Charlie and his S-2s

Mon Apr 18, 2011 5:01 pm

There is an older thread about Charlie White and his yard with a few S-2s, having not payed too much attention to the details about it the first time. I drove 30 minutes north to the St. Augustine Airport to drop some resumes off to get a part time flight instructing job, I noticed a bunch of abandoned airplanes next to a house. I decided to stop by on the way back. When I stopped, I pulled over off the street out side of the fence, got out with my phone walked around and managed to get these photos. When I took a few next to the open gate, a guy in a white pick up waved me in. Turned out to be Charlie. All the S-2s have had their valuable parts removed and he's going to cut up and scrap the rest of them. I asked if I could have one, he said "sure, for $9,000 which is the value of the aluminum!" I'm willing to pitch in to help buy one. I really hate to see them be cut up and turned into beer cans destined to be thrown out of someone's car someday. He want's to get it done next week. I didn't get his number, but I did get a photo of the Realtor sign with a phone number, perhaps they have his number if we can get the cash together. Here are the pics, I also have a video of the Charlie and someone else using a forklift on one the airplanes to remove a tire, they have already started.

Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:28 pm

Unfortunately,I see a whole bunch of beer cans sitting in that field

Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:39 pm

Would it be more realistic at this point to just try to save the nose sections/cockpits from some of them?

Mon Apr 18, 2011 6:57 pm

It is too bad that those airplanes have such an unhappy fate.

Has Charlie contacted Conair in Abbotsford, BC as to whether they'd like to purchase the airframes. Maybe they already have too many airframes, but there's a chance that they might be interested. Conair's airframes aren't in much better shape than Charlie's, it seems, so you never know. It would be great to see some of these airframes get back to work in the air as waterbombers.

Anyways, it's worth a shot.

http://www.conair.ca
info@conair.ca
604.855-1171

Peace,

David M

Tue Apr 19, 2011 4:26 am

I agree with Chris. Saving a whole aircraft is more then most can take. Besides, where are you going to find the parts to complete it?
See what the best condition cockpit section is and cut and safe that cockpit. Check the rest for parts that are missing from yours. That way you might get a nice and fairly complete cockpit section that is easily moveable AND makes a great display.

Restoring cockpits is THE big preservation way for the "poor" man overhere in Europe. It has saved many types fro the scrapheap. You can't store a complete aircraft in your garage/garden, but you can store a cockpit! I have a Fouga cockpit myself. Check these pictures:
http://www.gbairspares.co.uk/cockpitfest/198/

Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:19 pm

Air Museums in Fl have known about these for some time. It was reported that they are so full of corrosion that they may be dangerous to move. Charlie waited years hoping they would become more valuable, all the while sitting out in the salt air. It is now too late to save them. Hopefully someone will save some bits and pieces off of them.
DaveT

Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:25 pm

Does anyone know how I can get in contact with him?

Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:09 pm

I can imagine some warbird magazine article written in the year 2525 illustrating how this group of rare planes survived only to be scrapped due to lack of interest. Craftsmen fabricasting unobtanium parts by hand will look back at the waste and wonder "what were the warbird enthusiuasts thinking?"

I can't recall how many derelict civilian S-2's I've seen over the years, but its a lot! Amazing how some folks have the money to buy planes in bulk like this, but not the foresight to invest in a simple 80' x 80' hangar at some lazy airstrip in rural Arizona to mothball them all in during the 'appreciation' years. Many props to Charlie though, for putting his money on the table and making the effort (no pun intended

).

Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:25 pm

I'd like to save at lest two. Currently trying to get in contact with a wealthy family member. But I asking for such. If anyone on here on wix want to hel pme out send some $$$$ and lots of it. Serious.

Sat Apr 23, 2011 4:27 pm

Nathan wrote:I'd like to save at lest two. Currently trying to get in contact with a wealthy family member. But I asking for such. If anyone on here on wix want to hel pme out send some $$$$ and lots of it. Serious.

I'll donate my recyclable aluminium cans.

Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:51 pm

agent86 wrote:
Nathan wrote:I'd like to save at lest two. Currently trying to get in contact with a wealthy family member. But I asking for such. If anyone on here on wix want to hel pme out send some $$$$ and lots of it. Serious.

I'll donate my recyclable aluminium cans.

How many you got? I need A LOT! :lol:

Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:09 pm

I'd like to help, but I'm not well off financially. paying rent, and buying multi-engine time so I can get a commuter flying job. I can donate money, as i'd like to get a restoration going.

Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:20 am

If you want to save warbirds you're going to have to find another line of work.
Signed,
Captain Chris

Charlie and his S-2s

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