Gainesville Texas Warbirds
Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:07 pm
Hello all,
Long time visitor first time poster here.
Anyway I first want to thank everyone for all the great posts. Many of my questions and curiosities have been answered through this site....especially about W. Soplata.
Reason for this post besides the hello is: I was in Muenster Texas yesterday on business and driving by the Gainesville Municipal Airport right off highway 82 I noticed something of interest. On the North East corner of the runway there is a cache of warbirds. I noticed about 4 DC-3/C-47s (one painted up with invasion stripes), a few Convair 4-0-4 (maybe RM-1s), a couple C-54s and a C-54 Carvair. On LiveLocal if you birds eye view the field you can see a B-25 also (I didnt notice that).
I didnt have my camera unfortunately and they are kinda hard to get a good look at from the road(s)
Anyone have any info????????
Here are a few of them on Google maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.65281 ... &t=h&hl=en
I dont use Windows live local much so I dont know how to post a link.
Long time visitor first time poster here.
Anyway I first want to thank everyone for all the great posts. Many of my questions and curiosities have been answered through this site....especially about W. Soplata.
Reason for this post besides the hello is: I was in Muenster Texas yesterday on business and driving by the Gainesville Municipal Airport right off highway 82 I noticed something of interest. On the North East corner of the runway there is a cache of warbirds. I noticed about 4 DC-3/C-47s (one painted up with invasion stripes), a few Convair 4-0-4 (maybe RM-1s), a couple C-54s and a C-54 Carvair. On LiveLocal if you birds eye view the field you can see a B-25 also (I didnt notice that).
I didnt have my camera unfortunately and they are kinda hard to get a good look at from the road(s)
Anyone have any info????????
Here are a few of them on Google maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.65281 ... &t=h&hl=en
I dont use Windows live local much so I dont know how to post a link.
Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:59 am
They are a group of Part 135 A/C that used to be in Georgetown, Texas. When I was at American Eagle, one of there DC-3's stopped in with some parts for us at the hangar at DFW one day...
Lynn
Lynn
Gainsville Tx
Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:48 am
Lynn,
That was me! I checked my log and i flew supplies into DFW for Eagle.Air Tejas is our family 135 outfit, i flew the DC-3 for a few years while we were here in GTU. My dad moved to Denton, then Gainsville. He has 4 DC-3's up there, not all his, 3 Convair's, 2 are C-131's the other is a 440, His Anson project, and the only Carvair left flying. There is also a Lodestar there that he is finishing.
If anyone is interested in going by there PM me and ill give you Dads cell number, he loves to show people around.
That was me! I checked my log and i flew supplies into DFW for Eagle.Air Tejas is our family 135 outfit, i flew the DC-3 for a few years while we were here in GTU. My dad moved to Denton, then Gainsville. He has 4 DC-3's up there, not all his, 3 Convair's, 2 are C-131's the other is a 440, His Anson project, and the only Carvair left flying. There is also a Lodestar there that he is finishing.
If anyone is interested in going by there PM me and ill give you Dads cell number, he loves to show people around.
Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:05 am
WOW,
Thanks y'all for the info. It was pretty cool to see them all bunched up out there.
Thanks y'all for the info. It was pretty cool to see them all bunched up out there.
Re: Gainsville Tx
Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:19 pm
soko121 wrote:Lynn,
That was me! I checked my log and i flew supplies into DFW for Eagle.Air Tejas is our family 135 outfit, i flew the DC-3 for a few years while we were here in GTU. My dad moved to Denton, then Gainsville. He has 4 DC-3's up there, not all his, 3 Convair's, 2 are C-131's the other is a 440, His Anson project, and the only Carvair left flying. There is also a Lodestar there that he is finishing.
If anyone is interested in going by there PM me and ill give you Dads cell number, he loves to show people around.
That day I think it was a nose or tail cone for one of the ATR's.... I was upstairs working in records, but on the ramp climbing all over the DC-3
Lynn
Re: Gainsville Tx
Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:47 pm
soko121 wrote:If anyone is interested in going by there PM me and ill give you Dads cell number, he loves to show people around.
He doesn't happen to need a low-time private pilot with some 121 flight following experience and a little loadmaster work who is willing to do just about anything to learn to fly the big stuff does he?
Re: Gainsville Tx
Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:44 am
soko121 wrote:Lynn,
That was me! I checked my log and i flew supplies into DFW for Eagle.Air Tejas is our family 135 outfit, i flew the DC-3 for a few years while we were here in GTU. My dad moved to Denton, then Gainsville. He has 4 DC-3's up there, not all his, 3 Convair's, 2 are C-131's the other is a 440, His Anson project, and the only Carvair left flying. There is also a Lodestar there that he is finishing.
If anyone is interested in going by there PM me and ill give you Dads cell number, he loves to show people around.
Any update on the Carvair? Is it flying regularly?
Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:48 am
any pics to go with this...............would love to see the C-47, it may be one of the Business Air airplanes that I played with as a kid.
Gainsvillet Tx
Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:07 am
CAP Flyer, actually yes he could use some help, if you have a commercial multi instrument, youre in!!, of course also gotta love bathing in oil, long hours and little pay, but experience doesnt come any better!
pm me
a26invader the carvair was based at Sherman Dennison, it is N89FA "Fat Annie", it is currently on dad's 125 cert and is "airworthy" less the usual stuff for a big beast that has not flown a trip in 8 months. Dad flew a couple of trips in it last year and it is available for charters, as is one of the DC-3's.
If you guys look up Georgetown Texas on airliners.net, there area a couple of pics or our DC3 and Convair when we were at GTU.
Lynn, you are right on the nose cone for an ATR, and i remember as we taxied in and swung around the ramp became full of people and im sure we emptied every office within sight!. Good times!!, actually on that trip i recorded on of my best times!. As we taxied over the south bridge and switched to east side ground, we came across an american MD80 at our 3 oclock converging. it was hot and we both had the windows open and our arms hanging out the windows. Ground said"Douglas 1AT give way to the american MD 80 and follow him to 13L", I read back the clearance, before we had chance to come to a stop there was " ahh...ground American XYZ, tell you what we will folow the DC-3"... "Roger... Douglas 1AT, The American MD80 will hold for you and follow you, taxi 13L". Now there were 2 of the biggest smiles in the world as we a 60 year old airliner taxied infront of the modern jet iron and got a double wave from the cockpit!. How cool is that!!, we returned the salute and in 2 minutes were gear up and climb power off into the haze with the windows open and a cockpit temperature of 100degrees and soaked in sweat!!. Gotta love it!
pm me
a26invader the carvair was based at Sherman Dennison, it is N89FA "Fat Annie", it is currently on dad's 125 cert and is "airworthy" less the usual stuff for a big beast that has not flown a trip in 8 months. Dad flew a couple of trips in it last year and it is available for charters, as is one of the DC-3's.
If you guys look up Georgetown Texas on airliners.net, there area a couple of pics or our DC3 and Convair when we were at GTU.
Lynn, you are right on the nose cone for an ATR, and i remember as we taxied in and swung around the ramp became full of people and im sure we emptied every office within sight!. Good times!!, actually on that trip i recorded on of my best times!. As we taxied over the south bridge and switched to east side ground, we came across an american MD80 at our 3 oclock converging. it was hot and we both had the windows open and our arms hanging out the windows. Ground said"Douglas 1AT give way to the american MD 80 and follow him to 13L", I read back the clearance, before we had chance to come to a stop there was " ahh...ground American XYZ, tell you what we will folow the DC-3"... "Roger... Douglas 1AT, The American MD80 will hold for you and follow you, taxi 13L". Now there were 2 of the biggest smiles in the world as we a 60 year old airliner taxied infront of the modern jet iron and got a double wave from the cockpit!. How cool is that!!, we returned the salute and in 2 minutes were gear up and climb power off into the haze with the windows open and a cockpit temperature of 100degrees and soaked in sweat!!. Gotta love it!
Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:18 am
Fat Annie! I haven't see her in years!
I might have to take you up on a visit to your dad! I would love to see these airplanes up close.
Cool!
I might have to take you up on a visit to your dad! I would love to see these airplanes up close.
Cool!
Re: Gainsvillet Tx
Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:42 am
soko121 wrote:
a26invader the carvair was based at Sherman Dennison, it is N89FA "Fat Annie", it is currently on dad's 125 cert and is "airworthy" less the usual stuff for a big beast that has not flown a trip in 8 months. Dad flew a couple of trips in it last year and it is available for charters, as is one of the DC-3's.
Thanks for the update. Not long ago there were some rumours around that Fat Annie was going North to Brooks Fuel in Alaska. I guess those rumours were false then.
Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:46 pm
alot of the planes out there are still down due to a bad storm that rolled through in '06. the prowler is the b25 spotted out there as the owner of most of the planes and the owner of the prowler are good friends. most of the planes were pushed together by the storm...... the carvair doesnt look as nice as the photo you have ztex, that good ole tx sun and weather havent been to nice when i saw her in 06. the gentlemen in question is a really nice guy and ive seen most of the planes he has. the anson project is kinda neat to see as well. sorry no pictures i was there a few dayas after the storm to go and check with jim terry on his DC thats there and see the damage overall... alli have are pics of the damaged planes.... the anson was in a hangar and only the door was blown off. i can fidn them and post em if anyone wants to see them. oh it was a small tornado that was blamed for the damage.
Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:54 pm
I need to slip up there one of these days and check it out. I haven't been up there since Vern Peterson ran the airport. Likewise, I wonder if Chris Rice still has his T-29 up at Grayson County....Last time I was around it, he was still gutting it out and working to make it a flying apratment for himself.
Re: Gainsvillet Tx
Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:55 pm
soko121 wrote:As we taxied over the south bridge and switched to east side ground, we came across an american MD80 at our 3 oclock converging. it was hot and we both had the windows open and our arms hanging out the windows. Ground said"Douglas 1AT give way to the american MD 80 and follow him to 13L", I read back the clearance, before we had chance to come to a stop there was " ahh...ground American XYZ, tell you what we will folow the DC-3"... "Roger... Douglas 1AT, The American MD80 will hold for you and follow you, taxi 13L". Now there were 2 of the biggest smiles in the world as we a 60 year old airliner taxied infront of the modern jet iron and got a double wave from the cockpit!. How cool is that!!
That's a blast, ain't it? Reminds me of the time. . .
In Decembers, 2006, we flew Chuckie to the DFW Airport Aviation Career Expo at the American Airlines maintenance facility on the west side of the airport. When we were heading back to FTW at the end of the day, we taxiied out and were told to hold short of 18R for a landing AA MD-80. As the MD-80 touched down, one of the pilots keyed their radio and said, "Wow, a REAL airplane!". That really made our day!
Cheers!
Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:11 pm
Hey, it even happens to Pipers. I did a long cross-country at UND to Rapid City, SD. On the way out I was ahead of the NWA DC-9 flight to Minniapolis. I turned to do a quick run-up as not to hold them back, and when done I looked over at the DC-9 to see the crew waiving and then the FO keyed the mike and said "Go Sioux."
Then, on the trip back from the Ada Air Expo last year, the flight crew on the R4D called DFW Approach to get into Lancaster without having to go around the Class B. We hadn't filed a flightplan, but the Approach controller knew who we were, and when he called out traffic to a SWA flight, he said "ltraffic is a White and Gray R4D" instead of calling us a DC-3. That got a couple of "wow, a real plane?"-type comments as well on the frequency.
I've heard some interesting stories of the first time that the CV-240 in my avatar flew into airports too.
Then, on the trip back from the Ada Air Expo last year, the flight crew on the R4D called DFW Approach to get into Lancaster without having to go around the Class B. We hadn't filed a flightplan, but the Approach controller knew who we were, and when he called out traffic to a SWA flight, he said "ltraffic is a White and Gray R4D" instead of calling us a DC-3. That got a couple of "wow, a real plane?"-type comments as well on the frequency.
I've heard some interesting stories of the first time that the CV-240 in my avatar flew into airports too.