Surjit's (Serge's) Thoughts: August 2013

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Model Aircarft in my Collection 6: N6260C- DC6

Old workhorse that fell foul with the law.

Model Image

History of N6260C

N6260C is (was) a DC-6A aircraft delivered to Pan American in June 1953. It remained in service for 5 years before being sold to Los Angeles Air Service (LAAS) in September 1958. LAAS was absorbed into the Transamerica and was operated by various airlines in the group including Slick Air and Hawaiian Air Lines. It was then sold to Aaxico leasing company (exact date unknown likely about 1965). It was leased to Ariana Afghan Airlines and operated on the weekly Kabul to London (Gatwick) route until the mid 1970's (registration YA-DAO). It was then leased to various airline and cargo services over short periods with registrations YS-38C, HR-TNQ and finally to a leasing company in Miami when it carried the registration N8057X. In its guise as N8057X it fell foul of the law and was last sited after being impounded at Great Inagua (Bahamas) in 1982. Although not sites it still appeared on the impounded asset register in 2008.

Photos of N6260C

As N6260 - Hawaiian

As YA-DAO Ariana Afghan

TAN - Transportes Aereos Nacionales Douglas DC-6A

As HR-TNQ

As N8057X

Monday, August 12, 2013

Model Aircrafts in My Collection 5: Qantas VH-SUM - Short 360

Model Image

Gemini Jets - VH-SUM

Model History:

VH-SUM was a Short 360 short haul twin turboprop plane manufactured by Short Bros in Ireland. Usually configured to carry 33-36 passengers with a crew of three. Due to the small fuel tank,s at full load the aircraft had a range of less than 400km and speed of about 350km/h. It was mainly used for short haul flights to mining towns with hubs in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns. The Short 360 as it was known was also used for a short duration for flights between Melbourne and Mildura.

The early history of VH-SUM is somewhat unclear. It was manufactured in 1987 and registered as G-BNFD probably to Gill Air via the leasing company Lynrise. It then appears as EI-BTK with Philippines Airlines. It was finally sold to Qantas and appeared on the Australian register as VH-SUM in 1996. It was sold to Air Cargo Carriers in December 2005 with registration change to N372AC. The aircraft was converted to carry cargo with larger fuel tanks. During a demonstration flight two AIC Short 360 aircrafts (N372AC and N3735W) were involved in a mid air collision with N3735W crashing with loss of three lives and N372AC making a crash landing with no loss of life. Unfortunately both planes were damaged beyond repair and scrapped.