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Another sad day for aviation (and our society) as one
more icon goes by the wayside. This was taken on the eve of December 1, 2001: a water-cannon salute to the last departing flight from Port Columbus
of a passenger jet in TWA livery before the paint gets scraped, flushed
down the drain, and changed over to American Airlines colors. |
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This isn't exactly a civilian plane, but I've included
it here because it's used by a civilian. It becomes the first Air Force
One to be used by father-and-son presidents. This was taken at Port Columbus
(Ohio) International Airport in the early 90s. (I forget whether the prez
was in town for a fund-raiser or looking for interns -- this is a college
town, ya know.) Despite the disgrace the previous occupant brought to the
office, this special 747-400 stands as the proud symbol of the greatest
nation in the world. However...it will be a little while before "W" can
use it...cleaning crews are still trying to rid the plane of used cigars
and other unsavory items left behind. And, mechanics have noticed parts
missing from the engines and fuel systems...seems they mysteriously found
their way to the Arkansas Tractor Pull circuit. The Air Police at Andrews
AFB have been placed on a high state of alert...rumor has it that a certain
junior senator from New York has been seen skulking around, allegedly checking
out fabric swatches. |
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The French-built Sud-Est "Caravel" was an early jet
transport. After running its course as a passenger plane, it found a second
life -- as so many others in the same situation did -- as a freighter.
This old veteran spends its days sunning itself on the southwest part of the
ramp of Port Columbus, waiting for somebody to decide its fate. |
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Here are two views of the world's only operational supersonic
transport. I shot these photos during the plane's first visit
to Columbus in September 1985. This is such a great airplane town, the
airport grounds and parking garage were packed with people. I stood in
the back of a pick-up truck to get this one. |
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t took me a while to get from the outside runway
fence to the top of the parking garage, since the airport was so crowded
that day. But I'm glad I did! Here's the Concorde's classic profile, captured
on take-off. It will be missed. |
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This is one of my favorites. This Convair 240 made
a nightly mail run between Columbus and Indianapolis before the company's
contract ran out (and was replaced by a DC-3 and another Convair -- see
below). It would take off at midnight and return about 4-5 hours later.
Every now and then I would go to the airport to hear those radial engines
growl upon take-off; it was a great way to relive a bygone era of aviation,
although it costs about as much to park as it does to buy a ticket to an
air show to see it! |
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Another mail carrier, another Convair. This time,
it's the Model 440. Note the unique rectangular exhaust port at the rear
of the engine nacelle, on the trailing edge of the wing. This venturi squeezed
a few extra miles per hour out of the plane. Time caught up with this one,
too...it's gone. |
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This is a Beech Model 18 used as a hack by the State
of Ohio. The Model 18 dates back to 1937; it remained in production in
various forms until 1970, with a run of more than 9,000 built. I took these
pictures at an air show in Columbus in the early 90s. |
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The interior of the state's Model 18. Being the stereotyping
individual I am, I simply assumed that an airplane this old would have
an interior as portrayed in the movies by other planes of the era...you
know, when the team owner wants to cut back on expenses and hires a DC-3...you
see exposed ribs, control cables, and you have to sit on (occupied) chicken
cages. Looks like the movies were wrong! |
