WIX Archives

Re: Tallichet collection

Posted by Rob Mears on Thu May 30, 2002 09:34:33 PM

In reply top Re: Tallichet collection posted by Steve Tournay on Thu May 30, 2002 07:26:15 PM

: Hi Rob--
:
: What is a "Canadian Nord trainer"? You've got me fascina
: ted with that one. (Ex-RCAF NAA Yales, maybe, which
: the original French buyers referred to as "Nords" which wa
: s a contracted translation of North American?)

These were actually a "Chipmunk" style trainer, but with more of a Harvard-style reinforced canopy. The main gear legs were fixed with a forward facing "dog leg" style design. All seven of them were stored bulkhead to bulkhead in a small fenced area on the south side of the little gas station - all with wings & control surfaces removed. There were numerous metal engine containers stacked there as well, all with low-time, and zero-time engines inside. All of the planes were finished in yellow schemes with RCAF markings.

I was involved with the Civil Air Patrol at thew time, and was taking flight instruction from a husband and wife team there in Longview, Texas, The couple were both licensed A&P mechanics who pooled their money and bought the entire group of the Nords, plus spares. They moved on shortly thereafter, but before leaving they did relate that their plan was to restore the planes one at a time and offer them for sale. I believe the woman's name was Kathy.

Anyway, there was a single example of the plane at Oshkosh this past year parked near the dozens upon dozens of AT-6's. Because of the apparent rarity of the type, my guess would be that the plane at Oshkosh was one of the seven from that original group in East Texas. It's the only example I've ever come across outside of that storage yard.

Rob

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