Looks like another boring day at the FHC

[Ploesti]

[cooper9411]

I would not be bored if I was there!

[Pat Carry]

Well I can totally understand. Looking at a B-25, P-40, P-47, a P-51, an FW-190, a Sptifire and a Hurricane sitting out in the sun has to be brutal! Just wondering, does Paul Allen have a Wildcat in restoration someplace? I know he has just a few projects going on here & there.

[The Inspector]

Where's the Mig 29 and the 2 FLAK 88's? Must be repainting the hanger floor.

I figure in a couple years, Boeing buys ATS Hgr.3 (that they are leasing to do Change Incorporation work on early 787's) for the KC-46 completion center and FHC buys Hgr 1 to accommodate the growing collection and Bldg 207 becomes a restoration facility for FHC, and TRAMCO/BADWRENCH/ATS are soon a part of KPAE lore.

[Pat Carry]

Where is the Me 262 being worked on?

[The Inspector]

Allens 262 is on the 'rivet of the month' club in England. The tan alert hanger in the background over the fence (room for two F-102's), with what looks to be Austin and Johns trucks in front, is where the replica 262's are born. The two bays on the extreme left are 'Kahn Air' (don't ask ). the small tin shed is airport maintenance storage. The ugly 3/4 quonset is the new fire house.
HFF (John Sessions' facility) is across the field out the left (West) side of the photo-Boeing is way out the right (North) edge of the picture. Every empty space in between is filled with new 787's awaiting post delivery mods and structural updates in ATS' Hgr 3 behind the photographers position (how did you get on the SNOPAC office roof?) view is mostly WNW.

[Pat Carry]

Allens 262 is on the 'rivet of the month' club in England. The tan alert hanger in the background over the fence (room for two F-102's), with what looks to be Austin and Johns trucks in front, is where the replica 262's are born. The two bays on the extreme left are 'Kahn Air' (don't ask ). the small tin shed is airport maintenance storage. The ugly 3/4 quonset is the new fire house.
HFF (John Sessions' facility) is across the field out the left (West) side of the photo-Boeing is way out the right (North) edge of the picture. Every empty space in between is filled with new 787's awaiting post delivery mods and structural updates in ATS' Hgr 3 behind the photographers position (how did you get on the SNOPAC office roof?) view is mostly WNW.

There is quite alot going on in that neck of the woods!

[Pat Carry]

Hey Ploesti, I am curious as to where you took the photo from. A roof or some type of elevated platform?

[DaveM2]

Allens 262 is on the 'rivet of the month' club in England. The tan alert hanger in the background over the fence (room for two F-102's), with what looks to be Austin and Johns trucks in front, is where the replica 262's are born. The two bays on the extreme left are 'Kahn Air' (don't ask ). the small tin shed is airport maintenance storage. The ugly 3/4 quonset is the new fire house.
HFF (John Sessions' facility) is across the field out the left (West) side of the photo-Boeing is way out the right (North) edge of the picture. Every empty space in between is filled with new 787's awaiting post delivery mods and structural updates in ATS' Hgr 3 behind the photographers position (how did you get on the SNOPAC office roof?) view is mostly WNW.

262 hasn't been in the UK for a couple of years now.

I would assume that, without looking, the photo is from the FHC Facebook page

[Mike]

Probably making room for the Il-2, which has arrived at Tacoma according to the FHC Facebook page.

[Mike]

Hey Ploesti, I am curious as to where you took the photo from. A roof or some type of elevated platform?

I suspect he nicked it from the FHC Facebook page

[Speedy]

The tan alert hanger in the background over the fence (room for two F-102's), with what looks to be Austin and Johns trucks in front, is where the replica 262's are born.

That same hangar (though I think a couple bay's down) has also been the home to at least a trio of racing P-51's (Bardahl Special, Seattle Miss, and Miss America) and Ben Hall's F-86A over the years, if I recall correctly.

[The Inspector]

Pat,
If you read my reply to him, I asked Ploesti how he got on top of SNOPACs roof. SNOPAC is Snohomish County's emergency coordination control center and it's offices front 111th St. which runs past FHC, they are old USAF offices from the days when KPAE was PAINE AFB. (I wouldn't be caught standing on 65 year old U.S. Gummint spec'd construction)

Back in the early 60's/early 70's KPAE had a lot of activity including the home for Miss America, SCRAP IRON IV, Ben Halls F-86A (now back in the U.S.), and lots of WARBUGS too. Then there was a change of command ceremony and the new airport manager ran everyone off, he even resented the annual States Official Air Shows but had to tolerate them. Things were pretty dull until a new, more progressive manager was hired by the County.

You all are more than welcome to come visit, the only conditions are; you MUST swear it poured rain every second you were here and never got above 52f with strong winds, the streets are still unpaved, you saw the Sun for about 15 seconds on your way to the airport and were amazed that all the locals tore off their clothes and headed for the Lake with water skis and coolers (this IS the home ground for 'fish belly white'), everyone dressed like they were heading for 'The Crocodile' for a grunge concert (we ARE partial to plaid shirts an Levis and CARHART jackets). Plan ahead as our annual Rain Fest run from early June through late May. Keep our corner of heaven secret, we are already full of transplanted Californicationers who can't drive in snow or ice.

SPEEDY, that hanger was removed a few years ago by a hay farmer from Eastern Washington who offered to remove it for free, true to his word he and his sons showed up three weekends in a row and unbolted them and loaded them on a trailer and they are now somewhere in the Palouse as a neato loafing shed. Ben and Chuck Lyford (BARDAHL)are still around and could tell some interesting tales about flying in Cental America in the late 60's in F4U's and P-51's.

Don't mess with me, I'm a native here, you can tell who we are, we walk, not run in the rain and never use a umbrella

Last edited by The Inspector on Fri Feb 03, 2012 11:51 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Ploesti]

Your assumption is correct. Not my photo's. From FHC's Facebook page. Should have stated that right off the bat. oops!

Last edited by Ploesti on Sat Feb 04, 2012 2:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[s.g.lacy]

Allens 262 is on the 'rivet of the month' club in England. The tan alert hanger in the background over the fence (room for two F-102's), with what looks to be Austin and Johns trucks in front, is where the replica 262's are born. The two bays on the extreme left are 'Kahn Air' (don't ask ). the small tin shed is airport maintenance storage. The ugly 3/4 quonset is the new fire house.
HFF (John Sessions' facility) is across the field out the left (West) side of the photo-Boeing is way out the right (North) edge of the picture. Every empty space in between is filled with new 787's awaiting post delivery mods and structural updates in ATS' Hgr 3 behind the photographers position (how did you get on the SNOPAC office roof?) view is mostly WNW.

There is quite alot going on in that neck of the woods!

Don"t forget the F-104s that i haven't heard alot about. just out of the picture on the north end of the alert hangers are 2 f-104 wings on a pallet