It had recently been acquired by Rhoades International ex Century Airlines. Started life as an CV-240 with American Airlines before going to Trans Texas Airways, with whom it was when converted to a CV-600, then Texas International, SMB Stage Lines, Kitty Hawk Cargo and Century Airlines. Broken up by Oct 2004.

Taxiing out for departure which I wish I could have filmed! With Rhoades Mar 92 to Mar 2004. Previous operators included Kitty Hawk, Skyfreighters, Combs Airways, Linjeflyg (Sweden) as SE-CPP, All Nippon Airways and, of origin, REAL (Brazil). Went to Starflite International Mar 2004 and Neal Wayne Barker (Lineville Airlines) Sep 2010. Reg cancelled Mar 2013. Fate unknown, presumed broken up.

This was a marriage of the fuselage of c/n 283 with the wings of c/n 409. C/n 283 was a C131F with the US Navy as 141000. C/n 409 was an ex Lufthansa Convair 440. It went to Air Algerie in Jun 68 as 7T-VAO. Converted to CV-640 Dep 68. Acquired by Atlas Aircraft Corp possibly early 80s. Wings married to c/n 283 circa Sep 84. Acquired by Kitty Hawk Airways May 92 and joined Rhoades Mar 99. Noted stored Sep 2007. Reg cnx Jan 2009 as broken up.

Originally a Convair 240 operated by American Air Lines and Trans Texas Airways. Converted to Convair 600 Nov 1966. Joined SMB Stage Lines Jan 78. To Kitty Hawk Air Cargo Oct 91. Operated with Rhoades from Jun 2000 to Aug 2001 when it went to J&R Aircraft Leasing. In Jun 2003 it made its way to Mexico and Transportes Saltillo Monterrey as XA-TYF. Noted still in service Sep 2009. Apparently had some sort of mishap later that year (no details known) and did not fly again.

Later CF-FTR with Buffalo Airways and then to Basler for conversion to BT-67. Registered N161PR in 2019.

Registered to R&R Holdings Inc. It was ex XM296 with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Queens Flight before that. On 1 Nov 2015, en route to a new owner in Bolivia, the aircraft made an emergency landing at Santa Cruz-Viru Viru IAP (VVI) in Bolivia following the in flight separation of the no. 3 prop. The prop struck engine no. 4, causing substantial damage to that engine. The latest news I have received is that it was restored and awaiting sale.

Ex US Airways N762US and N770AL. With ATA Feb 93 to Mar 2003. Converted to freighter Jun 2004. To Astar Air Cargo / DHL Worldwide Express Jul 2004. Stored Jan 2009. To 5N-BNQ Nov 2010. Last noted stored Johannesburg (RSA) 2016.

Ju 290A-4 anti-shipping aircraft, converted to Ju 290-A-7 with nose turret. Captured near Munich on 6 May 1945. Named Alles Kaputt by Col Harold Watson. Ferry flight Paris - Azores - Bermuda - Patterson Field - Freeman Field 28 July - 2 August 1945. German markings reapplied in America.

This Hs 129 tankbuster was G blue with 8.(Pz.)/Schl.G.2. It was hit by AA fire and crash-landed at Toubakeur in Tunisia on 7 April 1943. With its outer wings removed it was brought to El Aouina where it was captured by the Allies. It was transported to the USA where it was repaired in a lengthy process. It is seen here with the Foreign Aircraft Evaluation Center at Freeman Army Airfield. On 24 July 1946 it crash-landed in a field at Gallatin, TN, due to fuel leakage. Its front fuselage went to the Victory Air Museum at Mundelein, IL in 1951 and in 1986 to Martin Mednis of Sydney, Australia. Note the triangular fuselage and the tiny cockpit. FE-4600 is the Foreign Evaluation serial and EB105 its previous Evaluation Branch serial.

Sold in Mexico as XA-SUY in 1968. Photo supplied by Allan Hammons. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

Reregistered N85B in 1953. Allan Hammons Collection photo. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

Former US Army TH-55A 66-18320. To LV-ZTL in 2000.

Many US bases have impressive gate guard parks, many of those are high quality and not inferior for official air force museums! One of these is the aircraft park at Grissom (IN).

Many US bases have impressive gate guard parks, many of those are high quality and not inferior for official air force museums! One of these is the aircraft park at Grissom (IN).

Many US bases have impressive gate guard parks, many of those are high quality and not inferior for official air force museums! One of these is the aircraft park at Grissom (IN).

Many US bases have impressive gate guard parks, many of those are high quality and not inferior for official air force museums! One of these is the aircraft park at Grissom (IN).