Vichy, Mo DC-3's

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:22 am

Went on road trip Saturday...Finally made it to Vichy, and was able to get up-close and personal with the Goony Birds there....Three are in pretty sad shape, as you'll see........
First up is N486C....a DC-3-455...c/n 6325 Ex-American Airlines..Ex-C-49K..28Nov 42.....Military until 19 June 45 where sold by RFC...went to Eastern Airlines as NC19193...then to Frontier..to..Southern...to Zantop...to Capitol...ex-N49F..ex-N48UC...to N486C Jan 64

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:30 am

C-47 N19721 Since this one had it's wings removed prior to the tornado, it suffered the least damage...

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:38 am

N47FJ c/n 9053..42-32827 ex-NC63800...ex-N1623..N1823...CF-WCM..N90765...

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:46 am

N51938...c/n 25956 Ex-FAA N25...The worst off of the lot...

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:56 am

All in all, it was a pitiful sight for a warbird/aviation fanatic, but on the other hand, a welcome site to a scrap dealer....The rumor is...$.30 a pound, like I said...that was line-boy rumor...I'll find out sooner though..

In the mean-time, I will see if I can make room for a few more airframes at "Harpoon Acres"...........Heres a photo of my airport bum'n helper, you can tell where my youngest daughter "Otter" gets her good looks!

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 2409

Neat!!!

Great photos, Gary. I saw the airplanes from the tarmac the only time I have been there. Did you get to see the P-51?

Saludos,

Tulio

B29Gunner · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:40 am

Does anyone have a direct POC for Lee Maples? I contacted Baron about 5 months ago with regards to these airframes, we're interested in one if they are indeed going to be scrapped. They were supposed to fwd my message to Mr. Maples but I never heard anything...

GARY HILTON · **Posted:** Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:19 am

Tulio,...The Mustang wasn't out today...I did see it a few months back...I had posted some pics of it and the other birds in the Maples hangar as well

B29Gunner...It seems that a few others have been there to see about buying the aircraft too...The C-47 guy from Oshkosh has been there...and made an offer...who knows??

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 412

NC63800 in better days during her early career in Minnesota. Found this image in an antique store. Hate to see her looking so forlorn

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2009 8:45 am

Has anybody researched the individual military history for these to see if any of them are somthin' extra special?

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:08 am

So what's stopping somebody going out there with a couple hired hands, a rented flatbed, and a rented crane?

RuudLeeuw · **Posted:** Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:55 am

Gary,
I hope you dont mind me using 4 pics of these, as an update to the Jan.2008 report that is also featured on my website (when that storm hit those sad burds).
Have a look at http://www.ruudleeuw.com/guestphotos-18.htm; have linked them to this thread for the full report.
Let me know if you see need for correction or disagreement
thanks for the update, I hope there is some future for them left (anyone with a restaurant in need for a large garden ornament?
Rudi

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Vichy, Mo DC-3's

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