WIX Archives
Re: Arkansas TBM mystery solved! Attn: Scott, registry update...
Posted by Scott Wood on Thu Jul 17, 2003 10:12:14 AM
In reply top Arkansas TBM mystery solved! Attn: Scott, registry update... posted by bdk on Wed Jul 16, 2003 06:34:05 PM
I was working with Thomas Wofford on this TBM. It used to belong to Mr.Jack Miller, who has passed away. Alot of good memories on this airplane.: On Monday I flew to Little Rock and then drove to Weiner,
: Arkansas (near Waldenburg), about a five hour drive round
: trip. This was the the site of a derelict TBM, last report
: ed and photographed there in August 1994 by George Singlet
: on.
:
: It turns out that the TBM was only trucked away last Janua
: ry! It was located on Sally Wofford Airport (8M2).
:
: I drove up to a hangar on the airfield, noting an SUV with
: a Warbirds of America sticker on it. Upon inquiring, I me
: t Tom Wofford, owner of the airport (named after his wife)
: . It turns out that he actually flew the aircraft last whe
: n it was ferried from Idaho in about 1984. He even had in
: flight photos since he and a friend flew two TBM's back an
: d took some snapshots along the way.
:
: The person who had purchased the TBM (for $60k), had asked
: Tom and a friend to help restore it. As the aircraft got
: closer to flying, the owner seemed to come by less frequen
: tly- there was a thought that maybe he was afraid that he
: might have to fly it! Eventually this person got sick (and
: later died) and the aircraft was sold. It was recently re
: sold to Wes Strickler and was moved to Columbia, Missouri
: in January. The N-number is 9429Z Bu. No. 91714. The FAA r
: ecord already reflects this change.
:
: Tom was very friendly (and very healthy looking 77 year ol
: d gentleman), and took the time to tell me many interestin
: g stories about TBM's. Tom was in the USN stateside and wa
: s crew on a TBM, but was not a pilot at the time so he nev
: er got to fly one. Years later he purchased and restored o
: ne to full military condition and flew it at many airshows
: . He later sold the TBM, and it was later sold again to Ji
: m Cavanaugh in Addison, Texas. It was painted in a tri-col
: or scheme, but Cavanaugh had it repainted dark blue when i
: t was rebuilt once again.
:
: Tom told me that he really likes how the TBM flies. It is
: very stable and easy to fly. He hopped right from a Cessna
: 195 into the TBM and had no trouble at all. He later flew
: a T-6 and said that the T-6 was MUCH harder to fly!
:
: Anyhow, I didn't see any TBM's on the trip, but it was wel
: l worth the 5 hour round trip drive from Little Rock to me
: et with Tom (and solve the mystery)!
:
: ===============
:
: FAA Registry
: N-Number Inquiry Results
:
: N9429Z is Assigned
:
: Assigned/Registered Aircraft Aircraft Description
:
: Serial Number 91714 Type Registration
: Individual
: Manufacturer Name GRUMMAN Certificate Issue Date 12/02
: /1999
: Model TBM-3E Status Valid
: Type Aircraft Fixed Wing Single-Engine Type Engine Reci
: procating
: Pending Number Change None Dealer No
: Date Change Authorized None Mode S Code 53214101
: MFR Year None Fractional Owner NO
:
:
:
:
: ----------------------------------------------------------
: ----------------------
:
:
: Registered Owner
:
: Name STRICKER WES
: Street 2801 BUTTERNUT CT
: City COLUMBIA State MISSOURI Zip Code 65201-3538
:
: County BOONE
: Country UNITED STATES
:
:
: ----------------------------------------------------------
: ----------------------
:
:
: Airworthiness
:
: Engine Manufacturer WRIGHT Classification Restricted
:
: Engine Model C14AB AC BA Category Forest
: Other
:
: A/W Date 06/06/1960