Previously I-8730

A very attractive recent restoration. I have written to the Museum to try to obtain the real identity, as the one displayed is probably false, but without a reply. It is ex Danish Air Force F-977 and thus 51-5977

Built in 1934 and stunning

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.

Not the best of photographs but I can find no record of this aircraft in this livery. Thanks to Kent Wien, a young passenger on the aircraft I now know that the aircraft was en route to Bournemouth after a lease from Orion to Wien Air Alaska. Previously OO-RVM, TF-VLK, OO-RVM and later N143AW, G-BKMS, VR-HYZ, TC-JUS, HA-LEH, LY-GPA, UR-BVZ, UN-B3705, N453LS and PK-YTG which was later preserved in Indonesia

Was converted to freighter about a year later.

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

This appropriately registered Cub is seen at Mexico City. Despite being a massive International Airport, there are were large numbers of General Aviation aircraft present too.

Previously G-AYNP

Although I took this photograph over 40 years ago (as at 2020) I have only recently realised that this was actually the prototype DC8. Sadly this historically important aircraft was broken up at Marana in 1993

Scanned from 100 ISO Ektachrome, Canon AE-1, 70-210 lens