! I was not there for this. I had seen her at 04FA when I first met the fellow with the Luscombe but by the time we had it all set up for me to start flying, she was gone.

Running the N-number brings up some background:

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N9382.html

"On paper this was C-47A 42-92521, but was built as R4D-5 BuNo 17135 and delivered to USN on 1/21/44. Transferred to USMC 8/4/44 and operated in the Pacific Theater. Operated in Pacific as late as 1947, in San Diego in April 1948, then to Columbus, OH two months later. In 1962 redesignated as C-47H and named “Lemoore.” On 8/16/71 became N9382 and went to Naval Arctic Research Laboratory at Point Barrow, AK, still in Navy livery. Offered for sale in 1977, being purchased by a cargo operator in Anchorage in 1981. By 1988 it was operating out of Michigan."

The pilot, Dick, still has a Mooney and a Yugoslavian taildragger that escapes me right now.

edit: Here is an article. If it is not going to be flying, at least it looks like it found a nice home.

http://www.portlandleader.net/articles/2011/09/25/news/doc4e7bc28783c13658403205.txt

further edit: He still has the UTVA:

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N404RC.html

Which I see is for sale:

http://www.aircraftdealer.com/aircr...1973_UTVA_66_(V-51)___Sale_or_Trade/20916.htm

238225.jpg
 
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