Curious on the backstory behind the photos? This is the place. You'll find not only write ups on local outings, but also reviews of major events I’ve attended.
Jetstar Country
Deep into Southern Oregon can some of the last of the Jetstars be found..
Last year, I had the opportunity to visit the Klamath Falls region of Southern Oregon and stumbled across a truly unique find. Driving down the highway, I came across a rare derelict DeHavilland Heron fuselage on the side of the road - quite the shock. Of course, I stopped and grabbed a few photos to share with you all on Facebook. Little did I know, this would lead to yet another exciting discovery..
After posting the photos online, I received a message from someone asking if I was still in the area. To my surprise, within 30 minutes I had arrived at a nearby airport and was surrounded by three beautiful and rare Lockheed JetStars IIs! The aviation community never ceases to amaze.
Now, you may be wondering what these Jetstars were doing parked in Klamath Falls. Well, back in 2021, there was quite a stir in the classic business jet enthusiast community when it was reported that a Klamath Falls-based company had purchased four Lockheed Jetstars, including two that had been impounded in Conroe, Texas for a number of years. Eventually, the aircraft were flown to the southern Oregon city and parked in a remote corner of the airport.
Initially, speculation was rife among aviation fans that these aircraft would be restored to their former glory and once again take to the skies. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the reality of the aviation market is that engines hold the most value on retired airframes. It was soon discovered that the Jetstars had actually been purchased for their valuable Garrett TFE731 turbofan engines. With four engines on each Jetstar, that is potentially 16 sought-after engines now in the company's possession!
While this may be disappointing news to die-hard enthusiasts, it is important to remember that these aircraft will help other planes fly on for many more years to come. This is just the reality of the aviation business, where cost-savings and financial decision-making are key to thriving.
On my visit to Klamath Falls, I was lucky enough to see three of the four Jetstars parked up:
1976 Lockheed L-1329-25 JetStar II (Reg N72GW/Serial 5205)
1978 Lockheed L-1329-25 Jetstar II (Reg N700RM/Serial 5224)
1977 Lockheed L-1329-25 Jetstar II (Reg N710RM/Serial 5213).
Of the four Jetstars purchased so far, only one, N900DB, has been cut up. It is likely that at least a couple more of these planes will meet the same fate. While it may be sad to see such iconic aircraft destroyed, this is just a normal part of the aviation progression and ensures that others will continue to fly safely.
AMARG Overview - Dec 2020
An overview of AMARG from Dec 2020.
Some of the 57 C-5A Galaxies in storage at AMARG, often referred to as "The Boneyard." Shortly after this photo was taken in late 2020, the USAF began scrapping some of the Galaxies in this photo.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base - KDMA (Tucson, Arizona)
December 13, 2020
Thanks to my photo pilot Curt for putting me into awesome position for such shots!
Marana Regional Overview - Dec 2020
End of the road for many of these iconic aircraft.
An interesting assortment of classic aircraft at Marana Regional Airport, including Beech Starships, and multiple DC-4 firebombers.
My understanding is that most if not all of these aircraft have since been cut up/relocated. Unfortunate if true!
Marana Regional Airport - KAVQ (Marana, Arizona)
December 15, 2020
PEACEMAKER
It’s all in the name…
A ground-level view of the largest mass-produced piston-engined aircraft ever built, the Convair Peacemaker. The type first flew in 1946 and boasts an enormous 230-foot wingspan and a pusher configuration of six Pratt & Whitney R4360 radial engines along with four General Electric J47 turbojets. This impressive configuration spawned the slogan of "six turning, four burning." With its sizeable wing, the B-36 was able to fly at high altitudes and vast distances without refueling, but with the jet-powered Boeing B-52 entering service in 1955, the B-36 was quickly rendered obselete and was withdrawn from service in February 1959. This particular airframe, "The City of Fort Worth," was the last B-36 built and the last B-36 retired when it departed Biggs Air Force Base for Fort Worth, Texas - home of Convair. It was then put on display and remained in Fort Worth until it was disassembled and trucked to the Pima Air & Space Museum in the mid-2000s. "The City of Fort Worth" has since been restored to its former Strategic Air Command glory and is one of only four surviving Peacemakers.
Highway Heron
It’s not every day you see an ex-Royal Navy aircraft resting beside a rural Southern Oregon highway…
Last summer, I was driving down U.S. Route 97 heading for Klamath Falls, Oregon, when I stumbled upon a shocking sight. There in the grass next to a motel lay an ex-Royal Navy DeHavilland Heron. What made it even more shocking was that this Heron was very familiar to me as I grew up near the small Oregon town it was based in for many years.
One day, some eagle-eyed enthusiasts noticed the Heron was no longer seen in Albany, Oregon, and most of us assumed it had unfortunately been scrapped or hangared away. However, that was discovered to be not the case. So, when I saw the Heron, I knew I had to stop and check it out. A few things stood out, including the absence of the four Gipsy Queen engines, a wing, and amusingly, somehow the right wing was seemingly partially installed upside down on the left side. Instructions unclear I guess!
This De Havilland DH-114 Sea Heron C.1 has a very interesting history. The aircraft, initially delivered as a Heron Srs. 2B to Jersey Airlines with the registration G-AORH in May 1956, was subsequently sold to the Royal Navy and entered service as XR442 with the Yeovilton Station Flight on April 17, 1961. After being retired from service in 1989, the Sea Heron C.1 was registered as G-HRON with St Helena Airways on April 4, 1991, and later passed on to Michael Ewart Revans Goghlan in Blandford Forum on May 11, 1993.
Following its cancellation by the CAA on April 10, 2002, the aircraft was stored at Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton, in its Royal Navy colours until it was sold to Happy Miles of Albany, Oregon, USA. It was shipped in a container to Portland, Oregon, on January 20, 2006, where it was partially restored by Mr Miles, but later put up for sale.
The big mystery remains how it ended up laying 250.02 km / 155.35 mi away from Albany in a grass field. While it's a sad sight to see, it's my hope that since it still survives, someone will eventually purchase it and restore it to its former glory.
Thanks to Aerial Visuals for their wonderful history database:
