Caribou in Amarillo, TX

[Randy Haskin]

Flying into Amarillo, TX, today, I spied a raggedy-looking Caribou over on the northwest side of the airfield.

A Google search says that this airplane was once part of the now-defunct "Texas Aviation Historical Society", which seems to have folded in 2007.

Anyone have words on the history of this airplane, and what it's current status is?

[Brad]

Flying into Amarillo, TX, today, I spied a raggedy-looking Caribou over on the northwest side of the airfield.

A Google search says that this airplane was once part of the now-defunct "Texas Aviation Historical Society", which seems to have folded in 2007.

Anyone have words on the history of this airplane, and what it's current status is?

I'm working on getting a certification letter finished up so we can take it out in a C-17. It's supposed to go to another museum out of state but I can't say which one.

[B29Gunner]

I'm working on getting a certification letter finished up so we can take it out in a C-17. It's supposed to go to another museum out of state but I can't say which one.

Daaamn Brad, that's going to be a BIG job my friend!! I had much commo with those guys (of the former museum) in years past with regards to that Bou, as we were interested in it for a time as a potential flyer but only if we could gain title (it's still owned by the Army...despite what the little placard says on the fuselage!) A couple of other museums had expressed interest in it as well, but each backed out once they realized that a Bou isnt an A/C one can simply unbolt and take apart, and throw on a trailer. My hats off to whoever is getting this bird, but I hope they fully realize what they're getting into with moving it this way! If I can be of any assistance, lemme know!

[64zebra]

I was kind of sad that the museum didn't thrive. There were several planes out there at one time, but it seems there wasn't much advertising for the place. People here were in the dark in regards to what was there and what it was.

[Michel Lemieux]

Anyone has info on all the Carirou`s at Wildwood NAS in Cape May Jersey with Pen Turbo Aviation ?

Last summer I was there with the kids & ther was close to 15 + of them in various stored conditions.

http://www.oldprops.ukhome.net/Caribou%20census.htm

[Michel Lemieux]

Randy ? Brad, sorry to hijack this thread

Found my answer....http://www.penturbo.com/

[Ztex]

Was in Amarillo last weekend...stopped by the airport to see the Caribou.
Found a few other "airplanes" lying around....





School Aircraft


Anyone know the ID of this Cessna?


Sad state for an Airplane....

[N3Njeff]

I wonder if any of my friends worked on that DHC-7. She still wears her continental airlines paint.

[skymstr02]

I wonder if any of my friends worked on that DHC-7. She still wears her continental airlines paint.

Jeff, thats a former Continental Express/Britt airplane. There are some guys from CLE that used to work on them when they were based at IAH. I have some pics of two of them somewhere. They shared the skies with at least one FH-227 and Convair 580 with the Golden Tails.

The former TYS QC Manager (CLE transplant) worked on her.

[george]

That is one desolate place. Not just the planes, but the tarmac, buildings, everything looks like its had it.

[12XU2A3X3]

Anyone has info on all the Carirou`s at Wildwood NAS in Cape May Jersey with Pen Turbo Aviation ?

Last summer I was there with the kids & ther was close to 15 + of them in various stored conditions.

http://www.oldprops.ukhome.net/Caribou%20census.htm

they are all still there. i have been told they are being converted to turboprops for use in the third world. just what i heard.

[Ztex]

That is one desolate place. Not just the planes, but the tarmac, buildings, everything looks like its had it.

Hehe...obviously you've never been to West Texas....
It's nice and green right now..."lot's" of rain this year.

Seriously, this is on the old, mostly unused, part of the airport Where the 727 is parked is the ramp for the former Amarillo AFB.
One of the Air Force hangers...


The new side, ie. where the passenger terminal and V-22 assembly plant is well groomed.

[Second Air Force]

That is one desolate place. Not just the planes, but the tarmac, buildings, everything looks like its had it.

Seriously, this is on the old, mostly unused, part of the airport Where the 727 is parked is the ramp for the former Amarillo AFB.
One of the Air Force hangers...

Those hangars were erected in 1942 when Amarillo Army Air Field was constructed as a Mechanic School Training facility. The main training syllabus centered on the B-17 until '44 when the B-29 became the focus. Amarillo turned out a LOT of mechanics and crew chiefs during the war. Here's a photo of a B-17B in Hangar 740, one of the hangars in Zane's picture:



And yes, that concrete is deteriorating, but remember that most of it was poured in a huge hurry in 1942.

Scott

[Stoney]

The old hangar beings back memories, I sold ice cream from a pedal bike with a cooler mounted in the front to students at the B-47 school there in 1955.

[george]

Thanks for the info on the old airbase, Ztex and Scott. Lots of history in those buildings.

I found an oddity when using google maps to view the area. If you go to street level, just north of the northern-most hanger, there is a T-Chief parked on the tarmac. But the aerial view shows only the bou, parked at the southern end of the airbase remains. Also, the aerial view doesn't show the 727 or any other aircraft that are in your pictures, unless I just wasn't looking in the right places. Could this be the T-Chief that is now in Snyder?