Rutaca of Cd. Bolivar, Venezuela

Rutaca Airlines
Turismos y Servicios con Cariño
by Jan Koppen

RUTACA Airlines, legally Rutas Aéreas C.A., is an airline headquartered in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezueala and a hub at Simón Bolivár International Airport in Caracas.

In February 2001, I visited their base at Ciudad Bolivar Airport. Unfortunately, their fleet was grounded since the crash of one of their DC-3's.
On January 25, 2001, 27 days before my visit, Rutaca's DC-3 YV-224C flew tourists back from Canaima to Porlamar and made a refueling stop at Ciudad Bolívar. Shortly after takeoff, engine problems forced the pilot to return to Ciudad Bolívar. While trying to return, they lost control, and the DC-3 crashed into the residential El Perú area, vía La piscina. The aircraft struck a large tree and burst into flames. Consequently the Rutaca
DC-3 fleet was grounded.

Enjoy the pictures and captions!

Grounded taildraggers at Ciudad Bolivar.

Here, a Rutaca DC-3 simmer in the heat under the intense Venezuelan sunshine, in February 2001.

Below the pilot's windows, gray water streaks flowed towards the belly.

I found several very scruffy and weathered DC-3's at Cuidad Bolivar.

Unwanted Douglas hardware on a sweltering Bolivar tarmac in February, 2001.

After several years in open storage at Opa-Locka, Florida, the former Cruzeiro 'PP-CED', started a new life with Rutaca in 1984 as YV-222C.

The wide-span hydraulic split flaps at their full 45- degree extention create tremendous drag.

YV-222C, a Long Beach build C-47-DL, had been delivered in 1942 to the USAAF. When her military career was over, her civilian life started as NC51165 for Trans World Airlines (TWA). In the late 50's she was exported to Brazil and went to work for RICO. In the late '70 she was impounded in Florida, USA and parked at Opa-Locka as PP-CED. Finally she was sold to Rutaca in Venezuela as YV-222C in 1991, after a sale to Bolivia in 1982, fell through. She was withdrawn from use at Cd. Bolivar in 2001.

Rutaca DC-3C, YV-218C, at Cd. Bolivar, devoid of propellors, has been flying in Venezuela since 1946!

This DC-3 has been constructed in 1942 as a DC-3C and was taken on strength with the USAAF. After the war she was exported to Colombia and flew a short while for Avianca. In later years she found her way to Venezuela and her last operator was Rutaca, who registered her YV-218C. She was withdrawn from use in 1999.

Rutaca's freight DC-3, YV-227C, is seen here parked at their maintenance ramp at Ciudad Bolivar in central Venezuela. The aircraft was used to haul freight and fuel to remote jungle locations. 27 days before this picture was taken one of Rutaca's DC-3's crashed here in Ciudad Bolivar and Rutaca was forced to stop flying the DC-3.

The multi bolted wing-to-center-section of YV-227C are flanged joint.

A sad, well worn, Douglas DC-3 sits in the Venezuelan sunshine. Her carcass might being used to supply spares for the surviving sisterships.

Originally YV-226C has been manufactured in 1942 at the Long Beach plant as a C-47A-70-DL. After the war she was exported to Venezuela and finally ended-up with Rutaca. She was withdrawn from use at Ciudad Bolivar by 1993.

More modern equipment in the Rutaca fleet was this Cessna 208 Caravan.

YV-791C was involved in a landing incident at Teresita on January 28, 2008 and written-off.

Typical ramp scene at Bolivar.

An-2, YV-1128C, undergoes engine checks on a broiling, hot Ciudad Bolivar tarmac in February, 2001.

The PZL Mielec An-2 utility bi-plane is powered by a 1014 hp. Kalisz Asz-621R engine.

The cockpit of the An-2 displaying well the distinctive window arrangement.

The cockpit featured dual yoke-type controls, and the extensiveness of the canopy glazing really did give the impression of being a greenhouse, providing excellent visibility in the forward hemisphere. The glazing panels were flat to prevent visual distortion, and the canopy was bulged out to the sides to permit a downward view, a feature referred to as the "balcony" and a handy thing for trying to land on short fields, or during crop-dusting. Avionics included an automatic direction finder, a navigation beacon receiver, a radar altimeter, and radios.

YV-1128C was making several testruns during my visit.

After some time YV-1128C was sold to Transmundu C.A. Unfortunately she’d meet her untimely end on October 11, 2003, when she crashed shortly after takeoff from Uriman airport, in the Caroni River.

Aereo Transporte la Montana is a Cd. Bolivar based An-2 bush-plane operator.

Here, Aero Transport La Montana An-2, YV-901C, receives attention from the company's 'mechanicos' in February 2001.

'901C' showing-off her large cargo door. The An-2 is an ideal freigther to fly supplies into the various goldmine airstrips.

The An-2 is certainly not regarded as any beauty queen, but it is so useful, sturdy and docile that few had anything but affection for it. It could take off and land on a postage stamp and is very easy to fly, though not noted for a blazing rate of climb. It also tended to be tail-heavy; it isn't wise to place loads too far back in the cargo compartment.

The tail surfaces were fabric covered, as were all the flight control surfaces. All flight control surfaces were manually actuated.

The An-2 is a short take-off and landing aircraft with a 9 cylinder radial, which is a 1000 h.p. version of the Wright 1820 Cyclone.

Fate hit a blow for '901C' when on October 13, 2003, she was damaged beyond repair after a forced landing following engine problems during a ferry flight from La Paragua to Uriman.

Son of the pilot.

"It was a bloody hot day at Bolivar".

Aereo Transporte la Montana An-2T YV-721CP receives undivided attention during her heavy maintenance.

Note; - The red oil tank with a total capacity of 120 litres.

Unforetunely '721CP' career was short-lived. On March 09, 2007, the Antonov, operated by Mayor Y Detal de Viveres, was overloaded with food destined for a mining area near La Paragua. During take-off from La Paragua, she could not gain enough height, stalled and consequently crashed.

Aereo Transporte la Montana PZL Mielec An-2T YV-1100C look like resting forever.

TRANACA (Transportes Nacionales C.A.) is another Bolivar based An-2 bush-plane operator.

TRANACA, An-2T, YV-546C, undergoing maintenance in the company corrugated iron hangar on the south-west side of Ciudad Bolivar Airport.

Powerplant; a PZL Kalisz Asz-621R.

The colorful tail marking of Transportes Nacionales C.A. An-2 YV-546C at their Bolivar base.

- The End -

5 Sep 2017 an AN-2 of an unknown operator crashed at Playa Linda in Bolivar State, Venezuela, killing a passenger.

4 Sep 2017 an AN-2 aircraft operated by Aéreo Transporte La Montaña flipped over when landing at La Paragua Airport. Damage was substantial, but there were no fatalities.

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Rutaca AirlinesTurismos y Servicios con Cariño by Jan Koppen

Rutaca Airlines
Turismos y Servicios con Cariño
by Jan Koppen