With very faded previous operator Pacific Air Transport titles

An experimental VTOL aircraft, intended to take off and land as seen here. The identity of this aircraft is uncertain. Most say that it is the first prototype 138657, mysteriously painted as 138658. But reliable sources state that only parts (engine and props) of 138657 survived testing by Hiller Aircraft in the late 1950s. The second prototype 138658, left incomplete and without an engine when the design project was cancelled, went on display at NAS Los Alamitos and later at NOLF Imperial Beach until it disappeared in the early 1990s. Then in the mid 1990s the aircraft in this photo suddenly popped up in Florida. It seems likely then that this is in fact the real 138658 (with the props from 138657) and that it was painted correctly.

Unusally, this aircraft also carries its registration on its nose.

Was converted to freighter about a year later.

Seen at the George T Baker Aviation School close to Miami airport.

Highly polished and simply stunning

The sign in the cockpit says 'For sale.' It had a number of further owners until it was seized in Colombia in 1980. There it became HK-3994 with Sadelca in 1995 and was re-registered HK-4189 in 2001.

Incorrectly marked as N-48063

This is a very rare shot, and a slide I thought I had lost. A short-lived airline, the aircraft is clearly ex-Eastern as much of its original livery remains. My flight back to the UK had been delayed and I was able to negotiate ramp access while waiting.

N18GG built by Rob Logan, registered Oct-2002 as a Logan Lancair Legacy

N9856U registered Dec-1976

The Sunshine Clipper was a small two-seat amphibious homebuilt aircraft designed and constructed by Henry C. Palmer of St. Petersburg, Florida. The aircraft was rather unusual in using a 14 ft (4.27 m) Orlando Clipper aluminum boat of 1948 vintage as basis for the fuselage, which was then combined with the wings of a Piper J-3 Cub, and parts and components of Piper J-3 Cub, PA-22 Tri-Pacer and PA-25 Pawnee aircraft, and was powered by a 65 hp Continental A65 engine. It was under restoration.

Ex 53-3258. Believed crashed in the Bahamas 1980 or 1981.

What a livery!

Seen in the microlight area at Sun 'n Fun was this ultralight motor glider. It is battery powered, capable of self launch and neither needs to be registered nor a pilot's licence !

NC18407 registered 1937, to N18407 registered 1948 but remained painted as NC18407. It is representing an American Airlines route survey plane