Warbird Information Exchange

Tail number N90716. Got me stumped - was it just the blades or different engines too and was this the only one ?

And err... why ??

Here's her history L/N 31 del to AA as DC-6 N90716 F/S Michigan in service with AA 5/47. then name change to F/S Alaska, then F/S Niagra then as OY-AOE, back to AA again as N90716 until 5/62 then TG-ABA then W/O somewhere not specified.
No idea about the four bladed props unless it was an attempt by AA enginering to gain more speed or better economy out of her. The props look to be CURTISS Electrics (sure looks like a C.E. decal on each blade) with a steel blade given the dark, streaky surfaces visable on the backs of the blades.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Seems a good guess; at any rate it reverted back to 3-blades at some point.

note the AA flash still on the cowls.

It gets better. OB-R-765 in the foreground is CONVAIR 990 #2, a 990-30A-5 originally N5602 G (originally to AA as fleet # 602 with AA 1/63 to 12/67) s/n 30-10-2. Shown in markings of APSA AEROLINEAS PERUANES. then as N 990 AB currently (according to info on line) one of two remaining intact 990's on permanent creosote bush catcher duty @ Mojave, CA. How'd you like to be the guy filling that outboard wing tank on a windy, rainy day? If it was converted by AA to 'A' configuration, the shock bodies became extra fuel tankage as the 990 was originally range challenged.

As a teenager I spent a fair amount of time to and from SEA/ANC on ALASKA AIRLINES 880 and 990, my parents lived in ANC and I was in school in SEA.
The 990 was a real scooter and was a dramatic increase in passenger perception over Pacific Northerns 720B's I recall it as being VERY LOUD if sitting in the aft cabin, and riding like the Super Chief, it's just too bad that ASA used an 1890's theme and 'Golden Samovar' service, everyone with previous experience became 'distracted' when the brass pot of hot cat pee was rolled out, it was awful and I suspect they kept the sump samples and dumped them in the samovar.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-