tb727 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1373 posts, RR: 4 Posted (2 years 6 months 2 days ago) and read 2363 times:
Hey all, I know some of you might be interested in this. As I was leaving the other day I watched a couple of guys fire up one of the old Zantop L-188's, N290F, on the South ramp. They used an aircart to start 1 through 3 and looked like they cross-bled the start for #4. It was a blast from the past listening to the Allisons whir up on start when I was walking across the ramp.
Not sure if it has been sold and getting ready to leave or if they were just getting the engines running for a test prior to sale or something. It's the first time I have seen any activity on the Electra's in a couple years.
ImperialEagle From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1230 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 2078 times:
It's nice to hear about some L-188's in the US that haven't already headed to the krusher. One would think the owners of those ex-Zantop birds would get them out to the desert if they wanted good, dry, long-term storage.
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough!"
NASCARAirforce From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 3079 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2031 times:
I'm surprised it still has props on it. Most of the Electras I have seen at YIP are missing their props or a good part of their engines. I know there are or two sitting inside of the hangars that might still have props
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2024 times:
Quoting tb727 (Thread starter): As I was leaving the other day I watched a couple of guys fire up one of the old Zantop L-188's, N290F, on the South ramp.
Good to hear 290F is still intact enough to start. I thought it had gone to beer cans long ago. Did a lot of work on her back in the day....
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tb727 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1373 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (2 years 6 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1954 times:
Quoting ZANL188 (Reply 3): Good to hear 290F is still intact enough to start. I thought it had gone to beer cans long ago. Did a lot of work on her back in the day....
Yeah they put the props back on her I guess, there were a couple in the hanger still last time I looked in there. The last time there was anything going on over there they chopped one up and that was about 2.5 years ago.
It was such a long drawn out shutdown by Zantop they didn't get to move the planes anywhere that has good storage. They were for sale and someone in CA supposedly had bought them but I don't know what happened. I would be nice to see 290 fly, it's been probably about 7 or 8 years since I've seen one move. There was a Volpar Beech 18 that just left YIP after sitting there for at least 10 years.
411A From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1826 posts, RR: 9 Reply 6, posted (2 years 6 months 16 hours ago) and read 1651 times:
Quoting tb727 (Reply 4): They were for sale and someone in CA supposedly had bought them but I don't know what happened.
What happened was, after we completed a survey of the aircraft, it was found that these aircraft were full of corrosion, and unable to economically return to service.
Pity, as we needed four.
In addition, the aircraft were waaaay overpriced, even without the corrosion.
Having personally flown the Electra in the past, I found it a very pleasant airplane to fly and....originally, the Vmo on the airplane was fast enough that the Electra would outrun a B707 at FL250.
Thanks for posting this. I have a pretty sentimental attachment to YIP, and to a lesser degree Zantop Electras.
Quoting ZANL188 (Reply 3): Good to hear 290F is still intact enough to start. I thought it had gone to beer cans long ago. Did a lot of work on her back in the day....
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (2 years 6 months 3 hours ago) and read 1473 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 7): What years did you work there?
I didn't work for Zantop. I was active duty Air Force. Zan had a piece of the Logair contract and always had at least 2 or 3 aircraft busy hauling trash for the Air Force (this was 70' & 80's up until the USSR collapsed).
I was stationed at FFO, 82-86. Seems like 290F & 285F were essentially based there for at least 3 of the years I was there.
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Quoting flywrite (Reply 5): Some of Air Atlantique's Electra's have recently been moving from Coventry, UK, to Alaska for new owners. I wonder if these may be going the same way?
At least 2 Atlantic Airlines Electras have headed to British Columbia to a new owner and a new flying role. The first one flew to Canada in early 2010; the second made the trip this month.
However, none of the Zantop machines are in good enough condition for the endeavour.
The nice thing about a mistake is the pleasure it gives others.
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