WIX Archives

Just to set the record straight...

Posted by Jason Pence on Sun Jun 15, 2003 08:54:05 PM

In reply top Re: KC-97 scrapped posted by NIcolai Musante on Sun Jun 15, 2003 11:48:05 AM

Yes, the KC-97 at Moses Lake was used as a parts source for N117GA. However, it is important (to me at least) to note that this was done by Grace Aire Medical Foundation while they owned N117GA, in order to keep it flying on revenue flights. BAHF did NOT salvage parts from that airplane. N117GA was the airplane that, among other things, hauled fish in Alaska for a number of years. The KC-97 at Moses Lake has been a pigeon nest for YEARS and has MAJOR corrosion issues, not to mention the fact that it stinks so badly inside as a result of literally 6 inches of pigeon poop, you will be nauseated after two minutes or so.

Regarding the Tucson KC-97: There was NO WAY that that airplane could have been made ferriable in the 60 days left before the Airport Authority would scrap it. And yes, I know what the Trade-A-Plane ad said...

To start with, the two QEC engines inside the plane were FAILED engines, NOT in-the-can fresh ones. Also, one of the engines on the wing was failed, which is why XA-PII was brought to Tucson in the first place.

Let's think for a second about the STAGGERINGLY huge costs associated with running a KC-97. 4 R-4360's that ONE overhaul shop in the country will deal with, at about $85K a pop not counting consumables. Props are $10K each to overhaul. To fly it, you need a KC-97 type rated pilot. You also, and here is the real rub, need a FAA-certificated Recip Flight Engineer. Folks, there ain't many of them around, and even fewer of them are RATED on the KC-97. Fuel Flow? I think 300 gph is the planning number...

The bottom line here is that I KNOW for a fact that the BAHF did not want to scrap XA-PII, but considering that it took 6 years to get 117GA from Moses Lake to Brooklyn, not to mention multi-thousands of dollars, and an engine failure on the way, and you can see where the economics just do not work.

Here's a harsh reality, that hurts me just as much as anyone else on this board. Most of the old propliners that still survive were used in revenue service until it became economically unviable to keep them flying. For 90% of them, their last few years were NOT pampered, and the maintenance was NOT preventative or proactive, and lots of stuff got ignored. When they were parked, they weren't pickled properly, thus needing LOTS of work to assure relaible service if they ever fly again. Anyone that doubts me, have a read of Maurice Roundy's ferry flight of his Starliner L1649 to Fantasy of Flight.

For what it's worth, I bow to no one in my love of radial-engined airplanes, and I back that up with a heckuva lot of donated volunteer time at airshows working, hauling a PX trailer to and from airshows, and working on the planes before, after, and sometimes during airshows and appearances. I also have pumped multi-thousands of dollars into these airplanes. It is easy for people to talk about about wanting to preserve and operate the big props, but it's incredibly challenging and often frustrating for those of us that are actively doing it.

The above is my personal opinion, and is not the official "party line" of any organisation I belong to.

Regards

Jason Pence
Falls Church VA






: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Moses Lake exam
: ple had many of its "good" parts exchanged with some "not
: so good" parts from the BAHF plane. In other words, the ai
: rcraft at Moses Lake is worth absolutely nothing! I mean,
: how many KC-97 shall let their lives so one plane can be s
: aved??

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