JBcrjca
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2003
- Posts
- 167
I was at Victorville CA today, and was surprised to see an ex-CHQ Saab stored on the main ramp. N128CH, one of the two original Saabs in the fleet. A shop foreman told me that the CHQ pilot that picked the airplane up in Sweden back in '88 was the same guy that flew it to storage at VCV. I climbed in, sat in the cockpit...it looks pretty clean, like it was well cared for.
There are about 10 or 11 EMB-120s stored at VCV, including some old ex-WestAir birds. Some of them, N275UE for example, haven't moved in over 4 years. The original UAX paint has faded to a nasty new color scheme. Ship 275 probably won't ever fly again...it's been sold, and the new owner will most likely sell the engines and part-out the airframe. Four of them are slated to be broken up. A sad ending for such cool airplanes...but nobody wants turboprops anymore. On a brighter note, 3 or 4 other E120s are being prepped for a new owner in Africa. Now THAT would be an interesting ferry trip.
If any CHQ or WestAir guys want a pic of 128 or 275, send me a PM...I can email one to ya.
The worst part about visiting VCV is the sheer number of jets parked there. It gives a you a rather grim outlook on the health of the airline industry. There are hundreds of UAL/DAL 727s, UAL 737-200s, DAL/ATA/KHA L-1011s, Tower B747s, etc. Those old birds are due for retirement I guess, but the disturbing part is this: 17 UAL 747-400s parked, several UAL 767-200s, random MD-80s, 10+ ex-TWA 717s (some with engines missing), a National 757, etc. With that many jets sitting idle, it's no wonder why there are thousands of guys on furlough right now. I sure hope things get better soon and a bunch of jets are pulled from storage, putting crews back to work. But it's the end of the line for the jurassic jets, most will be scrapped... I saw some 727 cockpit seats and pallets of coach seats in a hangar. I'm thinking I need a capt or FO seat for the living room. I wonder how much $??
There are about 10 or 11 EMB-120s stored at VCV, including some old ex-WestAir birds. Some of them, N275UE for example, haven't moved in over 4 years. The original UAX paint has faded to a nasty new color scheme. Ship 275 probably won't ever fly again...it's been sold, and the new owner will most likely sell the engines and part-out the airframe. Four of them are slated to be broken up. A sad ending for such cool airplanes...but nobody wants turboprops anymore. On a brighter note, 3 or 4 other E120s are being prepped for a new owner in Africa. Now THAT would be an interesting ferry trip.
If any CHQ or WestAir guys want a pic of 128 or 275, send me a PM...I can email one to ya.
The worst part about visiting VCV is the sheer number of jets parked there. It gives a you a rather grim outlook on the health of the airline industry. There are hundreds of UAL/DAL 727s, UAL 737-200s, DAL/ATA/KHA L-1011s, Tower B747s, etc. Those old birds are due for retirement I guess, but the disturbing part is this: 17 UAL 747-400s parked, several UAL 767-200s, random MD-80s, 10+ ex-TWA 717s (some with engines missing), a National 757, etc. With that many jets sitting idle, it's no wonder why there are thousands of guys on furlough right now. I sure hope things get better soon and a bunch of jets are pulled from storage, putting crews back to work. But it's the end of the line for the jurassic jets, most will be scrapped... I saw some 727 cockpit seats and pallets of coach seats in a hangar. I'm thinking I need a capt or FO seat for the living room. I wonder how much $??
