Cochabamba, March 2005.
In March 2005, I travelled with Michael S. Prophet and Mr. Andre van Loon, to Cochabamba, Bolivia, to visit Lineas Aereas Canado. To reach Cochabamba, I flew with KLM to Sao Paolo, with Varig to Santa Cruz, Bolivia and the last stretch with TAM to Cochabamba.
Varig Brasil Boeing 737-300, PP-VOO, ready for ops.
PP-VOO heads-out on business.
Varig 8884 prepares for departure from GRU to VVI.
PP-VOO, Santa Cruz, Bolivia bound as RG8884, over São Paulo, on a beautiful sunny day.
After 18-years of service with the former Brasilian flag-carrier, PP-VOO, was sold to WebJet Linhas Aereas. In March 2014 she was withdrawn from service and stored at Goodyear, AZ.
Aeropuerto International, Viru Viru, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
CP-861 getting fuel at Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
CP-861 was withdrawn from service at Cochabamba two years after I took this photo.
Close-up of Boeing 767-300 CP-2425 of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano operating from Santa Cruz, in March 2005.
The 767 was stripped of valuable parts and scrapped at Mexico City Airport in 2018.
AeroSur Boeing 727-200, CP-2462, takes a break between operations.
This 727 was originally delivered to Mexicana in 1980. It joined AeroSur's fleet in 2004 and has been dumped here at Viru Viru since AeroSur went bust in 2010.
LAB Cargo Boeing 727-200F CP-2428 at VVI, prepping for another cargo run.
Today the 727-freighter is still active for Total Linas Aereas as PR-TTP.
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LAB Boeing 727-200, CP-1366, between trips.
CP-1367 is withdrawn from use at Cochabamba since February 2013.
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I also visited the well-known Lockheed Constellation in the city center of Santa Cruz.
In 1961, the Constellation was forced to land at Santa Cruz, Bolivia while on a smuggling flight from Miami to Uruguay, carrying cigarettes and whiskey.
She was a former Braniff Airlines ship.
Boarding time for LB1972, which appeared to be a TAM F-100, which was on short-term lease to Lloyd Aereo Boliviano.
Transporte Aéreo Marília (TAM) F-100 at Santa Cruz, Bolivia before departing for CBB in March 2005.
Boarding TAM Fokker F-100, PT-MQP, operating Lloyd Aereo Boliviano flight LB1972, for Cochabamba.
PT-MQP shortly after arrival at Cochabamba.
The ramp scene at Aeropuerto Jorge Wilstermann.
I took this photo from the observation deck at Cochabamba, Jorge Wilstermann airport, in March 2005.
The Fokker is still active today (2022) for Iran Aseman Airlines as EP-ASU.
First glimpse of Lineas Aereas Canedo base.
Lineas Aereas Canedo is a family enterprise founded by Captain Rolando Canedo in 1978. Captain's Canedo attention to detail is legendary as far as aircraft maintenance is concerned. Aircraft are kept spotless all the time!
Nose riding high Curtiss.
Curtiss Commando CP-973, which was manufactured in 1944 enjoyed a long and various career. After the war she was bought by well-known C-46 Parts Inc. from Miami. For re-sale. In the following years she operated respectively for Aerovias Las Minas and Transportes Aeros Bolivar, both in Bolivia. In 1993 she was acquired by well-known meat hauler, Frigorifico Santa Rita. In October 2002 she, finally, was sold to Lineas Aereas Canedo.
The Curtiss was parked at Lineas Aereas Canedo maintenance area.
US hardware on a tranquil Cochabamba tarmac in March 2005.
Vintage Douglas piston-engined transport forms a fitting frame for this brought shouldered Curtiss Commando.
Look-up to the Curtiss!
I would say, she is not old, she is ancient!
Splendid Lineas Aereas Canedo family portrait.
Barn door flaps.
The side-loading cargo door can be distinguished mid-way along the aft port side fuselage.
It was a warm and beautiful March 2005 afternoon, when I photographed this Lineas Aereas Canedo Curtiss Commando.
We were rewarded with bright sunshine on this lovely Monday, March 7, 2005.
The front office of CP-973, but can a photograph communicate the feel of this wonderful machine?
Your author at the helm of CP-973.
Micheal Prophet, Andre van Loon and Roberto Canedo, inspecting the company's Curtiss Commando.
Looks like a museum ramp!. Crystal clear image on a gorgeous day in March 2005.
Parked in a remote corner of Cochabamba Jorge Wilstermann Airport, Curtiss CP-973, watches the company’s newly imported C-117D, registered CP-2421, basking in the sun.
Some former American stars from yesteryear, were seen in March 2005, at Cochabamba.
A timeless view across the Lineas Aereas Canedo ramp at Cochabamba.
CP-2421 receives undivided attention for nagging engine problem.
1943 built, CP-2421, gleaming on Canedo’s apron in March, 2005.
This aircraft left the factory as a C-47A Skytrain in 1943 for delivery to the USAAF. In April 1944 she was converted to a R4D-5 for service with the US Navy. After the war she was transferred to the US Marine Corps and rebuild to a C-117D Skytrooper. When her military career was over, she was withdrawn from service at MASDC in August 1976. She was saved from scrapping by Hawkins & Powers in 1984. The Super DC-3 passed through the hands of several owners before ending up with the Canedo’s in September 2002.
The radar installation of the Curtiss Commando forms a fitting frame for a close-up of CP-2421.
Mid-day sunshine glints off the polished aluminum.
This aircraft, a C-117D, is pictured at Cochabamba’s Jorge Wilstermann airport during the spring of 2005.
CP-2421 bright livery is seen here gleaming in the strong spring sunlight.
Super DC-3 CP-2421 sitting pretty at Cochabamba in the spring of 2005.
CP-2421 on the Lineas Aereas Canedo ramp.
Soft spring light glints off the classic Curtiss.
Caught from the Super DC3 by me.
In poor condition, this prized relic was now undergoing some form of restoration in the Canedo hangar.
CP-1128 was built in 1937 as a DC-3A-sleeper and delivered new to Eastern Airlines as NC18122. She was impressed by the USAAF in June 1942 as 42-56631. Already before the end of the war she returned to civil service with Eastern, regaining her previous registration. She remained with the Miami based Airline until December 1953. Afterwards she received the registration N15M and flew for Jim Hankins Air Serv. and Academy Airlines, among others. In 1974 she was exported to Bolivia by Mr. Rolando Canedo for his charter airline SAVCO. Finally, she was transferred to Mr. Canedo’s last carrier, Lineas Aereas Canedo. I persume she is still stored at Cochabamba.
Men at Work! - According Miguel Angel Pabon Galindo they are mecanicos Mario and Cecillio.
Weather-beaten veteran, CP-607, marooned in a corner of the airfield.
Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 2005.
Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 2005.
CP-607 was delivered to the USAAF as 42-92736. Re-registered briefly as NC19364 to Panagra before being transferred in August 1945 to the Bolivian Air Force as CB-34. In June 1954 she went to the civilian market as CP-607, where she flew for Lloyd Aereo Boliviano. In the mid ’80 she was bought by Transportes Aereos Tadeo, and as such photographed. During the 90’s she worked a meat-hauler with Frigorifico Santa Rita, Transportes Aereos Virgen del Carmen, among others.
Will she remain stranded at Cochabamba?
She is looking rather lackluster.
CP-1419 in derelict condition at Cochabamba - Jorge Wilstermann, in March 2005.
Hanging on by her teeth, hopefully she will stay 'lucky' for some more time.
This workhorse looks a little the worse for wear.
CP-1419 rolled off the Oklahoma production line as C-47B 44-76656 in 1945 and was converted to C-47D in 1949. She was sold to Bolivia in 1963 and flew for various companies until bought by Compania Boliviana de Aviacion in November 1987. By the way; - She still wears the faded livery of this last operator. In 2015, the wreck, which was lying dormant for years at Cochabamba, was bought by Transporte Aereos Virgen de Carmen (TAVIC). The fuselage remained present at CBB.
Cristo de la Concordia (Christ of Peace) is a statue of Jesus Christ located atop San Pedro Hill, to the east of Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is accessible by cable car, or by climbing 2,000 steps. The statue is 34.20 metres (112.2 ft) tall, on a pedestal of 6.24 metres (20.5 ft), for a total height of 40.44 metres (132.7 ft).
View of the airport from San Pedro Hill.
Bibli-avion is a former USAF Convair 240 trainer and was rescued by Frigorifico Reyes in 1975.
"La lectura es mi locura".
FAB-542 B-25D Mitchell is on display close to Cochabamba airport.
This is a former Venezuelan and Bolivian Air Forces B-25 Mitchell. She crash landed at Santa Cruz airport, Bolivia, a long time ago and was damaged beyond repair. The B-25 was transported to Cochabamba, reconstructed and placed in static display at Capt. W. Arce Square, approximately 300 meters east from Cochabamba Airport (CBB).
Back at the airport.
CP-2426 Boeing 767-300 her APU is being serviced.
CP-2426 Boeing 767-300 her APU is being serviced.
The 767 was looked after by a LAB working party.
Friday routine maintenance at Cochabamba.
The 767 was scrapped at Mexico City in 2019.
Boeing 727-200 CP-1276 of LAB is seen here enjoying a C-check at Cochabamba during March 2005.
Today, CP-1276, sits in the weeds at Cochabamba already for many, many years.
CP-1223 looked rather lackluster.
CP-1223 is seen here receiving some form of maintenance.
Cochabamba, March 2005.
Cochabamba, March 2005.
LAB maintenance headquarters is pictured here in a Kodak blue sky.
Flaps fully down, outboard engines removed, CP-1223 of LAB undergoes an outdoor check in a corner of the ramp.
Mind the vortex generators on the 727 tail.
The 727 was actually the first jet airliner to be equipped with an auxiliary power unit and integral air stairs.
Visiting friends at LAB, Cochabamba, March 2005.
Today, CP-1223 languish at Cochabamba in derelict condition.
Fokker Friendship F27-200 CP-2013.
After several years in open storage the Friendship was repossessed by TAM Bolivia and operated by them on pax services within Bolivia.
CP-2463 receives mechanical attention in the open and a fresh coat of paint.
CP-2463 was sold to Aerosur in 2007 and operated their last flight on August 25, 2011, after which she was stored at Cochabamba.
Two very old and far from airworthy 727's.
Rough looking CP-1070.
It doesn't look as though CP-1070, named "Tarija", is going far when I saw it at Cochabamba in 2005.
CP-2427 in her former Allegro uniform, was a beat-up old airplane.
CP-2464 was a former American Airlines ship.
Today, grass is growing under this old classic bird, which is stored at Cochabamba.
We had an early morning departure to La Paz on Boeing 727-100, CP-861, as flight LB0810.
CP-861 was soon heading purposefully towards the active runway.
The interior of '861' looked a bit grubby.
Off it was on a bright sunny Tuesday, March 8, 2005, rocketing down to La Paz in merely 65 minutes, bringing back memories from our more glorious aviation past back in the 70’s and 80’s.
CP-861 remained stranded at Cochabamba since March 2007.