Montana EC-121T in Danger of Being Scrapped

Shay · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 8:52 am

To provide some perspective:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWPyH97eOoI

Definately a warbird worthy of saving.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Shay · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:03 am

To piggie-back onto what Gary was saying, here is an eyewitness account:

Quote:

I attended the Helena Vo-Tech A&P school from Sept. 1984 until Feb. 1986, and was privileged to get to train on the Warning Star which still resides there. When I was in high school, in the early eighties, one day my dad came home from work, and being an airplane nut himself, said in disbelief, "I just saw a Super Connie land out at the airport." Never would I have guessed, just a few short years later, I would be turning wrenches on it. One project in particular I recall, there was one cowl flap that the motor had not worked in awhile on, so myself and a partner went to work with schematics and an ohm meter, got it troubleshot, and when it was fixed, we were "paid" for our work by the instructor, who allowed us to get into the plane and fire all four engines up at once. Out of sync, it was louder and more beautiful than 10,000 Harleys at Sturgis running at once. Now, unfortunately, the plane has an engine with hydraulic lock on one engine, which caused severe internal damage. Needless to say, all these years later, the plane hasn't run in along time.

Nate Wilburn
3200B 9th AVE. N
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA 59401

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

APG85 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:09 am

This plane is a beauty. I hope it is saved...

Nathan · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:41 pm

I'd risk it and fly it I'd say. Can you fly a Ec-121 on three engines? :shock:

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:35 pm

Nathan wrote:

I'd risk it and fly it I'd say. Can you fly a Ec-121 on three engines? :shock:

Yip. So who's gonna convince the FAA

I volunteer as flightcrew guinea pig

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:42 pm

Ok, I'm in.

engguy · **Joined:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 442

Yes, almost as cool as Greenameyers 29 expedition, though lots closer.
So what is the scrap price now? I wouldn't think they are giving it away.

Is it easy to check for critical airframe corrosion? And how difficult is the fix? Engines not run in a long time? So what the heck do they do at that school play cards? Hydraulic lock? Instructor? I guess a typical AP school huh?

Yeah this would be a fun deal to help out on. Those cylinders are probably pretty rusty, or did they have enough sense to oil em?

Shay · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2008 1:47 pm

Nathan wrote:

I'd risk it and fly it I'd say. Can you fly a Ec-121 on three engines? :shock:

Seemed within the theme of things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGZ83z38tDI&NR=1

Definately would make headlines and would be on par with FiFi and Keebird.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

engguy · **Joined:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 442

So how much are they asking for it? And how much time before it needs to be outa there? Can it be moved some place else on the field to work on it?

Nathan · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2008 7:57 pm

I want to be a crew member to. With 3 engines running or not!

planeoldsteve · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:02 pm

Who owns It?

The A&P school I went to had some old Military Aircraft that still ran. The problem is that the Government still owned them and the School could not Fly or sell them, If they didn't want them they had to give them back or to another facility, or scrap them!

Steve

retroaviation · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:02 pm

Okay, first if all, it's not "for sale." Unfortunately, its just not that easy. Second, there's nobody in their right mind that would even think about flying it out on less than four engines. And it only has two engines that MAY be runnable...maybe. I'm going to schedule a trip up to look at it and try to sort out some other issues besides the engines, but it may be a couple of weeks before I can do it. If anyone else thinks they can save it, please don't hold back on my behalf. This ain't about me, it's about the airplane, so engguy, if you think you want/need it, please take over from here.

I'm going to keep trying to do what I can, or help anyone else who can. I'll keep you posted.

Gary

retroaviation · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:08 pm

It is owned by the State of Montana.

engguy · **Joined:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 442

I could never do it by myself. If not forsale it could be time and money down the drain. I forget what the one plane is that the government wanted back from CAF.
I was just toying with an idea. Will elaborate at some other time.

Engines? thats still the easy part. There are still alot of those around. How airworthy ? Don't know.

So does it have to be removed quick or is there time? And what about the ownership deal? Yeah that would make a nice show like B29 frozen in time. Maybe that is how to get some $ to fund the project.

Shay · **Posted:** Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:14 pm

engguy wrote:

Yeah that would make a nice show like B29 frozen in time. Maybe that is how to get some $ to fund the project.

Call Mega Movers

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

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Montana EC-121T in Danger of Being Scrapped

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