Strombotne.com

Pictured is one of the more unusual aircraft at the National Air Force Museum; a Northrop YC-125 Raider. It must be said however, that there are many very interesting retired machines here that I’d never seen before — not to mention knew about, e.g. Douglas A-20G Havoc of which 2,850 copies were built. Very cool [...]

While browsing a dusty photo album I was pleased to find an early photo of my Uncle and Aunt taken in the Spring of 1946. The backdrop airplane, a Spartan Executive Model 7W, was owned and flown at the time by movie consultant and stunt pilot Paul Mantz. Uncle was a licensed Airframe and Powerplant [...]

Stumbling upon a photo set from the Castle Air Force Museum my attention was captured by a static display of an old Convair 240. In reading the descriptive caption I realized that I was looking at some aviation history that I had been close to. Further searching revealed documented early days of this Convair 240-11, [...]

The distinctive blue bubbles on this CRJ gave away its former identity and a close up revealed the old Blueridge tail number unchanged. Evidently the aircraft had a 2 year fling with Georgian National aka SKY georgia in Tbilisi until being replaced by a larger but older DC-9-51. Russian and separatist hostility broke out shortly [...]

Braving snakes, and lizards in the tall grass and with an eye open for Santo Domingo security which might take exception to my off airport excursion, I explored this Boeing 707 gone to pasture. This workhorse belonged to an airline that went from boom to bust with a somewhat sad safety record enroute. [ reference [...]

This old ship has not had the fortune to be rescued but at least it has not been destroyed for scrap (yet). I was able to photograph what remains of HI-393 at its final resting place were it would appear that a hurricane or two may have had its way. Nature and the elements are [...]

This old goose, like most old transport – locomotives, ships, airliners, has led a colorful and checkered existence. There are glory days in the beginning followed by declining efficiency, revenue and rising competition from newer more advanced innovation. This Lockheed 1049 Constellation was conceived toward the end of the second world war and for its [...]

name the stars:

Spotted this old dog commuter bird with the familiar N number while on a stopover in Florida It would appear to be enjoying a second life as a luxury corporate conversion. Here are some less lucky old horses been put out to pasture: N429UE N423UE N414UE

I logged PIC time in this very plane between late 1988 and early 1989. It was operated by an airline called Westair which was based in Fresno. In that era N617KC made commuter flights throughout California. Westair had a fleet of these Bandits, most of which have likely received this same fate by now.