Below is a selection of 40 photographs, all of which have been taken by myself at the Oshkosh Airshow, Wisconsin, USA. Oshkosh is the biggest Airshow in the world. Basler Turbo facilities are based at Oshkosh, they convert C-47's (not DC-3's) to the BT-67 Turbo-prop. They always have a large stock of C-47/DC-3's, and what they do not convert, they sell as spare parts to DC-3 owners. Other than Basler Turbo, Oshkosh brings many DC-3/C-47 visitors and I usually try and manage to photograph them all, over the course of my three day visit. I miss just one or two each year but get those the following year. I think you will find, that Oshkosh Airshow is certainly the place to be if you are a Goonery bird fan like I. If you have any questions or comments about any of the photo's, please E-Mail me and I will reply to you swiftly.
Thanks to.. LAWRENCE SAFIR up-dated 30/09/2002 for an Oshkosh inventory below...
.
N21BF c/n.9832 (in service) Basler Airlines
titles (ex-RCAF c/s)
27/07/01 on Terminal ramp 26/07/02 on Basler ramp
N300BF c/n.15299/26744 (in service) Basler
Airlines titles (BT-67 cvsn) [P]
27/07/01 on Terminal ramp 26/07/02 on Basler ramp
N840MB c/n.9670 Complete, no titles or paint
except white top and outlined
emergency exit window,yellow-outlined forward
baggage door and red
prop. stripe
27/07/01 + 26/07/02 on Basler ramp
N2685W c/n.16262 thick red cheatline along
windows 'fanning'over fin with red
N2685W (diagonally) up forward fin
27/07/01 on Basler ramp [on conversion line
as No.42 26/07/02]
2. Behind Turbo Conversions facility (dumped)
?? c/n. ??? [possibly ex Thai AF '883' (1)]
Fuselage, on wheels (un-painted) reputedly ex
Thai AF (minus wings, glazing,
doors and tail empennage), as airframe with
damaged section, reported as result
of being dropped during unloading from ship
during transfer ex Thailand to
Oshkosh (same position 27/07/01 + 26/07/02)
?? c/n. ??? [ex Thailand ??]Fuselage, on wheels
(un-painted) (minus wings,
glazing, doors and tail empennage) [additional to
airframe mentioned above,
possibly acquired for spares - or not converted
due corrosion, etc.]
(same position 27/07/01 + 26/07/02)
?? c/n. ??? [ex Thai AF] fuselage, on wheels
(camouflage - port side carries
Thai titling with daubed 'RTAF') (minus wings,
glazing, doors and tail
empennage) possibly acquired for spares - or not
converted due corrosion, etc.]
(same position 27/07/01 +26/07/02)
?? c/n. ??? fuselage, on wheels (camouflage - no
titles) Could this be
ex-Colombia [see NOTES] ? (minus wings, glazing,
doors and tail empennage)
(same position 27/07/01 +26/07/02)
N23SA c/n.4093 (ex-Polair) (ex Turbo 3) Fuselage,
on wheels (with Polair's
yellow/black scheme and titles) (minus outer
wings and without all (3) engines,
but with all glazing, closed doors, minus tail
empennage)
(same position 27/07/01 + 26/0702)
N100BF c/n.43361 [C-117] ex US Marines (no titles
or paint, un-converted)
(same position 27/07/01 + 26/07/02)
N115NA c/n.11625 On wheels, red c/s (minus outer
wings, ailerons, elevators,
rudder + both engines) (same position 27/07/01 +
26/07/02)
XA-RPE c/n.2137 (ex N38PB: single right-hand
passenger door) in complete Aero
Libertad red / white / black scheme and titles
(minus both engines,
ailerons, elevators, rudder)
(same position 27/07/01 + 26/07/02)
XA-RPN c/n.2167 (ex N40PB: single right-hand
passenger door) in complete Aero
Libertad red / white / black scheme and titles
(minus stbd.
engine, ailerons, elevators, rudder)
(same position 27/07/01 + 26/07/02)
(Bu)17216 c/n. 43334 [R4D-8/C-117D] in faded
'United States Marines' scheme and
titles; fuselage only, sealed glazing (no wings,
wheels or tail empennage)
('HEMS-32' and serial on rear fuselage, 'G' +
'05' on nose)
(same position 27/07/01 + 26/07/02
[3] (inside Basler Turbo Conversions (some 2001
only)
(36) Present 27/07/01 (but as '41': 26/07/02).
Listed as N40359/FAC-1670 ex
42-00662 for Colombian AF(No.5) [i.e. c/n.19125].
Listed by Basler as
delivered 30 June 2000. Had aircraft been
delivered (30.06.2000) AND
damaged in service AND already returned to
Oshkosh (by C-130), when on line in
July '01 (then still as No.36 FAC-1670) ? [see
NOTES and remarks to No.41
below]
(37) Present 27/07/01 as 'FAC1658' (quoting
N91BF, c/n.32541). Although
listed by Basler as delivered 31 January 2001, it
was seen 27/07/01, appearing
still to be under conversion, minus original
engines, vertical tail (which was
stored along hangar wall), nose cone, rear doors,
glazing to windows, section
around forward door re-panelled and un-painted,
still with 6 (not 8) fuselage
windows (port side) and signle forward 'slit'
viewing panel), painted in white
scheme with thin cheatline above windows and
FUERZA AEREA COLOMBIANA titles,
roundel to rear, squadron (?) large red badge and
black '1658' under cockpit
27/07/01 [see NOTES below]
(38) Present 27/07/01 (NOT 26/07/02) '38 Special'
c/n.19052 ex 42-100589 (per
Basler) on line (8/01) (7th for Colombia) when
already re-engined, centre
section installed, un-painted, but 'under
conversion to gun-ship' with
'revolver' image painted on nose.
Basler (2002) list quotes this as FAC1667 dd:
15/01/02.
(39) '39" c/n.20082 (N6898D) Present
27/07/01 (NOT 26/07/02). Under conversion
(07/01), still with civilian black and yellow
c/s, no titles
[P] 27/07/01.
Basler (2002) quotes this as RTAF882 (re-use of
serial). Original aircraft
either wf.u. in Thailand or (possibly) 1 of 2
derelict airframes (1 silver + 1
in camouflage marked as RTAF) stored behind
Basler facility.
Presumably delivered after 15 January 2002 (last
date quoted by Basler on 2002
list, for No.37 to Colombia).
(40) c/n. 9415 N400BF Present 27/07/01 +
26/07/02).Under conversion (07/01),
un-painted aluminium, centre section cut prior to
insertion of fuselage plug,
engines, doors, windows and outer wings removed
(no titles) [P] 27/07/01.
Basler list (2002) quotes as 'Stock' but
suggested as for Thailand (if so,
would be 7th for RTAF). [see NOTES]
(41) Listed by Basler as 'FAC1670 REWORK' quoting
ex 42-00662 (Present
26/07/02). Details match aircraft reported
delivered by Basler as conversion
No.36 30 June 2000. Basler list same engines
(PY0038+PY0039) to both 'No.36'
and 'No.41'. Cockpit inspected and indeed carries
plate of c/n.19125, mfr.1943
(corresponding with 42-00662).
Titles (port) [FUE] RZA AEREA COLOMBIANA.
Titles (stbd.) FUERZA AEREA COLOMBI [ANA] (stbd.)
Un-painted aluminium overall (apart from blue/grey
nose and un-marked fin),
with yellow roundel to rear, with both PT-67
engines (minus props.) , port wing
stub only, stbd. wing stub and outer lower
section only.
(42) N2685W c/n.16262/33010 (Basler lists as
'Stock') On Basler ramp,
without titles but full red/white paint scheme +
spray equipment: 27/07/01)
[On conversion line: 26/7/02]
(43) N845MB c/n.19685 (43-15219) Not shown on
Basler's 2002 list, but on
conversion line 26/07/02.
NOTES:
36 a.k.a. 41. If Basler correctly state that
No.36 (FAC-1670) had an accident
that required a re-work (but not new engines) -
and this airframe, now listed
as No.41 does carry 'correct' c/no. plate, did
something also happen to No.37
(see below) ?
37. N91BF/FAC-1658 was reported by Basler as
delivered 31 Jan-01. However it
was present (or had been returned ?), on the
conversion line 27/07/01 (but not
26/07/02). A nose, clearly marked FAC-1658 was
dumped outside (26/07/02)
Is FAC-1658 still active (as a Basler BT-67 !) in
Colombia ? If (??) the nose
section was replaced since original conversion,
this might explain presence on
Oshkosh line in July 2001 despite Basler (2001
and 2002) quoted dd.30 Jan.
2001.
40. Although N400BF is listed as 'stock', it was
on the 2001 line, without
engines yet fitted, when 2 PY (i.e. turbo ?)
engines (serials PY0032 + PY0037)
were already listed to RTAF as 'Spare Parts'.
This might 'suggest' that they
were manufactured for use in an additional RTAF
conversion. [Basler's (2001)
list gave (stock) dates of 15 Nov.'99 + 28 Jan.00
respectively].
2nd un-converted camouflaged airframe (c/no. and
origin un-known): The fact
that Basler (2002) list, shows 2 engines (serials
106217+106218) and 3
propellors ex Colombian AF being held as Spare
Parts might 'suggest' that the
2nd camouflaged aircraft (1st is marked RTAF) may
have been 'traded-in'
ex-Colombia and 'donated' original piston engines
and props.
Alternatively, if listed engines and props. are
turbo installations, might they
be awaiting attachment to a new Colombian
conversion (No.42 and /or No.43) ?
Oshkosh EAA Air Show Area:
DC-3/C-47:
N1XP c/n.4733 (as "0-93800") with North
Dakota Air Guard titles [P] [Present
28/07/00, NOT 27/07/01, but present 26/7/02]
N28AA c/n.2239 Poly Fiber (ex-N139PB)
[Present 27/7/01: NOT present Oshkosh: 26/07/02]
N603MC c/n.4932 no titles, blue cheatline
(Classic Airlines) [P]
[Present 27/7/01 on flightline].
Reported as aircraft on Basler terminal ramp (now
minus rudder !!): 26/07/02
N728G c/n.4359 full "Douglas DC-3"
titles, logos + c/s [P]
[Present 27/7/01 + 26/7/02]
N734H c/n.4727 (no titles) (yellow and white c/s)
[Present 27/7/01: NOT 26/7/02]
N814CL c/n.17103/34370 full United Air Lines
post-War c/s + titles (Clay
Lacey), drop-down single passenger door,
"Mainliner O'Connor" under cockpit,
f/n.1102 on nose, white 'United' on port wing,
dark blue N814CL on top of stbd.
wing) [Present 27/7/01: NOT 26/7/02]
N943DJ c/n.7313 white top, blue cheatline, no
titles, drop-down single
passenger door, 'Viewmaster' centre window, u/c
doors, "The Spirit of
Enterprise"
[Present 27/7/01: NOT 26/7/02]
N983DC c/n.12267 Air North green colours and
titles, 'Yukon Sourdough' on fin,
minus rudder. Experimental Aircraft Association.
Present on
terminal side of field 07/00 + 07/01, on flight
line 26/07/02 (now with rudder
!) [Airworthy ?
N2805J c/n.20835 (ex 43-16369) Registered to EAA
Warbirds of America, Topeka,
KS. Painted as '43-770' (which, IF intended to
represent 43-15770 was C-47
c/n.20236 rptd. as b/u: 04.54 after use in
Indo-China, so never an AC-47 !).
This aircraft is in camouflage, 'advertised' as
an AC-47 Spooky (complete with
artwork on nose and (full) serial).present
26/07/02 [not
28/07/00 or 27/07/01].
N40386 c/n.14675/26120 (ex-S.Vietnam+Davis-Monthan)
{Basler BT-67 'firebomber')
Company stock aircraft (Conversion No.35)
[Present 27/7/01 + 26/7/02]
LAWRENCE SAFIR up-dated 30/09/2002.
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