Miami
Airport Spotting Report - March 1986
Michael S. Prophet
Amazing photo opportunities on the ramp of Miami in the 70's. Challenge Air Transport Inc. broad sholdered Curtiss Commando N9761Z looks stunning!
Intro:
Miami International Airport was surely the mecca for those who admired the classic piston-engine transports and first-generation jets from a by-gone era. Its geographical location, with its Caribbean and Latin American connection, provided a healthy supply of tired old vintage propliners. In between a stream classic Jets these old vintage transports, provided for a unique flavor to Miami airport operations. Due to the excellent tropical weather, lots of sun, sea and tourist attractions it was a favorite destination for many aviation photographers, (including yours truly).
For the lover of piston engine transports, Miami Airport South Florida was a great place to visit and combine it with some aircraft spotting and tourist activities. In March 1986 I visited Miami, traveling from Amsterdam with TWA B747, via JFK New York (TWA B727) for my first real spotting trip in South Florida. There were numerous hotel accommodation located along the NW 36th Street, located on the North edge of the airport. Allot of spotter stayed at the Viscount Hotel, which at the time was about 37 US dollars for a standard room. I decided to stay at the nearby Miami Airways Motel (US 29 dollars), which was in walking distance off many of the cargo ramps across the road. All rooms had cable television, double beds, air-conditioning and the central yard featured a nice swimming pool. The Airways Motel also had a courtesy bus running back and forth to the main terminal.
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During my twee weeks stay I encountered an occasional shower, but otherwise the weather was really great, with afternoon temperatures running into the 30-33 degrees celcius. Most of the cargo companies were located along the 36th NW Street and it was possible to walk to, but the afternoon’s temperatures got really very hot. So for getting around I decided to rent a car for a couple of days.
During my stay I took one off the local busses (No 30) from the hotel, which was a direct line to Downtown Miami and went even went further to Miami Beach. I stopped off at Watson Park, located behind the Douglas MacArthur Bridge, which was the home of Chalks Seaplane base. No trip to South Florida is complete with visiting Chalks and photographing their Grumman G-73 Mallards in action. Sadly I never thought of getting a flight with them!
Chalk's Grumman Mallard N115FB at the Miami Watson Island ramp in 1986. That same year Dionne Warwick & Friends with "That's what friends are for" was the number ONE hit on the US billboard. The Mallard is listed stored at Mesa Falcon Field, AZ.
Further up the road, passing the Viscount Hotel, was a small dead-end side street (NW 57th Ave), which lead to Seckman Aviation and Bellomy Lawson Aviation Inc (Propeller Service of Miami). It was just a short 3-4 minute drive, but I made sure to stop everyday near the fence. Ramp permission at Seckman Aviation was very easy and in no time I was standing on their oil covered ramp, in the midst of several Douglas DC-3s, which were under maintenance. I photographed several PBA Airlines DC-3s and a single YS-11, all packed very close together.
The Bellomy Lawson (BL) blackened oil-ramp was packed with its fleet of tired looking Douglas DC-6 freighters. Photographing them was very easy from the fence and from on top of a local staircase next to a freight shed, which provide for some great overview pictures. Usually every morning one or two DC-6s were being readied for the morning flight and the ground crew would usually ground run an aircraft. Due to the morning sun position this location provided for great photo opportunities.
Bellomy Lawson was one of the oldest DC-6 operators at Miami and its history goes back a long time, when the two founding fathers Harold Bellomy and Charles Lawson first met in 1962 at L.B. Smith, a Miami based fixed based operator. Bellomy Lawson was not a real airline company as such, but more a holding company on behalf of two major elements of the air transport business. The airline operations was named ‘Aerial Transit’ which was a FAA Part 121 carrier, formed in 1983 after BL sold off its former airline company ‘Challenge Air Transport’. At its peak BL operated nine DC-6s and a single Curtis C-46 and employed 80 people, including 24 pilots.
Douglas DC-6 N98BL at an oil stained Miami ramp back in 1986. The 'SIX' was broken-up at Miami in 1993.
The Miami Airways Motel was located across the Rich International and Commodore Aviation facilities. During my daily ramp check I, noted several Lockheed L-188 Electra’s, that were being worked on. A number of B727 & B707 jets were also being worked on. A couple of minutes walking distance to the East were another interesting ramp area which was taken up by Cam Air International Aviation. They usually had a bunch of Lockheed L-188 freight Electra’s parked. At the time the service road went right up close to the Northern runway 9L-27R, great for pictures. Close by two Pro Air Douglas DC-3s called it their home.
CAM Air International Lockheed Electra N667F was named 'Debbie Ann'. In the background the famous Viscount Hotel. Last operator of the Electra was Atlantic Airlines from Coventry, UK. Presently she is stored poor condition at Coventry.
A ProAir Douglas DC-3 was trundling back across the airfield to her base, yet another mission completed.
Further down 36th NW Street, driving to the next dead-end side street was a large dome like hangar, which was used Pan Aviation. At the time I noted several DC-8s and B720 withdrawn from use next to the hangar. Located next to Pan Aviation was small ramp with three Boeing C-97 Strato-cruisers belonging to the Dominican cargo operator called Agro Air. Off course I asked for ramp permission, but the folks were very fussy and I could not take pictures. So plan B kicked in action. Luckily the old rusted fencing where not to high and I found some high vantage point (standing on a container) to snap a view pictures when one of their might C-97 were running all 4 engines!
Further down 36th NW Street, driving to the next dead-end side street was a large dome like hangar, which was used Pan Aviation. At the time I noted several DC-8s and B720 withdrawn from use next to the hangar. Located next to Pan Aviation was small ramp with three Boeing C-97 Strato-cruisers belonging to the Dominican cargo operator called Agro Air. Off course I asked for ramp permission, but the folks were very fussy and I could not take pictures. So plan B kicked in action. Luckily the old rusted fencing where not to high and I found some high vantage point (standing on a container) to snap a view pictures when one of their might C-97 were running all 4 engines!
Agro Air Boeing KC-97L Stratofreighter receives mechanical attention in the open.
A Big Prop on final approach to one of Miami's runways in 1986.
At the end of this street was a huge Dyn Airtech cargo/maintenance hangar, which served TAN Sahsa Airlines. Usually of their Lockheed L-188C Electra’s could be found in front of the hangar.
Further down 36th NW Street, to the next dead-end side street (NW 62nd Ave) was the home of Miami most famous piston-engine cargo operator called Trans Air link - TAL. They were one of the established operators using a fleet of dependable Douglas DC-6 freighters and a single ex KLM DC-7C “Seven Sies”. TAL was founded by John and Gary Balnicki, father and son and owners of Florida Atlas Aircraft Corporation, a high class airframe & engine parts dealer. Issued with a FAA part 125 operation certificate on the 5th May 1981, TAL became the first all-cargo carrier in the southern region, which later turned into Part 91. TAL started flying with a former VASP DC-6A and offered a capacity of 30.000 pounds on the charter market in and around the Caribbean.
Their ramp space was usually packed with DC-6s under maintenance or being loaded. During my visit one of the DC-6s carried Universal Airlines titles. Two other DHL DC-6s just arrived from Hawaii and were being readied for service within a couple of weeks. TAL time-table showed two scheduled cargo flight per week to Dutch St Martin and San Juan PR, while numerous ad-hoc charters throughout the Caribbean and Central America were being made.
The TAL folks were very friendly and my ramp access was quickly arranged via the company’s owner Gary Balnicki. On my 3rd visit I was temporarily denied taking pictures! What happened was that the Miami custom control agent found a few bags with drug behind the aft bulkhead of the Douglas DC-7C, and there was some tension in the air. But as soon as the custom agents left, it was all clear. (Nobody knew how long the drugs were on the aircraft and to whom they belonged to?)
Trans-air-Link Douglas DC-6 Liftmaster N872TA at the company's ramp at Miami in 1986. Last operator was Westair Aviation Namibia. During July 1994, the Douglas had a landing incident somewhere in Namibia and was damaged beyond repair.
At the end of this service road there was a little Custom building and ramp area. This was a great spot to photograph incoming cargo aircraft destined for the different offloading ramps along the NW 36th Street. These aircraft, usually piston engine aircraft, would taxi up to the custom building and shut down their engines and a crew member would exit the a/c and submit his paperwork to a custom officer inside the building. Then the crew would restart their a/c again and taxi out. This gave the photographer ample opportunity to take pictures! One time a whole bunch of photographer were allowed to stand of the roof in order to take pictures of an incoming AMSA Super Constellation!
Aerolíneas Mundo (AMSA) Lockheed Constellation HI-542CT fires up her massive Wright 3350's at Miami Airport. She is stored in poor condition at Aguadilla Airport, Puerto Rico.
Across the service road from TAL I found another interesting cargo ramp, where usually a Dominicana Air Cargo DC-6 was parked. There were several DC-6s to be found here, such as an example belonging to Vortex Inc, which was painted in Blue & red Douglas Company house colors, with “Spirit of Douglas” logo on its tail. The 2nd Vortex Inc DC-6 freight carried a red cheat-line and looked reasonable smart. One of the local mechanic’s was looking at engine number #1 during my visit.
Another tired looking DC-6 freighter belonging to AESA – El Salvador also shared the oil soaked ramp. Across the taxi way on the other side I spotted some more interesting propliners such as an anonymous white Curtiss C-46 Commando which belonged to Miami Air lease. Next to her sat the remains of an ex Fleming Airways Douglas DC-7C. She was already missing several parts and engine number #1, don’t think she lasted much longer after my visit.
Across the service road from TAL I found another interesting cargo ramp, where usually a Dominicana Air Cargo DC-6 was parked. There were several DC-6s to be found here, such as an example belonging to Vortex Inc, which was painted in Blue & red Douglas Company house colors, with “Spirit of Douglas” logo on its tail. The 2nd Vortex Inc DC-6 freight carried a red cheat-line and looked reasonable smart. One of the local mechanic’s was looking at engine number #1 during my visit.
Another tired looking DC-6 freighter belonging to AESA – El Salvador also shared the oil soaked ramp. Across the taxi way on the other side I spotted some more interesting propliners such as an anonymous white Curtiss C-46 Commando which belonged to Miami Air lease. Next to her sat the remains of an ex Fleming Airways Douglas DC-7C. She was already missing several parts and engine number #1, don’t think she lasted much longer after my visit.
Douglas DC-6 N1VX receives mechanical attention in the open. She was seen derelict on the dump of Bogotá, Colombia and finally scrapped in the late 90's.
Further down 36th NW street was the last service road and this was where Southern Air Transport (SAT) and F.A. Conner’s ramps were situated. SAT had usually a C-130/B707 Hercules on the ramp. The far more interesting place was the FA Conner’s ramp with an array of several bare metal DC-6s and a single DC-7C could be found, plus several C-46s, DC-6s and beech 18 wrecks. Most a/c where missing parts or engines and not flying during my visit. I tried to get ramp access, but the FA Conner folks were not very accommodating and kept to themselves pretty much. All photography was done from the fence line, and from across the Northwest cargo ramp on the Western end of the airport.
F.A. Conner Douglas DC-6A N43866 receiving some TLC in the Corrosion Corner. Some years later she was exported to Africa and her last operator was Filair from Kinshasa. The Douglas was finally scrapped at Kinshasa during 1996.
The North West corner of the 36th NW Street was the most interesting area and was often referred to as the ‘Corrosion Corner’ or ‘Cockroach’ corner. This area did not have any large hangars or cargo structure and was already famous since the 1970s with a lot interesting cargo operator visiting this area. The grassy oil covered area was littered with aircraft parts, while most, if not all, maintenance was done in the open air. During my visit I saw several interesting piston-engine propliners in the area, such as a Transport Aereo Dominicana S.A. (TRADO) Douglas DC-6 and next to it an AECA Carga CL-44.
On off the smaller freight companies were B-Airways with a single Douglas DC-3. On a second visit, a year later, I noticed that the Miami ramp authority did not visit the Corrosion Corner that often, so I took an illegal walk-about taking pictures.
Across this spot was another ramp called the ‘Northwest Cargo Area’. Here you would find an array of mostly Boeing B707 and DC-8 freighters from the US, Caribbean and South America. Companies such as Ladeco Cargo, Arca Colombia, Burlington Air Express, Challenge Air Cargo, SAT, Caribbean Air Cargo, Lacsa, Inter Americana were based here.
On off the smaller freight companies were B-Airways with a single Douglas DC-3. On a second visit, a year later, I noticed that the Miami ramp authority did not visit the Corrosion Corner that often, so I took an illegal walk-about taking pictures.
Across this spot was another ramp called the ‘Northwest Cargo Area’. Here you would find an array of mostly Boeing B707 and DC-8 freighters from the US, Caribbean and South America. Companies such as Ladeco Cargo, Arca Colombia, Burlington Air Express, Challenge Air Cargo, SAT, Caribbean Air Cargo, Lacsa, Inter Americana were based here.
B-Airways Douglas DC-3 N2685W parked in a remote corner of Miami Airport. The Douglas was modified to a Basler BT-67 and is currently working for the Royal Thai Air Force.
Ladeco Boeing 707-321 CC-CYA under push-back. Last operator was JARO of Romania. She is listed stored at Bucarest, Romania and most probably broken-up by now.
The author on a mission at Opa Locka airport back in 1987 checking out this Super Constellation.
Most of these wonderful pictures are from Miami Aviation slide shooter legend Eddy Gual- Aviation Photography of Miami collections.
Additional copyright pictures: Erik Bernard, Chris Mak and Michael Prophet.
Most of these wonderful pictures are from Miami Aviation slide shooter legend Eddy Gual- Aviation Photography of Miami collections.
Additional copyright pictures: Erik Bernard, Chris Mak and Michael Prophet.
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