Argentine TB-25-N, "Huaira Bajo" Photos

airnutz · **Posted:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:14 pm

I ran across some photos of "Huaira Bajo" and in looking up info on the
machine, J. Baugher mentions the bird has been moved to a hangar at
Santiago del Estero. The fellow who supplied the forthcoming photos,
Livio Mostrini..added them to the site in Feb. 06. This sort of indicates a
recent move in light of Baugher's info...notwithstanding the language
differences or when JB got this info? Any members here know anything
new?

"Huaira Bajo" as far as I understand it is a Quechua/Spanish term roughly
translating as "low wind" or maybe "bass(as in deep voice) wind", which
would complement the B-25 well...although there may be a different local
meaning.

In the English translation of the text, Senor Mostrini details some of the
local history of "HB" and in a roundabout way..seems to say she was
confiscated after smuggling activities..but again, it may be my misunderstanding
of the translation. Tulio...help???

"Huaira Bajo" is in the Warbird Registry as B-25J convert to TB-25-N, 44-31173
www.warbirdregistry.org/b25registry/b25-4431173.html

Baugher's info...
44-31173 converted to TB-25N by Hayes Co. To Enrique Denwert of Argentina as LV-GXH in 1961. Sold to Empresa Provincal de Aviacion Civil de San Juan in 1971. Operated as *Huaira Bajo*. Preserved in Malpaso, Santiago del Estero airport. There is a report that this plane is now gone, but at last report it was still in a hangar at Santiago del Estero airport.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Photos, "Huaira Bajo"...
www.choiquehobbies.com.ar/revista/notas ... b25are.htm

Edit to fix the link to the Registry. I think this would be a good chance to
get Scot current info and photos of 44-31173 as well as supply Senor Mostrini
with the history data of the B-25 as he requests on his site.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Some of the terms associated with the term "Huaira" indicate a relationship with wind:

Huaira: viento (wind).
Huairazo: viento fuerte (Strong wind).
Huaira-Cuichi: viento del genio del mal (wind of evil).
Huaira-Huañuy: viento de la muerte (wind of death).
Huaira-Mancharinapac: viento de todos los espantos (all ghosts' wind].
Huaira-Miu: viento del infierno [hellish wind].

In consequence, Huaira Bajo should mean a Low level wind, and I have read some kind of implication or connection with altitude sickness (hypoxia).

You are right in your reading the smuggling connection.

The City of Santiago del Estero, is located in an area close to Bolivia and Paraguay, and near the Andes mountains.

In years past [cannot say anything about the present times, because I don't know] smuggling was a growing industry there.

The authorities of the State of Santiago del Estero, thought that they could establish an airline using aircraft seized during smuggling operations.

Soon enough they found out the difficulty of operating such a diverse fleet, plus the costs associated with radial engines, and the airplanes were simply pushed to one side of the runway and left to rot.

I am showing two sets of pictures; the first one shows the C-46, the C-45 and the B-25J, and not visible, there was also a "Huanquero" which was an Argentinean designed and built airplane.

The second set dates to 1998, showing the B-25 already under roof.

There were reports that I found credible, a couple of years ago, stating that the B-25 had been scrapped.

Less than two weeks ago, I made contact with a guy in Argentina, who stated that as early 2006, the B-25 was still there.

Curiously, I just happened to mention this particular B-25 to a couple of guys at the Warhawk museum, last Saturday : )

I tried in the past, to get people interested in rescuing this airplane, but there were no takers.

Just in case, I know the guy who can do it, who has recovered several aircraft from South America.

If anyone is interested, please PM.

Lastly, I have altered the faces of the people in the pictures, because I do not have their permission to show their faces on the web.

ALL PHOTOS: Tulio Soto

Saludos,

Tulio

Coert Munk · **Joined:** Mon Feb 07, 2005 2:09 am **Posts:** 169

There's a discussion on the ID of this Mitchell. According to some sources it's 44-31172, others indicate 31172.
Someone should check the c/n plate...
Kind regards
C

aerovin · **Posted:** Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:37 pm

Ident has indeed been questioned. The information I used in B-25 Mitchell in Civil Service was based on an examination of the airplane by one Marcelo Miranda in July 1964 and reported the USAF s/n of 44-31173 on the airplane. Other reports have shown it as 44-31172.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

For whatever is worth, Marcelo Miranda is a well respected and known aviation historian in Argentina. His data has always been good.

Also keep in mind that the airplanes were used for smuggling, so that the identities could have been either altered or swapped in order to abet their activities.

Saludos,

Tulio

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:23 pm

got the serial number on the c-46??

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Not with me, Tom.

I probably have it in my notes, back home.

Sorry.

Saludos,

Tulio

airnutz · **Posted:** Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:58 pm

Tulio wrote:

Some of the terms associated with the term "Huaira" indicate a relationship with wind:
In consequence, Huaira Bajo should mean a Low level wind, and I have read some kind of implication or connection with altitude sickness (hypoxia).

Thanks Tulio, sorry about the slow response..you gave me some homework
to do. At one time I spoke pretty passable Spanish which served me well
in south Texas and my military days, but I've gotten rusty in the recent
years...I'm a dictionary man these days. As for the Quechua, outside
of an occasional reading of Inca history, I didn't have much contact with it
and was surprised to learn the language pre-dated the Inca Empire. That's
one aspect about old airplanes..they'll take you farther than you intended
to go!

I have also read that Huaira can also be interpreted loosely as "air" as
well as the Incan Goddess of the Wind. I do see your hypoxia point tho.

I'd be curious to know what was the intent of the person or persons christening
her with that name...maybe someone will turn up one day with a personal
knowledge of the bird.

Thanks for the photos..they were an additional treat!

Edit: Did you get my PM in regards to contacting the folks down there?
In light of the serial questions that have come up over time, it'd be handy
to get a present day clarification as well as fresh piccies?

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

No, I did not see your PM.

Other than the city or the Governor in that province, I couldn't suggest anyone to contact.

The airport is located far from Buenos Aires, where many of the aviation aficionados live, and the same would go for Cordoba and Salta, for example.

We could try posting the question at laahs, and see what develops.

For some reason, I think that the name Huaira Bajo was applied much later, after the airplane was no longer flyable, but until I remember why I think so, it is just a baseless assumption on my part.

Saludos,

Tulio

Cessna172RG · **Posted:** Thu May 05, 2011 10:54 pm

Some images of B-25 Huaira Bajo at its current location, was acquired by the Argentine aerobatic pilot Gustavo Passano, he is in the initial stages of the rebuild as he hopes to return the Mitchell to the skies in a five or six years:

For further details on the project, please visit the website (only in Spanish, though) http://www.b25.com.ar
Regards.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11319

Fantastic news! It has been saved. Thanks for the posting of this information.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Excelentes noticias, Alvaro!

I hope you will not mid if I copy your images -with credit to you- for my Huaira Bajo files?

Saludos!

Tulio

Alan Brooks · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2011 1:16 am

Very good news....... Just time and lots and lots of money....
Alan

Cessna172RG · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2011 1:42 am

¡Hola Tulio!

Of course copy the images, and I'm glad to have news about you

Saludos,
Álvaro

airnutz · **Posted:** Fri May 06, 2011 4:29 pm

Wonderful Alvaro! I'm glad she's found new life. Thank you for the great photos!

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Argentine TB-25-N, "Huaira Bajo" Photos

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