C97 at FBF Ready to Fly

[Gerard]

I'm hearing from a number of sources on Facebook including the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation page that the C-97 Stratofreighter that has undergone extensive renovations and repairs at the Historic Aircraft Restoration POroject hangar in Floyd Bennett Field is finally ready and will be going airborne this Wednesday May 31 at 4PM weather permitting!! This would be great to witness. Will keep all informed if I hear anymore or if anyone else hears anything!!

[727C47]

Great !!!

[moose135]

I stopped by there this afternoon, and spoke with one of the senior guys on the team (we've known each other for years) and he confirmed Wednesday afternoon, conditions permitting. When I asked him about the schedule - I mentioned 3 or 4 pm, and he said that's a little tricky, and that to be safe, I might want to be there by 1pm. Looks like I'm going to need to have a chat with the boss on Tuesday.

[Gerard]

I stopped by there this afternoon, and spoke with one of the senior guys on the team (we've known each other for years) and he confirmed Wednesday afternoon, conditions permitting. When I asked him about the schedule - I mentioned 3 or 4 pm, and he said that's a little tricky, and that to be safe, I might want to be there by 1pm. Looks like I'm going to need to have a chat with the boss on Tuesday.

Yes please do!! I was going to get there around 3 but now.......

[PropPro]

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/c-97g-angel-deliverance-flight-imminent.html

[Chris S]

Are they flying it to Ocean County Airport in Toms River, NJ ??

[Gerard]

Are they flying it to Ocean County Airport in Toms River, NJ ??

Thats what Im hearing. Hopefully we get a definite departure time but I'll be there by 1 and just relax.

[Gerard]

One of the flight crew on FB said anytime beyween 1 and 4. I can get my walking in when I get there early!! If you see a tall guy with salt and pepper hair walking around the Field it'll be me lolol

[Zee71]

Was hoping to catch the C-97 departure today. She taxied out to the runway but the lady had a problem with engine number 3. Supposedly it was a carburetor issue which they hope to resolve today and then try to fly out tomorrow. Hopefully they'll schedule her departure for late afternoon.

[moose135]

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Berlin-Airlift-Historical-Foundation-C-97/i-xRhVZkj/1/468feaeb/XL/JM_2017_05_31_BAHF_C-97_001-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Berlin-Airlift-Historical-Foundation-C-97/i-GS5dB7N/1/944ca74c/XL/JM_2017_05_31_BAHF_C-97_005-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Berlin-Airlift-Historical-Foundation-C-97/i-PsrgQHj/1/81e30011/XL/JM_2017_05_31_BAHF_C-97_002-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Berlin-Airlift-Historical-Foundation-C-97/i-Q9ZsZ2Q/1/ddf862b3/XL/JM_2017_05_31_BAHF_C-97_007-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Berlin-Airlift-Historical-Foundation-C-97/i-H8MFS6T/1/1871c155/XL/JM_2017_05_31_BAHF_C-97_010-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Berlin-Airlift-Historical-Foundation-C-97/i-HszZXnh/1/94f2166f/XL/JM_2017_05_31_BAHF_C-97_014-XL.jpg

[Gerard]

Was hoping to catch the C-97 departure today. She taxied out to the runway but the lady had a problem with engine number 3. Supposedly it was a carburetor issue which they hope to resolve today and then try to fly out tomorrow. Hopefully they'll schedule her departure for late afternoon.

Mark nice to meet you today!! Yes we came so close to seeing the departure but I'm glad they aborted when they did because I was ready to fall off that hill lol. Haven't seen anything on their Facebook page about trying again tomorrow. I guess we're get a better idea in the morning. As of now I have nothing tomorrow so I'll probably head back.
BTW when I left they had opened up the road that goes down to HARP so I took a ride past to get a look then turned around to head out and who do I see riding past on her bike? I think she was still talking to herself.

[Gerard]

According to their Facebook page as of 9:20 here is no timetable yet for today. They are still working on the problem and if its gets fixed they will try again.

[Gerard]

Just posted "It's a go" but no Timeline

[Gerard]

As of 12:10 takeoff within the hour. Oh well I'll never make that even if traffic was good!!

[Gerard]

Flight scrubbed again.Was watching a feed of them taxing then heard nothing which gave me pause that something was going on.

[Gerard]

From my source at FBF and a post on the Berlin Airlift FB page it looks like it's going to be awhile before a takeoff is attempted again. Months most likely.

[Zee71]

Moose .... awesome shots, and it was a pleasure meeting you Gerald as well. Hopefully the motor mouth gal rode off quietly into the sun set yesterday. Will have to stay tuned in for when she'll be ready to depart again.

[moose135]

Thanks, Mark! Good to see you as well. I'm hearing they will replace the carb on #3, then they need to coordinate with half the western world again on a departure date/time. Most of the flight crew is from out of town, so their schedules will need to align, plus they are bringing the C-54 to Reading this weekend. I heard it will be a few weeks, at least, before they try again.

[Gerard]

Hopefully the motor mouth gal rode off quietly into the sun set yesterday. Will have to stay tuned in for when she'll be ready to depart again.

Who's ready to depart again, bike girl or the C -97 lolol
John I heard months rather than weeks. I hope your're right.
Where do they hangar the C-54?

[Gerard]

Latest I heard that they wont be allowed to use the Runway till November as per US Park Service

[moose135]

The C-54 is supposed to be on display down here next weekend. I'll have to talk to the guys if I can.

[Gerard]

The C-54 is supposed to be on display down here next weekend. I'll have to talk to the guys if I can.

Its a different C-54. According to Kevin on FB they hope to be trying again the first week of November.

[moose135]

Its a different C-54.
No, it isn't. They got a new paint job a year or so ago, so it's silver/grey, not the white it used to be.

[moose135]

I stopped by Concord Regional Airport today to see the C-54 - the Berlin Airlift Veterans Association is having their annual reunion in Charlotte this week. I had a chance to talk with Tim Chopp, president of the BAHF, and he said they are on target for Monday, November 6 to fly the C-97 out of FBF. If that looks like a firm date, I may need to figure out a way to come up for it...

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Concord-Regional-Airport/i-r9SkgrQ/0/8753763f/XL/JM_2017_09_27_C-54_BAHF_N500EJ_001-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Concord-Regional-Airport/i-TD3rcVd/0/494e315a/XL/JM_2017_09_27_C-54_BAHF_N500EJ_002-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Concord-Regional-Airport/i-htTFfB7/0/ac0ce986/XL/JM_2017_09_27_C-54_BAHF_N500EJ_003-XL.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Concord-Regional-Airport/i-wQtJBgh/0/3d850d92/XL/JM_2017_09_27_C-54_BAHF_N500EJ_004-XL.jpg

[Gerard]

No, it isn't. They got a new paint job a year or so ago, so it's silver/grey, not the white it used to be.
My mistake I meant the C-97. I got my math wrong.
And November 6 is a good date fior me for the proposed launch. But iof course being retired all dates look good. Hope you can make it up here.

[megatop412]

Well I unfortunately already know I will not be able to miss work for this so you gents better get some nice snaps of the event

[Gerard]

According to their FB page they are looking at Monday November 6 for a departure from Floyd Bennett. No time listed as yet.

[Gerard]

According to their FB page they are looking at Monday November 6 for a departure from Floyd Bennett. No time listed as yet.

Because of forecast poor weather tomorrow the departure has been rescheduled for Tuesday at 11AM.

[Gerard]

And we have LIFTOFF!! Didnt make it down as they changed the departure from 11:30 till after 10. It actually safely took off around 10:40 or so heading down the Jersey Shoreline at 1500ft to Ocean County Airport for a refuel. There is a chaser plane with them. Just watched the whole thing on Facebook Live and it was an awesome sight to see it fly!!

[Zee71]

LIFTOFF it was! The C-97 finally made her glorious departure off RWY 6. Here are my grabs. Enjoy!

https://photos.smugmug.com/Aviation/Airplanes-and-Spotting/Floyd-Bennett-Field-FBF/i-sCqL8zv/0/5da4ae9a/L/C-97_01_FBF_07Nov2017_Tow_559595_24-120mm-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Aviation/Airplanes-and-Spotting/Floyd-Bennett-Field-FBF/i-DJ6NvqP/0/69f7f98c/L/C-97_02_FBF_07Nov2017_Tow_559595_24-120mm-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Aviation/Airplanes-and-Spotting/Floyd-Bennett-Field-FBF/i-qWZsMcQ/0/5e8a256a/L/C-97_03_FBF_07Nov2017_Tow_559595_24-120mm-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Aviation/Airplanes-and-Spotting/Floyd-Bennett-Field-FBF/i-ht7xcZW/0/035bb34c/L/C-97_04_FBF_07Nov2017_Tow_559595_24-120mm-L.jpg

The chase plane T-34
https://photos.smugmug.com/Aviation/Airplanes-and-Spotting/Floyd-Bennett-Field-FBF/i-P93HxX5/0/2d8abc62/L/T-34_01_FBF_07Nov2017_N234MD_150-600mm-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Aviation/Airplanes-and-Spotting/Floyd-Bennett-Field-FBF/i-TFPTppx/0/e4b70b41/L/C-97_05_FBF_07Nov2017_06_559595_150-600mm-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Aviation/Airplanes-and-Spotting/Floyd-Bennett-Field-FBF/i-KQLdWTZ/0/008e0ed7/L/C-97_06_FBF_07Nov2017_06_559595_150-600mm-L.jpg

[Gerard]

Mark, great pictures!! Was getting dressed and ready to drive in when I saw they changed departure time!! Love the shot of the chase plane. Saw on FB they departed Ocean County at 1:30 and landed safely at Reading, Pa.

[Steven Holzinger]

The C-97 landed safely in Toms River and after a short fuel stop, departed for Reading, where it will remain and make its debut during World War II Weekend on June 1-3, 2018.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DXvVSBVUpg

[megatop412]

Beautiful job, happy to see that thing's finally airborne. Looking forward to seeing it next summer