Balboa, Panamá Pacífic Airport
Former Howard AFB
February 2024
In January 2024, my wife and I left cold and rainy Holland for Central America in search for better weather and some adventure. During this trip I also spend some time on aeroplane spotting at the various airports. The routing was Amsterdam - Bogota - Panama - Costa Rica - Nicaragua and back. Below a photo-report of what I've done.
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Balboa Panama Pacific International is situated on the grounds of the former Howard AFB.
Wingo 7038 just arrived from Cali, Colombia. Balboa, Februay 2, 2024.
Here, an United States of America C-37B is caught between flights on a sticky day at Balboa Panama Pacifico in February 2024.
Close-up of 06-0500 Gulfstream Aerospace C-37B at Balboa Panama Pacifico International Airport.
In 1988 Beechcraft took the 300 and stretched the fuselage with two extra cabin windows on each side, MTWO increased, and winglets added to the wingtips to create the Model B300, introduced in 1990 and initially marketed as the Super King Air 350. A version with a large cargo door was developed: the Model B300C, marketed as the “Super King Air 350C.
N151Q is a Beechcraft B350CER of the US Customs and Border Protection (Homeland Security) and seen here at Balboa on February 2, 2024.
N115H is a Beechcraft B350CER of the US Customs and Border Protection (Homeland Security) and seen here at Balboa on February 2, 2024.
N151Q was stationed at Balboa from January 25, 2024 until February 7, 2024.
The graveyard, a corner of the airport with a couple of planes long since abandoned and left to rot by insolvent or fraudulent owners.
Beech announced the "King Air" on July 14, 1963 and began taking orders a month later. The first prototype was designated as Model King Air 90 and fitted with a PT6A-6 engine. Production switched to the Model King Air A90 with PT6A-20 engines in 1966.
N392KC is a moss covered, 1978 built Beech 200. Balboa, Februay 2, 2024.
She is already 57 years old! - N526RR is a Beechcraft A90 King Air which was build in 1967. Balboa, Februay 2, 2024.
N100EJ is a 1976 built North American Sabreliner 80 which was still operational in 2009.
The Sabreliner was powered by TFE 731 turbofans. I can still remember the deafening sound of those early beasts after take-off.
AN-124 was a former gate guard at Rousseau Army base, Panama.
N108RB is a 1976 built Learjet 35. Her last operator was Aero Trust and last action was in August 2022.
HR-ALU, came off the Douglas Long Beach production line as a C-47-DL in 1941 for delivery to the USAAF.
After retirement from the military, she was sold on the civilian market and wore French registrations. During the mid '70s she saw service with several American operators registered N28BA. In 1988 she was exported to Honduras and worked for outfits like SETCO (Servicios Ejecutivos Turisticos commander) and AVIAC (Aerovias Centroamericanas S.A.).
HR-ALU is a longtime resident at Balboa.
A very old DC-3, far from airworthy.
I think, HR-ALU will remain stranded at Balboa Panama Pacific Airport.
I'm afraid that Aero Vias Centroamericanas S.A. has ceased all operations a long time ago!
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