Warbird Information Exchange

Jeff;
I believe it came from VT and it is a documented Tuskegee Trainer. Last I heard (a few years ago!) it was only on loan to NEAM until NASM had room for it.
Maybe things have changed or maybe NASM forgot about it while building the Hazy Center!

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Thanks Jerry!!!!! THAT IS IT! The airplane was supposed to go to DC, so I guess they do have it! The last time I had seen the airplane, it was in Rutland VT (the fuselage) for the builders Funeral Mitch Spencer.
Mitch was hauling a load of engines for a stearman when a car comming the other way crossed the centerline.

When I was 13, I had met mitch at the company that my uncle worked at. He flew right seat on the DC-3's. The 7pm flight to hartford used to fly right over the house. So I would hear the airplane comming and I would run out to the N3N and turn on the radio and switch to 122.8 and chat with him for a few min. One night, I got to go with them on the overnight. Just after take off, mitch got up and sat back at the navigators table and I got to take the right seat all the way in to hartford. A few years later and my very NEXT DC-3 ride, I got to fly from the left seat!! We were headed to Rutland from PLB for a tail wheel fly in. I did the take off and the landing into rutland. ( let me say, big difference from my super cub and citabria time) but the landing infront of everyone was dam near perfect from what mike said. As I taxied in, I stuck my head out the side window and as I looked down there was Mitch with a big smile!
It would be the last time that I would see him.

I am glad that the airplane is still on display in New England. For a Vermont Farmer and a guy who loved to fly, he would have liked that.

_________________
Long Live the N3N-3 "The Last US Military Bi-Plane" 1940-1959
Badmouthing Stearmans on WIX since 2005

TAdan,
Alright! Great pix of 'Excambian'. Got any more? Looks like a real interesting collection overall.
I think the Grumman 'Goosprey' is a refreshing bit of thinking outside the hagar. Way, way, waaaaaayyyyy....outside. LOL!
Canso42

You should see the "Excambian" in person. It's truly magnificent and the last Civilian, American built, four engine flying boat in existence.
The VS-44's restoration was begun in 1987 and finished in about 1998. I remember the dedication ceremony when Eugene Buckley, then President of Sikorsky Aircraft, state that if he had realized how long the restoration would've taken and how much it eventually cost, he would've made it FLYABLE!
Too bad we all missed out on that one!

I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Maureen O'Hara Blair several times over the course of the project. What a terrific woman and it's really thanks to her and NASM's Bob Mikesh that NEAM became the location to enshrine that aircraft.

As a side note, some of you might not be aware that the tip of the bow on the VS-44 is balsa wood. It gave it some cushioning when being handled around the docks.
Blue skies,
Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

I dont have much more on the VS-44. Frankly it was very difficult to photograph... It was just so darn big

The aircraft was really beautiful though. The interior looked gorgeous too.

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Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/

I remember climbing around in the VS-44A when it was in Stratford during restoration.

And flyable conditon Jerry?! I wonder if it would have ever been allowed to fly! What a sight!

But not to worry. Once I recover the other 2 VS-44A's from there watery grave, and maybe a Boeing 314, and a S-42, ill be ready to start my flyable flying-boat air museum!

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Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Chris;
I love the optimism!
Keep it up!
I want to be at the dedication of that museum!
Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Awesome plan, Warbird Kid. Consider me amember! For some good pix of Excambian in action, check out www.CatalinaGoose.com. One of the photos from that site of it taking off from Avalon Harbor on Catalina Is. is also on a.net.
I have a couple of pix of the XPBS-1 after it was wrecked that I got from another member of PBY@yahoogroups.com. Ugly!
Are you going to stick with four engine boats? Got an Emily spotted for recovery? Or you could but the 'Bird Innovator' PBY or PBYBYBYas a friend at LS called it and put the outboard Lycomings back on.

I'm losing it. We better get back to NEAM. I've got airshow on the brain and need to go to sleep.

Canso42

Haha. All flying boast are welcome!

PBY, Goose, Kingfisher, Duck, HU-16, and anything i cant remember!

_________________
Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis
Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?

Hey Warbird Kid, I think we should go for BOTH 314s on the bottom...you take the Atlantic and I'll grab the Pacific

Mike