Restoring
a Constellation.
Mikey's Camarillo Diary
I
have always been interested in the Lockheed Constellation since childhood.
My enthusiasm was fuelled in my teens by Lanzair's operations out of the
UK and by Stephen Piercey reports of their and Quisqueyana's operations
in Flight International magazine. Having enjoyed a flight on the MATS Connie
out of Geneva in 1998 I was very excited to hear about the formation of
the SCFA (Super Constellation Flyers Association) in 2000 and signed up
as a member immediately.
Just days before Christmas
2003 I received an email from Francisco Agullo of the SCFA, asking for
volunteers - skilled and unskilled - to work on their Super Constellation
N73544 to get the aircraft in tip top condition in readiness for its ferry
flight to Switzerland on April 26th 2004. I had already turned down an
opportunity to fly in the SCFA Connie on all of the stages of the ferry
flight from Camarillo to Basle due to time constraints. Currently the flight
plan it to depart Camarillo on 26th April routing: Omaha (NE), Manchester
(NH), Stephenville (Newfoundland), Keflavik, Prestwick and Le Bourget before
arriving at Basle-Mulhouse on 8th May 2004.
I gave Francisco's request
carefully consideration which took all of ten seconds and made my decision
- I was going to Camarillo to help (in my limited non -technical way) get
the last airworthy Super Connie to Europe. I replied to the email saying
that although I had no aeronautical skills whatsoever, I did have tons
of enthusiasm and a very understanding wife!
5th January 2004
In early January I received
a telephone call from Frances, saying I was welcome to visit the N73544
anytime between then and 26th April when it was scheduled to depart California
en route to Switzerland. I went into plan mode straight away. Soon I was
on the internet checking out flights, accommodation, car hire and
the Californian weather. It was 64degC average in January, something we
can't imagine in Europe at that time of year.
Saturday 21st February 2004
The big day arrives! I board
BA283 LHR - LAX for a ten and a half hour flight. Arrive at LAX in un-typical
weather, it's pissing down. Collect my car and crawl at a stop start 30mph
for half the 60 mile journey up to Camarillo. Arrive early evening and
straight to bed.
Sunday 22nd February 2004
Pissing down! Went shopping
round the local mall and got a few things. Went to the CAF Museum and went
on their C46. Photographed it, their
C131, N636X M404 and N396CG(?)
CV in poor condition.
Monday 23rd February 2004
Beautiful day! Sunny, hot
etc. Drove up/over Santa Barbara along the Pacific Coast Highway listening
to The Eagles and Steely Dan, felt natural! SB was very pleasant,
went for a long walk along the sea shore to the harbour. Then some shopping
and the Maritime Museum which was actually very good. Nice club sandwich
outside in a restaurant but I was shat on by a bird! Drove back ok. Called
Pat Farrell but he said he couldn't make it today so I went to the Post
Office and walk about and then to the mall again to finish off my shopping.
Went for a short drive then back to the hotel by 4.30 pm.
Tuesday 24th February 2004
Met up with Pat Farrell
in the airport cafe and drove over to the Connie (past a C121 which is
rumoured to be destined for the Smithsonian in WA and which has not flown
for years. Owned by Global Aeronautical Foundation Inc. of Camarillo
CA N...58GF.). The Connie was sitting there surrounded by spare parts,
spare engines, a couple of tail units sat on one of the two sea containers
used by the group to store equipment and parts. She looked well and truly
grounded as there were numerous parts removed and all four engine covers
were open. Some paintwork had been removed in anticipation of a new colour
scheme being applied. Pat showed me the dos and don'ts and then set me
to work removing an outer engine panel to No.1. Within minutes I realised
how sensible I had been in bringing along my gardening trousers and oldest,
dirtiest t shirt as after 20 minutes of wrestling off a variety of hexagonal
bolts and Philips screws which had held the panel down for decades. I was
coated in a sticky, oily, sooty grime - but loving it!
Soon I was joined b Jim Paules
who had served for over 30 years at AA at their engine overhaul centre
in Tulsa and later LAx so he knew a thing or two about the Wright. For
a man of 80+ he was incredibly dextrous and full of strength and energy.
After much cursing No 1's panel was removed for Jim to peer in and see
what was occurring. No major issues. I assumed I had done a ok job as he
set me off on the same exercise on No.2 only this had two panels,
a weather panel and then the actual cowling. By now I knew what I
was doing...sort of! and managed to remove the panels with the minimum
of fuss.
After lunch we were joined
by Daniel Cuvier who had to retire early from the USAF and is now working
for the local Civil Air Patrol as well as at the CAF Museum. What
looked on the face of it to be a five minute job took all afternoon as
I bundled together a group of cables which involved me contorting myself
into the smallest space deep in the guts of the No.1. Job completed we
loosely put the panels back and exhaust parts in anticipation of three
inches of rain forecast for the next day.
I rounded off the day with
a look inside the Connie, which was still carrying a small CHS display
as well as nine airline seats up front. Dan discussed the installation
of 40 reconditioned seats in the plane for its epic journey to Switzerland
and I satisfied one of those things you just have to do - I sat in the
left hand seat. If I had died then I would have died a happy man. I went
back to my hotel room aching all over and wondered how to get the grime
out from under my fingernails.
Went to Civil Air Patrol
with Dan and then went on the look at the air traffic control tower at
Camarillo.
Wednesday 25th February
It was raining when I woke
up so decided to drive to Chino. Wise move. About a two hour drive through
LA in the rush hour was a baptism by fire which I survived, past such places
as Ventura Boulevard, Sunset and Vine and Universal Studios and out the
other side. Went to Planes of Fame which was more or less the same since
I last visited in 1986 but more fences. Loads of P51s there A and B models.
Asked John Hinton (Steve's brother) if I could look round N177L Tri
Gear H250. The British accent won and soon I was in the cockpit and chatting
about its use in the film "Almost Famous". Two other Lodestars there, the
swastika one and another in RAF colour scheme, so got photos. Round to
look at their jets which was odd as I'd seen some of aircraft at MASDC
22 years ago! Found the cafe I went to in 1986 (Flo's) and sat up on a
stool and had eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast and coffee for $6! Nice
folk in there and again my accent helped. Told them the place hadn't changed
since '86. Some guy suggested I went to the Yanks Air Museum just down
the road. The sun was out and it was pleasantly warm.
Down to Yanks to see some
planes, their workshop was great with a bent Lockheed Electra Junior all
polish and chrome. Again my accent won and I was allowed out on their ramp
to photograph an old Rich International C46 and a B25 in Aussie markings.
Some nice ex MASDC junk there too. Ontario CA looked nice on the way down
so I decided to stop off first for petrol which was a drama so I acted
all silly old Brit and people helped me out. I got far too much gas $20
got me a full tank ($2.07 per gallon =£1+!) Nice architecture in Ontario
but I realised I was the only non-Hispanic in town so departed back the
way I came. I tried to get off the freeway in search of malls a few times
but no luck. Back to the hotel by 4pm with a lot of time to kill. It's
pissing down and has been all day. Thank God I went to Chino!
Thursday 26 February 2004
Awful weather all
night but woke up to sunshine but still cold so I went out and bought a
sweatshirt ($10). Over to the Connie and waited for Jim who never turned
up! But Dan came over and talked planes. He had some business over at CAF
so we went there which was great. The CAF Hurricane had been shrink-wrapped
and prop removed for shipping up to Canada. The man doing the job turned
out to be Bruce Lockwood! He of Dago Red, Miss America etc. Had a long
chat, what a nice guy. He'd done a TV ad recently for cig co in Europe
in the P51. He said Michael O'Leary is coming over tomorrow. I bathed in
Bruce Lockwood's reflected glow but he was so "normal'! Went in the CAF
C131 N131W which was very neat. Got some more pics of everything parked
around the CAF. They treated me to chilli for lunch, me Brucie and assorted
CAF old timers! Started to turn a little cool so I was glad of my sweatshirt.
Back with Dan to the Connie. No Jim so Dan got me climbing up a ladder
cleaning paint off the wing tips. Back to the hotel to change, still very
achy.
Friday 27th February 2004
Couldn't sleep again. Up
breakfasted and then over to Starbucks for a good coffee. Went over to
the airport and sat around the Connie for a while. No
activity but it was nice
just sitting in the sun. Decided to check out the T28s. They had loads
there. Got chatting with a mechanic who let me take a look see inside one
- fantastic. Met the owner of C & J Aircraft, Chuck Smith, nice guy,
He didn't seem to think the Connie would make it! He gave me a book
about Trojans and said I could photograph what I liked. Did so! Then over
to the CAF to see Bruce Lockwood finishing up the Hurricane no sign of
Michael O'Leary so went back to the cafe for our eggs and bacon lunch sitting
up at the counter. Saw Chuck in there. Dropped off the keys etc. for Pat
Farrell. Had more time to kill so over to the CAF again to see them load
up the Hurricane. I got some good pics and a guided tour this time!
Departure! Las Pasas to Mign
the PCH Route 1 all the way to LAX, a beautiful drive. Far better than
101/405. One hold up where they were doing some filming but got to Alamo
by 4.30pm. Loads of time to kill at LAX which went quickly. I hour
late leaving. World Traveller Plus was fine apart from the Daily Mail.
Slept ok on the plane. Met by my lovely wife and baby at LHR (Mary typed
this for me as you can see). Cold in the UK.
Mike Zoeller
Previous
Features:
To
save your poor machine having to download all the images from the articles
you've already read , these pages are now stored separately. Click below
to recall them...
1. Le
Mans Diary 2000 Five
Go Mad at La Sarthe
2. Gentlemen
and Cads The
Terrible Turbo versus the Sublime Supercharger.
3. Hidden
Brooklands. Poking
around in the undergrowth.
4. The
Mysteries of the Lucas Wiring System Explained. Well,
you've got to have a system....
5. The
Petrol head's Pilgrimage. USA Road
Trip summer 2001
6. Brazilian Car Stereo. Choose
your weapons.- Bob Marley at 50 Paces.
7.
Restoring a Constellation. Never mind cars, Mike
rebuilds airliners. - (admittedly not single-handed.)
8.
Allan Winn - Breathing Life into Brooklands. Eoin
Young interviews a fellow Kiwi
9.
Son Of Mindless. The legends are true! A 4WD
monster lurking in the Fens
10. Brooklands Double Twelve 2008. Event of the year.- Or how to compete against your own car..
11. Farewell to the QE2. Last voyage of a great liner
|