AirSpray L-188 heading north of the border!!

[zorro7]

Lockheed L-188 Reg C-GNPB is finally heading towards its new home with the Airspray folks in Canada!

It made an impressive take-off today from famous Toncontin Airport, Honduras spreading its wings after being 13 years in outside storage. We believe it made a stop at Merida, Mexico. Its last known location was Corpus Christi, Tx.

We'll appreciate photos from spotters in those areas of this magnificent bird!! More to come!!

Good Job Airspray!! Photo via Legion.




Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Last edited by zorro7 on Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[CAPFlyer]

According to FlightAware, it went direct from MHTG to KBRO (Brownsville, TX).

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGNPB

[zorro7]

L-188 Folks:

CapFlyer:

Good Day!

You are correct! Poss staying overnight at Brownsville TX. We 'll try to follow up fm here.

Tks

Last edited by zorro7 on Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

[K225]

Had the opportunity to spend some time at the Airspray Hangar in Red Deer this summer and took these shots of what may be ahead for the L-188.
Couldn't be in better hands

[zorro7]

L-188 Folks/K225:

Tks for the pictures and data of the L-188s posted. Red Deer has indeed the handle on L-188s.

We agree with you 100 %... our X FAH 555 is heading for better horizons at Red Deer. Those A/P folks did something close to miracles to get this bird airborne. We hope to see pictures of X FAH 555 once it lands at Red Deer.

Plz keep us informed... it is poss close to Canada by now!!

[Tanker 336]

Lately I've noticed both Airspray & Buffalo Airways have been stacking their fleet with Electras, so I'm curious if there has been any bidding wars between the two companies on some of these Electras that have been put up for sale around the World lately.

[CAPFlyer]

When I was at Air Tahoma and we went to get our slice of the CV-580's that had migrated East across the Atlantic and were being phased out due to European regulations, there seemed to have been some level of gentleman's agreement reached on the planes and their prices between everyone (probably coordinated by Kelwona Flightcraft) to try and prevent any bidding wars. Similarly, I think there are enough Electras left (just as there were enough CV-580s left) for the need that a similar agreement is probably in place between Air Spray, who's using theirs as air tankers, and Buffalo, who's using theirs as freighters, to not end up having a bidding war on any plane, especially since Air Spray can use a pax-configured L-188 just as easily as a freighter configured on for conversion since the cargo doors and cargo floors aren't a requirement for their new duties.

[Chris Brame]

Nice to see it's on its way up north. Is it still in passenger configuration? Are any pax-configured L-188s preserved in museums?

[zorro7]

L-188 Folks/Chris/Tanker 336:

Good day!!

As of Jan 2011 the XFAH 555 was in its cargo configuration with a few seats stored in the back of the plane. If the rest of the seats were still available, I imagine they were were part of the bid pkg. The bidding details or companies involved were not made public.

You posed a good question about the L-188 on display at Museums, I'm sure they are probably a few candidates.

For the Wix Folks in the Brownsville area plz let us know if you still see the X FAH 555 in the area. We do not doubt that it may be taking care of some maintenance bugs.

Bon Voyage FAH 555!

Last edited by zorro7 on Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:07 am, edited 2 times in total.

[K225]

Buffalo have a hangar beside AirSpray at Red Deer understand there is considerable cooperation both ways.

[zorro7]

L-188 Folks:

Good day!!

Any Wixers at Casper, WI area plz be on the look out for L-188A C-GNPB. ETA 15:35 MST.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGNPB

Last edited by zorro7 on Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Tanker 336]

Zorro7,

I live 100 miles North of Red Deer. If you are able to post another link from “Flightaware” on Sunday with C-GNPB flight plans and if it shows that they plan on arriving in Red Deer then I will drive down and take some pictures.

[zorro7]

L-188 Folks/Tanker 336:

Good day!!

Best news we' ve heard in Dec 2011!!

You've go it my friend! Plz PM me for details. Pictured below is C-GNPB taxiing an Toncontin, airportc. Dec-1-2011. Photo HRR via aviationcr.net. Once again our hats are off for the fine work of the A/P and crew folks of AirSpray!! Bon Voyage

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGNPB

Tks in advance.

[zorro7]

L-188 Folks/Tanker 336:

Good day!!

L-188 C-GNPB has a flight plan from Casper, WY to Calgary, Int Canada. Will depart Casper apprx 10:00 MST with ETA at Calgary INT at 12:47. Some 2:30 hrs Flight time.

Tanker 336 plz PM me if you get a chance for details. We'll appreciate any pictures of this bird at Calgary Int (weather permitting).

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGNPB

Tks in advance

[zorro7]

L-188 Folks:

FYI:

As of 12:30 CST the Fligth Plan of L-188 C-GNPB has been delayed.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/CGNPB