UH-1 Hueys stored in Melbourne, FL

[Ken]

I made a side trip to KMLB last month and noticed a ton of Hueys clustered on the ramp. A quick google search provided these photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38016434@N05/5484068613/

Anyone have the scoop?

Ken

[Cubs]

I counted 47 Huey airframes using Google Earth and 1 Martin B-57.

[Craig59]

My guess would be in storage awaiting rebuild for use as aerial applicators and/or for heavy lift. One applicator told me that once the UH-1 became available on the civil market, it put the S-55 out of business.

[Wildchild]

If i lived in Melbourne, I would go ask. Based on the images taken on google earth, they have been there for awhile...

[Wildchild]

I counted 47 Huey airframes using Google Earth and 1 Martin B-57.

Your right...

Also just found this:

Avro Canberra TT18, Deserted FBO Ramp, Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, FL July 23, 2009 - This Canberra, N77844, is registered to The National Aviation Museum and Foundation of Oklahoma in Tulsa, OK





Although, street view in Google maps shows us a bare, and rather abandoned B-57...

[RareBear]

I believe this was the Canberra recently relocated fro Melbourne to the Space Coast airport in Titusville. There was a post on this board recently about the move, and it being held up by a train.

Walt

[Tulio]

I cannot make the serial on the Canberra.

Back in April 2000, I saw a couple of them, with the basic same color scheme, at the Mesa Airport, AZ.

Saludos,


Tulio

[JDK]

I believe this was the Canberra recently relocated fro Melbourne to the Space Coast airport in Titusville. There was a post on this board recently about the move, and it being held up by a train.

Fits:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=43723

...the basic same color scheme,...

Interestingly, the yellow/black underside stripes as a Target Tug 'warning' scheme go back to at least 1939, where they were overall, but during W.W.II the upper surfaces were camouflaged due to a real (and actual - occasionally) chance of enemy intercept while towing a drogue. Whatever degree of hig- or low- viz upper surfaces occurred, the stripes only rarely returned as overall.

Regards,

[Wildchild]

If you look at the aircraft on google maps, the paint's been removed, and its been dragged to the other side. Still there though. Unless its a different Canberra...

EDIT: The Canberra in the pictures that i posted is defintaly gone, now in Titusville. But, if you look at the street view in google maps, then it shows a bare metal Canberra.

[ZRX61]

Any news on the Hueys?

[Boeing666]

The Hueys have been there at least since March 2011 if not earlier. They looked pretty worn down and most didn't have their rotors. I went and grabbed some pictures of them in March 2011 when I went there to see the Antonov 225 that was parked somewhat nearby, which had me thinking that they came aboard the Antonov. Joe Baugher's site had the ones I was able to grab the numbers off of still located in AMARC, which I sent him an email updating him

HEre are some pics from then

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/799612.html

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/799610.html

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/799604.html

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/799606.html

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/799609.html

My initial thought was that they were maybe going to be dumped into the Atlantic Ocean for use as a man made reef - they certainly don't look like they will be useable for flying anytime soon. I wanted to drive back to MLB, after the Cocoa Beach Airshow practice day but it started raining soon after and I didn't bother driving down there.

also besides the Canberra, a couple years back there used to be a Jet Provost next to the Canberra, which were both located near where the Hueys are now

[jmkendall]

Actually those Hueys don't look all that rough. Towards the end of the Huey era, maintenance funds were used for things other than CARC. We had N2 spur gear issues, 42 degree gearbox issues and Mast issues. The Mast issues were so bad that we took a Mast from a display bird at Ft Campbell. Well to be honest there was more than a little politics involved in that. There was a real issue with the Masts in the fleet. But Mother Army wanted to get rid of the Huey and finish replace them with the "sexier" Blackhawk. They sent inspection teams to check each mast and 80 percent of them flunked. Then Mother Army "re-trained" the inspection team and sent them out to re-inspect the Mast that had passed the first time, and, wonder of wonders, they all failed too. The Governors of the States were in Heaven thinking they were getting new Blackhawks. Till DA told them that there were no funds to replace the Huey's with anything for 15 years.

The Governors all started to complain....and then we invaded Iraq and found we needed the Combat Aviation units of the Guard. So the inspection teams went out and re-re-inspected the Mast. It must have been "devine" intervention because some of the previously condemned Mast were found to be airworthy. We also had funds for Bell to manufacture some new Mast; for a real pretty penny. I was part of the team that Re-Masted the Hueys in the Ohio Guard.

It is normal to remove the Tail Rotors, Rotor Heads, and Main Rotor Blades for transport. The other items that were removed; such as the 90 degree gear boxes and Mast look like they were removed with an eye towards preserving the Aircraft. Notice that everything is covered and taped. Also the push pull tubes that attach to the Swash Plate are still visible and covered with plastic bags and hundred mile an hour tape.

At least one of them in the pictures has a new windshield. These look like normal everyday Hueys to me.....minus the removed equipment (which seems to be universally applied).

[Boeing666]

Apparently, whoever was supposed to get them must have cancelled and now they are just being stored there. My initial thought besides the reef was a Central American country possibly getting some. They have been there at least since March 2011 , which is basically over a year and a half now.

[ZRX61]

The one in this pic has GSA # on the windshield:
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/799609.html

Possible auction lots?

[Wildchild]

The one in this pic has GSA # on the windshield:
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/799609.html

Possible auction lots?

I'll take 5.

4 for parts