AIRLINES

Air Classics, Jan 2005

CARAVELLE SURVIVOR

In response to your request for an update on the former Ohio History of Flight's SUD SE.210 Caravelle 6R (s/n 62, US registration N901MW), I'm pleased to say that the aircraft still exists and is safe for the moment.

Following the museum's demise on 1 June 2000 (due largely to the increasing value of the property it occupied at Port Columbus Airport), its exhihits, artifacts and aircraft were all donated to the Ohio Historical Society and placed in storage in a hangar at the airport, with the exceptions of the museum's Gemini space capsule and the Caravelle.

The Caravelle was donated to the Columhus Airport Authority and was towed to an open ramp on the far eastern side of the airport, near its historic original terminal building, where it has found a new career with the Columbus Police Department as an anti-terrorism and anti-hijacker training aircraft. In addition, the airport's fire crews regularly use the airplane for fire fighting drills. These training exercises do not seem to harm the aircraft. On the contrary, the fire crew's regular, enthusiastic dousings of the airplane seem to he doing a good job of keeping it clean and free from birds.

This SUD Aviation SE.210 Caravelle OR was the 64th flying example and is best known as the airplane that was seen flying in United Air Lines markings at the 1961 Paris Airshow. It went on to hecome the prototype for United's Caravelle fleet though it never operated with United. On 30 July 1963, it was delivered to the Brazilian carrier Ontario do Sul and registered PP-CJC. It flew exclusively in South America until September 1975 when it was placed in storage.

The Caravelle was purchased by Midwest Air Charter on 20 June 1979 and flown to their headquarters in Elyria, Ohio. Airborne Express purchased Midwest Air Charter on 30 June 1980 and moved their operation to Wilmington, Ohio, where the Caravelle operated in cargo service until 19 November 1983.

The plane was donated to the Ohio History of Flying Museum on 25 June 1985 after being stored in Wilmington and it was flown to Port Columbus Airport and placed on display in a field next to the museum until the summer of 2000 when the museum closed.

Along with the de Havilland Comet and Boeing Dash 80, the era of modern airliners owes much to the Caravelle and its design continues to influence modern aircraft from the MD-II to the Gulfstream V. It is indeed nice to see this historic 40-year-old French aircraft continuing to serve a valuable role for the people of Columbus. Does anyone know if there are any still flying?

When funds become available, the Ohio Historical Society hopes that the Ohio History of Flight Museum's collection of aircraft, including their 1911 Curtiss Pusher, can be removed from storage and again placed on a display, probably at a location near the Historical Society's headquarters in Columbus, but there are no plans pending at this time.

Incidentally, the museum's Gemini capsule was donated to the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum where it underwent a long restoration to remove damage caused by sitting in the field for ten years. It's now in beautiful condition and can be seen on permanent display at the museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

Ken Keisel

via e-mail

CRASHED LOCKHEED

In reference to your letter in the November issue, it is good to know of a fellow aviation historian whose interests include the early wooden Lockheed aircraft. Although first published in 1968 and in six later editions, you are perhaps unfamiliar with my Lockheed book Revolution in the Sky. Hardly a month goes by but that 1 continue to acquire footnotes for it, such as yours.

Yes, Herb Fahy was a noted flyer for the Lockheed Division of Detroit Aircraft Corporation. In 1930, he held the solo non-refueled endurance record and with this pilot-wife Claire, planned various trans-continental and trans-oceanic speed flights. However Depression-hit Detroit-Lockheed kept him at his job as chief test and demonstration pilot.

After surviving the crash of the second City of Tacoma the previous September, Herb Fahy encountered disaster. On 12 April 1930, at St. Louis, he let prospective buyer Casey Lambert test-hop a new Lockheed Sirius, the fifth manufactured (c/n 144, NC14W). The ship lost both ailerons and Lambert left via parachute. Thirteen days later, Herb and Claire brought the third-built Sirius (c/n 142, NR12W) to Roscommon, Michigan, for demonstration to sport pilot Cliff Curant, with the results described in the Editor's comments.

Though they doubtless exist, I have never seen a photograph of Sirius NR12W or of the wreckage at Roscommon. Perhaps with your letter, one will turn up!

Richard Sanders Allen

Lewiston, ID

DESERTER

I found the enclosed photographs in a group of about 60 that I purchased in a junk shop in New Smyrna, Florida. When I first saw the Lightning photos I thought it was a pieced-together machine built up from parts of wrecked aircraft. However, after reading "Deserter" in the September issue 1 now know the facts.