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L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
Moderators: lilfssister, North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, I WAS Birddog
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
Glenn:
Good day!
Understood! Thank you for your time, fine efforts & attention.
Plz pass on to the AirSpray crew, A&P & the logistics folks that they did an extraordinary job bringing that bird to Canada. We'll follow-up his saga in Canada when it gets a bit warmer!! Lots of L-188 folks feel glad that she made it from so far away!!
Keep warm & take care!!
Good day!
Understood! Thank you for your time, fine efforts & attention.
Plz pass on to the AirSpray crew, A&P & the logistics folks that they did an extraordinary job bringing that bird to Canada. We'll follow-up his saga in Canada when it gets a bit warmer!! Lots of L-188 folks feel glad that she made it from so far away!!
Keep warm & take care!!
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
The local newspaper in Red Deer had a article about this aircraft. Here is a copy of the text from the Red Deer Advocate:
Idle aircraft roars back to life
If FAH-555 could talk, it would have plenty of stories to tell — and probably a colourful comment or two about Central Alberta’s weather.
A month ago, the L-188 Electra airplane was parked in the Honduran sun. Now it’s sitting in the frigid temperatures at the Red Deer Airport.
A crew from Air Spray Aviation Services flew the aircraft north after the forest fire suppression company bought it from the government of Honduras. Its journey began Dec. 15 and concluded last Thursday, with stopovers in Brownsville, Tex.; Casper, Wyo.; and Lethbridge in between.
“It was actually in pretty good condition,” said Paul Lane, Air Spray’s vice-president and chief financial officer.
FAH-555 began its operating life in 1959, as a passenger plane in the American Airlines’ fleet. It was sold to the Honduras air force two decades later, where it likely was used to transport equipment and people, said Lane.
Prior to Air Spray buying it, the aircraft is believed to have sat idle for more than a dozen years. Regulatory exemptions had to be obtained for time-expired parts and a thorough review conducted, said Lane.
“You literally have to jack up the aircraft and make sure the hydraulics on the landing gear work properly.”
Air Spray, which is based in Edmonton but maintains its operating facilities at the Red Deer Airport, sent a maintenance crew to Central America in early October. It also hired a number of Honduran technicians.
Getting parts to Honduras and through customs were among the challenges, but by mid-December the Electra was ready to go. Propeller problems stalled its journey in Casper, where it remained over Christmas.
The problems and delays were worth it, said Lane, explaining that the L-188 Electra is a sought-after plane for water-bombing duties. Air Spray now has 14, including three that it purchased in Detroit last year.
“It’s really a very powerful aircraft,” said Lane, noting that the Electra’s acceleration and manoeuvrability make it ideal for negotiating the mountainous terrain where forest fires are often fought.
“It was the last of the major turbo-props.”
The company, which has fire-fighting contracts in Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon, will have eight Electra’s available for the 2012 season. Two more could be quickly converted for service, said Lane, with the remainder to serve as spares and/or a source of parts.
Honduras isn’t the farthest that Air Spray has gone to grab an airplane for its operations.
“We’ve picked them up from Indonesia, we’ve picked them up from South America, we even picked one up from South Africa,” said Lane.
Converting a plane into a water bomber entails stripping away much of its weight and adding complex equipment and systems.
“It’s quite a considerable process,” said Lane. “It does take between six and eight months to convert a tanker.”
Air Spray does the work itself, including fabricating the water tanks. It previously sourced this component from a California company, but a few months ago bought the technology and process, which it may relocate to the Red Deer Airport.
hrichards@reddeeradvocate.com
Idle aircraft roars back to life
If FAH-555 could talk, it would have plenty of stories to tell — and probably a colourful comment or two about Central Alberta’s weather.
A month ago, the L-188 Electra airplane was parked in the Honduran sun. Now it’s sitting in the frigid temperatures at the Red Deer Airport.
A crew from Air Spray Aviation Services flew the aircraft north after the forest fire suppression company bought it from the government of Honduras. Its journey began Dec. 15 and concluded last Thursday, with stopovers in Brownsville, Tex.; Casper, Wyo.; and Lethbridge in between.
“It was actually in pretty good condition,” said Paul Lane, Air Spray’s vice-president and chief financial officer.
FAH-555 began its operating life in 1959, as a passenger plane in the American Airlines’ fleet. It was sold to the Honduras air force two decades later, where it likely was used to transport equipment and people, said Lane.
Prior to Air Spray buying it, the aircraft is believed to have sat idle for more than a dozen years. Regulatory exemptions had to be obtained for time-expired parts and a thorough review conducted, said Lane.
“You literally have to jack up the aircraft and make sure the hydraulics on the landing gear work properly.”
Air Spray, which is based in Edmonton but maintains its operating facilities at the Red Deer Airport, sent a maintenance crew to Central America in early October. It also hired a number of Honduran technicians.
Getting parts to Honduras and through customs were among the challenges, but by mid-December the Electra was ready to go. Propeller problems stalled its journey in Casper, where it remained over Christmas.
The problems and delays were worth it, said Lane, explaining that the L-188 Electra is a sought-after plane for water-bombing duties. Air Spray now has 14, including three that it purchased in Detroit last year.
“It’s really a very powerful aircraft,” said Lane, noting that the Electra’s acceleration and manoeuvrability make it ideal for negotiating the mountainous terrain where forest fires are often fought.
“It was the last of the major turbo-props.”
The company, which has fire-fighting contracts in Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon, will have eight Electra’s available for the 2012 season. Two more could be quickly converted for service, said Lane, with the remainder to serve as spares and/or a source of parts.
Honduras isn’t the farthest that Air Spray has gone to grab an airplane for its operations.
“We’ve picked them up from Indonesia, we’ve picked them up from South America, we even picked one up from South Africa,” said Lane.
Converting a plane into a water bomber entails stripping away much of its weight and adding complex equipment and systems.
“It’s quite a considerable process,” said Lane. “It does take between six and eight months to convert a tanker.”
Air Spray does the work itself, including fabricating the water tanks. It previously sourced this component from a California company, but a few months ago bought the technology and process, which it may relocate to the Red Deer Airport.
hrichards@reddeeradvocate.com
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
rdman/L-188 Folks:
Good day!
Tks for the fine newspaper article about FAH 555!
Lots of L-188s folks S. of the border would like to hear more about L-188 FAH 555 & now C-GNPB. Believe it or not no-one S. 0f the border knows where the register FAH 555 comes from! You bet all the bugs & creatures that were in that plane are in a better world now!
I know the Air Spray folks are busy but maybe they can post pictures of the Indonesian L-188, the S. African and the S. American L-188s and tell us more stories of their ferry flights & the condition that they were found. The indeed know how to handle L-188s!! Hats off to the crews & the A&P folks. Bon Voyage FAH 555!!
Good day!
Tks for the fine newspaper article about FAH 555!
Lots of L-188s folks S. of the border would like to hear more about L-188 FAH 555 & now C-GNPB. Believe it or not no-one S. 0f the border knows where the register FAH 555 comes from! You bet all the bugs & creatures that were in that plane are in a better world now!
I know the Air Spray folks are busy but maybe they can post pictures of the Indonesian L-188, the S. African and the S. American L-188s and tell us more stories of their ferry flights & the condition that they were found. The indeed know how to handle L-188s!! Hats off to the crews & the A&P folks. Bon Voyage FAH 555!!
Last edited by zorro7 on Sun Jan 22, 2012 5:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
L-188 Folks:
Good day!
L-188A now C-GNPB while in American Airlines scheme.Nicknamed "Flagship Dallas". Place Ukn c. 1960s. Photo via AEC
p.s Thanks to all the Canadian spotters & aviation enthusiasts for all the fine pictures of this flying machine. C-GNPB is inside a hangar now..warming up & getting ready for acceptance inspections.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Good day!
L-188A now C-GNPB while in American Airlines scheme.Nicknamed "Flagship Dallas". Place Ukn c. 1960s. Photo via AEC
p.s Thanks to all the Canadian spotters & aviation enthusiasts for all the fine pictures of this flying machine. C-GNPB is inside a hangar now..warming up & getting ready for acceptance inspections.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
Sorry guys for the thread hijack....
I'm an avid modeller and I also draw my own decals. What I'm looking for are some detailed pictures of the Electra logo in the cursive script so that I can make a decal of it. Can any Buffalo or Air Spray guys help me out?
Thanks.
I'm an avid modeller and I also draw my own decals. What I'm looking for are some detailed pictures of the Electra logo in the cursive script so that I can make a decal of it. Can any Buffalo or Air Spray guys help me out?
Thanks.
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
L-188 Folks:
Does anyone has any pictures of c. 1994-1995 of a previous SAHSA L-188 at Reed Deer that now flies with AirSpray as #487? Where do the AirSpray L-188s get their paint jobs?? I'm looking for poss rare pictures of plain metal scheme of any L-188s before being painted by Air Spray.
Tks in advance for the help.
Does anyone has any pictures of c. 1994-1995 of a previous SAHSA L-188 at Reed Deer that now flies with AirSpray as #487? Where do the AirSpray L-188s get their paint jobs?? I'm looking for poss rare pictures of plain metal scheme of any L-188s before being painted by Air Spray.
Tks in advance for the help.
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Beefitarian
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Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
Like these? http://mfpilot.com/index.php?main_page= ... cts_id=781flieger wrote:Sorry guys for the thread hijack....
I'm an avid modeller and I also draw my own decals. What I'm looking for are some detailed pictures of the Electra logo in the cursive script so that I can make a decal of it. Can any Buffalo or Air Spray guys help me out?
Thanks.
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
Air Spray has been painting them in Red Deer. Don't think I have a pic of 487 from '95 but just for your info it was repainted in 2010.
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
120@8':
Tks for the info/data. Any idea why AirSpray went fm the 2 digit code i.e "87" to 487 series??
Tks for the info/data. Any idea why AirSpray went fm the 2 digit code i.e "87" to 487 series??
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
I think they always were 3 digit tanker numbers officially but just always used the last 2 numbers. Now there are more tankers flying around so to avoid mix-ups everyone was to use their 3 digit tanker number. The first number is suppose to signify the tanker type/size (L-188/CV-580/DC6 - 4XX, AT802 - 6XX, CL21 - 2XX).
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
Beef,
Yup that's kind of I was looking for. Just more accurate stuff is what I'm seeking. Ironically I have that kit as well as many other Minicraft Electras (PSA, AA, Eastern). I know accuracy and the Minicraft Electra are terms that aren't used together however....
The art I would like to draw is Buffalo, Air Spray and delivery scheme PSA (c1959). All of this would be home produced on an ALPS printer for personal use.
Thanks for every little bit of help guys!!!
Alex
Yup that's kind of I was looking for. Just more accurate stuff is what I'm seeking. Ironically I have that kit as well as many other Minicraft Electras (PSA, AA, Eastern). I know accuracy and the Minicraft Electra are terms that aren't used together however....
The art I would like to draw is Buffalo, Air Spray and delivery scheme PSA (c1959). All of this would be home produced on an ALPS printer for personal use.
Thanks for every little bit of help guys!!!
Alex
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Beefitarian
- Top Poster
- Posts: 6610
- Joined: Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:53 am
- Location: A couple of meters away from others.
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
zorro7 wrote:L-188 Folks:
Does anyone has any pictures of c. 1994-1995 of a previous SAHSA L-188 at Reed Deer that now flies with AirSpray as #487? Where do the AirSpray L-188s get their paint jobs?? I'm looking for poss rare pictures of plain metal scheme of any L-188s before being painted by Air Spray.
Tks in advance for the help.
C-FZCS was operated by Conair as Tanker 453 ("53") in 1999 - Conair went on to develope their Convair 580 fleet and sold the aircraft to Airspray and was operated by them as Tanker 487 ("87") in 2000.
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
BD8/L-188 Folks:
Good Day!
Tks for the additional info & data! We'll be looking for the Conair tanker "453" and Ck out the old scheme c. 1999.
Good Day!
Tks for the additional info & data! We'll be looking for the Conair tanker "453" and Ck out the old scheme c. 1999.
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
L-188 Folks:
Good Day!
The old warrior C-GNPB/FAH 555 used to have this scheme when on leased to PSA c. 1980s! Photo via AEC.
p.s Any news/pics of the C-GNPB on how the airframe inspections are going with AirSpray??
Tks in advance!
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Good Day!
The old warrior C-GNPB/FAH 555 used to have this scheme when on leased to PSA c. 1980s! Photo via AEC.
p.s Any news/pics of the C-GNPB on how the airframe inspections are going with AirSpray??
Tks in advance!
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Re: L-188A C-GNPB heading to AirSpray
L-188 Folks/Tanker 338:
Good day!
It's good to hear of another Zantop L-188 that came into the AirSpray family recently!!
We hope to see some pictures of this sample also. According to the historical FAA Records it was at one time S. of the border. Costa Rica to be exact. We'll contact the fellow CR aviation colleagues for some poss pictures of previous schemes.
p.s Any other news/pics of L-188 C-GNPB (FAH 555) we'll be also welcome!! Tks
Good day!
It's good to hear of another Zantop L-188 that came into the AirSpray family recently!!
We hope to see some pictures of this sample also. According to the historical FAA Records it was at one time S. of the border. Costa Rica to be exact. We'll contact the fellow CR aviation colleagues for some poss pictures of previous schemes.
p.s Any other news/pics of L-188 C-GNPB (FAH 555) we'll be also welcome!! Tks
