Estrella Warbirds Museum restoring an H-19 and H-34

[Warbirdnerd]

The Estrella Warbirds Museum recently acquired two Sikorsky helicopters from the Fox Field Museum which was closing. The H-19 and H-34 helicopters are currently being refurbished at the museum and will be on display to the public in June.

Originally made by the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, the H-19 Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. The H-34 was a piston-engined military helicopter originally designed as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the United States Navy.

Gary Carippo said Estrella Warbirds Museum found out that the Fox Field Museum was going out of business and that they had some equipment that they would make available. “They had the 1951 H-19 and the 1965 H-34 from the Vietnam war years,” he said. “We sent down a recovery team and brought them back to Paso Robles.”

“The helicopters were in pretty good shape and we have started the process to make them look like they were when the Army and the Marines had them,” he said. “Estrella Warbirds Museum member, Tom Gorham, a former army helicopter maintenance man is in charge of refurbishing the two birds and that work is coming along fine…We hope to have both of them ready for display about June 1, 2016.”

Carippo said that while they were down in Palmdale recovering the aircraft, they had the chance to make contact with Will Hearst, who was taking a B-25 from the same Museum. “He said he would help with the expenses involved with the project,” he said. “His uncle was George Hearst, and he flew the H-19 while he was in Korea in 1951…To commemorate his favorite uncle, Will wanted to have a display telling the community about George, so he volunteered his money and interest in the project.”
The Estrella Warbirds Museum is an aviation museum located on more than 13 acres of land at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport. The museum is named after the Estrella Army Air Field, which was built in 1943 and eventually became the city’s municipal airport. The focus of the museum is on restoring and preserving military aircraft, memorabilia, and vehicles.

It also has displays of classic racing cars in its Woodland Auto Display exhibit. In addition to many kinds of military aircrafts, the museum’s collection includes battle tanks, anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns, missiles, and much more. The museum hosts many activities such as its annual Warbirds Wings & Wheels event.

The museum is located at 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles and its hours of operation are Thursday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Found the story here:
http://pasoroblesdailynews.com/warbirds ... ers/52900/

[JohnB]

Great news, I'm thrilled they found a good home, especially the H-19.
Any color scheme picked out yet?

For what it's worth, I'd love to see it in USAF ARS markings.

[JohnB]

Great news, I'm thrilled they found a good home, especially the H-19.
Any color scheme picked out yet?

For what it's worth, I'd love to see it in USAF ARS markings.

[Craig59]

Hoping Sid (sidsiko) will chime in here regarding the H-19. He asked the folks at the museum to crawl into the aft fuselage and take a look at the modification plate and they did. As is the case with many surviving S-55 variants, the guys who rebuilt these things (Orlando Helicopters, Aviation Specialties, etc.) did so with little regard for preserving the original ID. I know Sid found that to be the case with this one but, I didn't save the email.

Sid?

[michaelharadon]

I have a pilot side window in great shape I'd be willing to trade. PM me if interested.

[Iclo]

I like these old helicopters.

Note :An association is restoring a H34 to flight status in France.

[michaelharadon]

Do you have contact info for them, Iclo? Merci!

[C VEICH]

I noted the substantial remains of an H-34 on a flat bed trailer parked out at the Glendale airport (KGEU) here in Arizona. Anybody know what the plans are for it? I will try and remember to snap a picture next time I am in the vicinity.

[SIDSIKO]

After much crawling about, on my behalf, the good folk at the Estrella Warbirds Museum, located a Mod Plate, which gave the serial of the H-19 as a H-19B 53-4441, which entered USAF service in October 1954.

The H-34 is reckoned to be a HSS-1/UH-34J 143937.

Here is a picture of the mysterious H-34 that has turned up at Glendale. Would welcome any news about the plans for it, or if anyone is airside, or can get near to it, I would welcome any details of any serial number on it, if it can be made out.

[SIDSIKO]

Here is a link for you Michael Haradon.

http://www.sikoenvol.fr/you-are-welcome/

[JohnB]

There is an outfit in the Seattle area that is selling non-airworthy H-34s. It is part of the same group that had that (now scrapped) group in Tucson.

As I've mentioned in the past, one out of the Seattle bunch had been sold to an ex-USMC pilot in Sandpoint, Idaho where it's part of a vets group and used in parades.

My point is...There may be more in Seattle...or perhaps they'll have any parts ended by the Estrella museum.

[michaelharadon]

Merci, SIDSIKO!

[mrhenniger]

Here is what I have on the two helos. As indicated by others here these two may have some "mixed" histories...
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... rial=34354
http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDos ... rial=33089

[Iclo]

Merci, SIDSIKO!

Sorry to don't have answered your request sooner: I didn't opened this thread since.

I don't have direct contact with them, but they have also a Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/groups/145162055862536/

If you need more help to contact them (or translation to french) don't hesitate to contact me by PM