After a lengthy hiatus, and equipped with a fresh pair of shoes, I returned to this location for a jog —
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finding the falls
We have entered a less traveled remote area of Lake George in the Adirondacks. We were somewhat intimidated; there were authentically costumed role players armed with hatchets, muskets and gear. Halloween was weeks away. We had to ask…
There are no trail-head identifiers or trail markings. This is by design: The Shelving Rock Falls, when arriving at the top, have a somewhat treacherous descent to their base. i.e. slippery rocks and pine straw footings. The park land authorities must be concerned that advertising directions, let alone promoting the location might invite liability as sightseers in numbers attempt them. A helpful ‘point us in the right direction’ get started from exiting hikers was necessary. So with local knowledge (and a satellite photo 😉 we ventured on for a nice little lake side hike [ GPX ].
filling in a blank
Stumbling upon a photo set from the Castle Air Force Museum my attention was captured by a static display of an old Convair 240. In reading the descriptive caption I realized that I was looking at some aviation history that I had been close to. Further searching revealed documented early days of this Convair 240-11, c/n 133:
1949 – delivered new to Swissair and registered as HB-IRT
1956 – purchased by Mohawk Airlines and leased in the short term to Transocean Air Lines as N1018C
1957 – operated by Mohawk as the Air Chief PEQUOT in scheduled service for the next 10 years
1966 – purchased by Fairchild Hiller
1968 – purchase by Southwestern Skyways re-sold to Permian Skyways and re-registered N280P
1969 – bank repossession stored and mothballed
1975 – seized by the Sheriff of Salt Lake County
From this Museum find, the end of the story is now complete. But as with most accountings there is usually a gap from when a machine becomes unprofitable, aged and rejected until it is scrapped or rescued. In the instance of this old plane however, I can complete the story.
1977 – ‘The Spirit of Modesto’ an adventure, by my account: continue reading about c/n 133 and the Great Valley Travel Club… (Camberley Associates Inc ?)
1978 – Occurrence Date 20 JUN BOTH ENGINES STOPPED, PILOTS UNABLE TO START. LEFT TANK EMPTY, 200 GAL IN RIGHT. RIGHT BOOST PUMP INOP. forced landing in a California cornfield (estimated 3.7 miles short of Modesto (KMOD) airport runway 28R where is was moribund for almost 2 decades
1997 – dismantled by volunteers and extracted by a house mover and hauled down Santa Fe Avenue to Atwater, CA
2000 – displayed to current day at the museum with tribute Coast Guard HC-131 Samaritan transport livery.
The Seeing Eye
Seen: This memorial by J. Seward Johnson of Morris Frank and dog Buddy on the Morristown Green downtown classroom. Seeing Eye Dog, an ubiquitous term for guide dogs, is actually a trademark that was genericized. See historic photos here.
Moribund in Montreal
The distinctive blue bubbles on this CRJ gave away its former identity and a close up revealed the old Blueridge tail number unchanged. Evidently the aircraft had a 2 year fling with Georgian National aka SKY georgia in Tbilisi until being replaced by a larger but older DC-9-51. Russian and separatist hostility broke out shortly thereafter and It was returned to its lessor.
pilgrimage
We went to see the cars on display at the show and, as it happened, this 3rd Annual 2009 Historic Occoneechee-Orange Speedway “Celebration of the Automobile” Car Show & Racers Reunion took place at a location that NASCAR devotees revere as holy ground.The old speedway site features an oval dirt track which traces its beginnings back to the inaugural 1949 race season for the franchise and is now, in fact, considered to be a historical preservation. The dirt track by now is only partially visible because the infield (and outfields) are completely overgrown with tall pines and woods. There was a crumbling concession stand that they lingered over. Only a broken foundation and a rusty pop cooler were visible in the remains. A section of cement grandstand remains in decay and it was amusing to see the a fore mentioned race fans taking a moment to sit down on them contemplative, solemn and introspect seeing and hearing in their imagination the cars roaring round and round.
Dominicana de Aviacións
Braving snakes, and lizards in the tall grass and with an eye open for Santo Domingo security which might take exception to my off airport excursion, I explored this Boeing 707 gone to pasture.This workhorse belonged to an airline that went from boom to bust with a somewhat sad safety record enroute. [ reference ]
There are other photos of HI-442 taken during happier times.
Aeropuerto Internacional Las Americas
This old ship has not had the fortune to be rescued but at least it has not been destroyed for scrap (yet). I was able to photograph what remains of HI-393 at its final resting place were it would appear that a hurricane or two may have had its way. Nature and the elements are trying hard to reclaim what’s left.This was a C-121, the military version of the Lockheed Constellation. There is a time line history reference for HI-383 VC-121A 48-611.
survivor
This old goose, like most old transport – locomotives, ships, airliners, has led a colorful and checkered existence. There are glory days in the beginning followed by declining efficiency, revenue and rising competition from newer more advanced innovation. This Lockheed 1049 Constellation was conceived toward the end of the second world war and for its day was the fastest and best of its size and class. Unfortunately, its brethren were immediately conscripted for military usage and they did not see civilian service until later in the ’50s – just in time for the beginning of the jet age. These piston engined planes, as technologically evolved as they could be, were soon eclipsed by new jets. The Constellations, though glorious looking, were handed down to second tier, 3rd world, and freight companies. Eventually they wear out from use, abuse, lack of proper care due to high cost and inadequate budgets. They sit unused or mothballed waiting for buyer or scrap heap or in lucky cases: rescue. Such was the career of N6937C, which I was able to photograph at an airshow display at Kansas City Downtown Airport. SAC, the Save a Connie organization has nicely preserved this one.
- was a White Tail at the Lockheed factory in Burbank, CA due to cancelled order
- To Slick Airways 1959
- To Airlift International 1966
- To Bal Trade1968
- grounded in Miami, FL and seized by airport for non-payment of fees 1970
- To Aircraft Airframe Inc 1971
- Leased to Vortex Inc 1972
- Leased to Sky Trucks International 1972
- To Aircraft Specialties Inc 1973
- Converted to a crop sprayer at Mesa, AZ
- retired in Mesa, AZ from 1975
N6937C [ reference ]
Urban Trail
The Connecticut River Walk Bikeway is a quick exit from downtown Springfield. My route terminated abruptly after 1 1/2 miles. For a longer leg go the other direction. Paved surface, scattered with downtown dwellers types.