Guess what airport I was at

[Michel C-GNCJ]

Sad indeed.

Meanwhile, some kids are dreaming of flying, refurbishing or whatever else aircraft related and they can't.

There should be a criminal offence created just for letting good aircraft decrepit. Like, condemned to give rides to Young Eagles at least twice a month, or something...

[Nathan]

Wow thats sad.

Agreed...go and ask to buy one and the answer is probably no.

P.S. I want the yak and Piper Tripacer!

[Ztex]

Yep...happens all the time.
Sad stuff...

Here's a little strip near Ft. Worth...9F9













And Worst of all....THis airplane has been sitting here since at least 20 years....the fellow that used to own it started the engines every Sunday afternoon...it has since sold to some one from Florida....



[/img]

[Dasher]

This may be a good time to tell you guys about a great organization called Build-a-Plane (buildaplane.org)

I did an article about them last year - great group - and they do some terrific things. I bet they would love to get their hands on some of those airplanes.

Quoting from website

Build A Plane began operations in 2003 as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting aviation and aerospace careers by giving young people the opportunity to build real airplanes.

Aircraft construction and restoration projects provide an exciting opportunity to motivate kids to learn virtually any facet of science, technology, engineering and mathematics when applied to this program.

Now in a formal partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, Build A Plane has dozens of projects operating in the United States and several overseas. Our goal is to establish 100 Build A Plane projects by the end of 2008 and 300 by the end of this decade.

Build A Plane’s remarkable success can be attributed to the following:

* Schools across America are in search of new and unique ways to present core learning skills, like those offered by Build A Plane projects.

* Kids are excited by airplanes, and aviation offers them a real-world reason to use science, technology, engineering and math.

* There are thousands of unairworthy aircraft and incomplete kit planes that are prime candidates for a Build A Plane project, usually available at little or no cost.

*Aircraft donors receive tax benefits through the program’s 501(c)(3) status

* There are thousands of adults who have expert knowledge about aircraft construction and refurbishment who are willing to donate their time.

* Most importantly, there are thousands of kids who would love the opportunity to be exposed to aviation as a vocation or avocation via a Build A Plane project.

/philanthropy

[tinbender2]

IME, just another light GA airport in the U.S.A.

Even before the cost of avgas skyrocketed, no one in my area was flying their single engine pistons. They just sat and rotted.

Within an hour's drive, I could probably find a hundred similar aircraft. I think they are avoiding a huge maint bill by not flying/not inspecting the aircraft.

They are being sold, however. I know a guy who buys these wrecks, has a crew slap on new paint (Wallmart spraypaint), makes some horrrendous repairs to the obvious defects, and doubles his money selling them to newbie owners.

When the newbie owners bring them to a reputable shop for an inspection, they get a $15,000+ bill for an aircraft they paid $45,000 for. In a few cases, some have scrapped their aircraft and sold it for parts, instead of paying for the repairs needed, others just look for another sucker to sell it to.

About 2 years ago, I saw a Piper with an obvious and massively corroded wing spar. The local shops refused to touch it. The owner sold it on Ebay for a pretty good price, without disclosing the spar, and the ferry pilot didn't notice it either. I'm sure the new owner was furious. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.


Tulio,
I spoke with that Luscombe's owner recently. He stills considers it a treasure. I'll bet the only things still salvageable are some of the aluminum pieces.

[Tulio]

Tulio,
I spoke with that Luscombe's owner recently. He stills considers it a treasure. I'll bet the only things still salvageable are some of the aluminum pieces.

Thanks for the news.

I kept my eye on it for a while, and even managed to trace the owner (not a commong last name in 'Burque) but my letter went unanswered.

And then, there used to be a lot of derelict airplanes at an airport just East of Raleigh, NC (near Zebulon, I believe it was . . .)

And this baby, somewhere in New York:





Saludos,


Tulio

[Fouga23]

What's this? I love the looks of it

[tinbender2]

What's this? I love the looks of it

Me too.


With a little restoration work, that fuel truck could be looking pretty spiffy...














Oh, wait, were you talking about that pile of aluminum trash in front of it?

[bdk]

What's this? I love the looks of it

Why that's a Douglas DC-9-31!

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry ... bertxt=89S

Actually, looks like a Piper Apache to me.

[Ztex]

Yep and it's a nice DC-9 at that!

[Lynn Allen]

Ah, Clearlake Airport???

Lynn