The L188's again

[CommanderHoek]

Anything to report from YIP on the beautiful birds? Amerer Air in Austria I think has stopped flying there's. That leaves an outfit in Mexico, Atlantic Airlines and Air Spray. Found a bunch of manuals for 28.00$. Thinking of buying them as this aircraft will be very rare if not already.

 

[Birddog]

I have been told by a couple of people that some of them are being moved out to California to be converted into fire tankers. One gets flown out, then the engines and props are removed and shipped back to YIP and put on the next one. 1 or 2 have been diced up.

 

[pilotyip]

All still here

No birds have left YIP yet, there are 3 that are airworthy and need checks. The rest are being parted out. They just chopped up the first one the other day, tails fins and nose are sitting off the end of RW 9L at YIP. Rumor is the guy wants like $1.4 M for the flyable airplanes and has only been offered $700K. Navy is scheduled to fly them as patrol airplanes until 2017, that will be about 50 years after I first flew one of them. If I win the lotto I will buy one of them.

 

[CommanderHoek]

Tmc

What ever happened to TMC's birds or are those part of the L188's in YIP, Old Zantop aircraft if you will?

 

[pilotyip]

Yep the TMC's are in the mix at YIP, they are the one's without the Red stripe on the vertical stab. TMC's call sign was "Willow Run"

 

[CommanderHoek]

At least two birds are still flying

The two L188's that were Flying for Amerer Air of Austria have been sold to Buffalo Airways of Canada. I have written them begging for a job!, LOL. Wonder if they might buy some of the Zantop birds in Michigan USA now for parts or??? Also an airplane for sale in Miami as well. There was an L188 simulator in Seattle but do not know what came of it. At least someone is keeping these birds flying.