In April 1980, several aviation friends and I visited some parts of the USA, on a month long aviation tour. We had bought a National Airlines pass and went from Amsterdam, via London-Heathrow, on National Airlines DC-10-30, N83NA, to Miami. After spending two weeks in the Miami area, we vistited San Juan, P.R., Saint-Thomas in the Virgen Islands, the Los Angeles area and Houston International airport.
Below, I focus on our visit to San Juan, PR. Airport.
Below, I focus on our visit to San Juan, PR. Airport.
A National ‘SunKing’ pushes back at SJU to join the line for runway 8 in April 1980.
N70NA, started her career with National in June 1975. She is listed broken-up at Goodyear, AZ. in Hawaiian colors during August 2002.
National Boeing 727-235, taxies into her gate at San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport on April 22, 1980.
N4735, started her career with National in January 1968. She is listed broken-up at Oscada, MI. in Kalitta Air colors during 1997.
Eastern L-1011 on push back at San Juan, PR.
N318EA, started her career with Eastern in August 1973. She is listed in use as a coffee ship in Daegu, South-Korea, since 2013.
An Eastern Boeing 727-100 at SJU in April 1980 and in a few minutes she'll be heading for MIA.
N8117N, started her career with Eastern in September 1964. She was broken-up at Ardmore, OK. in Trump Shuttle colors during October 1992.
Eastern ‘ Whisperliner’ N336EA thundering away from San Juan's (PANC) runway 10, April 22, 1980.
N336EA, started her career with Eastern in May 1977. She is listed broken-up at Victorville, Calif. in Delta Airlines colors during September 2012.
American, Boeing 707-323C, N8402, is seen here ready to depart to yet another place in American’s far-flung network.
N8402, started her career with American Airlines in October 1967. On October 22, 1996, Millon Air, Boeing 707, N751MA, while on a cargo flight to Miami (carrying frozen fish and flowers), crashed shortly after takeoff from Manta, Ecuador, runway 23. The aircraft ripped off rooftops of houses in the Dolorosa neighborhood and crashed in flames into a restaurant. Local officials claim an engine was on fire.
It was a warm and beautiful April 1980 morning when I photographed this American Airlines Boeing 747-100 taxiing to its gate in SJU.
N9663, a Boeing 747-100 'LuxuryLiner'.
Delta Tristar, N724DA, seen here taxiing at San Juan Luis Munoz Marin prior to departing on yet another flight.
N724DA, started her career with Delta Airlines in August 1978. She was broken-up June 2002. Cockpit shipped to private owner in South-Korea.
Dominicana Boeing 727-100, HI-312, , taxiing out at San Juan, Luis Munoz Marin, bound for Santo Domingo, in April 1980.
HI-312, started her career with World Airways July 1967. She is listed dismantled at Santo Domingo during 1994.
1960 built, Fuerza Aera Colombia, Lockheed C-130B Hercules, taxiing out for departures at SJU.
FAC-1003 of Fuerza Aerea Colombiana lifting off at SJU.
On October 16, 1982, FAC-1003, ditched in Atlantic Ocean after running out of fuel en-route Azores-Bermuda due to navigation system failure; the Hercules remained afloat for 56 hours.
US Coast Guard ‘ 1339’ rotate from San Juan's runway 10.
Air National Guard C-130A, '1639'. This 'Roman nose' example is seen here about to depart on another mission.
54-1639 rolled off the Lockheed Marietta Plant in 1954 with construcion number 3026. She did operate by 704TAS, 327TAS and 155TAS before being retired and sold to TBM Inc. Used for spares, she was broken-up in the late 1990's, with the fuselage moving to its current location at the Mojave Air & Space Port, CA, USA.
54-1639 rolled off the Lockheed Marietta Plant in 1954 with construcion number 3026. She did operate by 704TAS, 327TAS and 155TAS before being retired and sold to TBM Inc. Used for spares, she was broken-up in the late 1990's, with the fuselage moving to its current location at the Mojave Air & Space Port, CA, USA.
|
59-1525, a C-130B, rolled-off the Lockheed Marietta, GA. production line in 1959. She is listed scrapped at Tucson, AZ. On June 9, 2010.
|
US Navy Grumman Tracker, 136658, is seen on one of San Juan’s taxiways after landing on runway 26.
US Navy S2F-1 Tracker 136658 was withdrawn from use in 1981 and stored at MASDC. Acquired by Conair in 1987 and converted to Conair Firecat, then delivered to the Securite Civile as F-ZBDA in June 1987.
VP-LVK heads-out on business.
VP-LVK, with construction number 6054, was built by Douglas at Long Beach, Calif. as a C-47-DL. After service with Air BVI she was sold to Tol Air as N784T. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 90’s.
N331P earning her keep.
N44828 Big Pratts are pulling strongly.
N827AA, cleaned up and on her way.
N827AA, started her career with Garuda Indonesia in January 1958. She is listed broken-up at Carlsbad, McClellan-Palomar Airport, Calif. in Air Resort Airlines colors during 1993.
American Airlines Boeing 727-100, N1959, taxies to its gate at San Juan, Luis Muñoz Marin in April 1980.
N1959, started her career with American in December 1967. She is listed broken-up at Oscada, MI. in Kalitta Air colors during 2019.
DH Heron, N576PR, of Prinair pauses between flights.
N579PR, 300 hp Continental IO-520 number 4 engine, ping into life and start to hit that perfect beat.
Air Cargo America, N544Y, DHC-4 Caribou, on a sweltering San Juan's tarmac in April 1980.
N544Y was built in 1965 at De Haviland Canada factory, Toronto, Canada. She was delivered new to Air America and based at Tan Son Nhut AFB, South-Vietnam. During the mid 90’s she went working for Operation Blessing International Relief and Development. She is listed stored in derelict condition at Johannesburg, Brakpan Airfield, South-Africa since 2001.
Aerolineas Dominicanas S.A. Martin 4-0-4 waits for passengers at SJU, April 1980.
In 1987 she did operate for Aerolineas Mundo. In September 1998 the Martin was blown into Lockheed L-1049 Constellation, HI-548CT, at Santo Domingo. As a result, she was broken-up in early 1999.
Carib West, Curtiss Commando, N9892Z, receives mechanical attention in the open.
N9892Z started her career with the USAAF in March 1945. The Curtiss flew with Carib West from 1978 until September 1980.
April 21, 1980 and I photographed this Carib West Curtiss C-46 Commando, N9892Z, beginning its taxi from the ramp at SJU.
Carib West C-54, N98AS, takes a break between operations.
The airframe was written off. There was one fatality. The cargo flight departed Bridgetown-Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados and was destined for San Juan, Puerto Rico. The accident occurred at off St. Croix (U. S. Virgin Islands) while en route. The no. 3 engine caught fire. The fire was extinguished and the prop feathered. The DC-4 then suffered control difficulties and had to be ditched as a consequence. The aircraft sank after 45 minutes.
Here, Sun Country Aviation Curtiss C-46 Commando, N603SE, receives attention at San Juan Airport.
After her war duties, N603SE, flew for among others Zantop and Span East. Between 1978 and 1981 she flew for Sun Country Aviation from Miami, FL. In the mid 80’s she was exported to Bolivia and Aerovias Las Minas became the new owner.
Crying out for cosmetic attention a hard working Curtiss C-46 Commando receives some TLC at San Juan ramp.
After the war, N609SE, flew for Zantop and Span East. During our visit the owner was Casair. She is listed abandoned at Santo Domingo Airport and presumably broken-up.
Douglas DC-3, N80617, looks to be in superb condition.
N80617 is listed preserved as a restaurant in Barranquitas, PR.
N45379 under repair at San Juan, PR.
N45379, was built as a C-53D Skytrooper. After the war she flew for Capital Airways. During the 80’s she was sold to Borinquen Air who was based at San Juan, PR. On July 22, 1986, this DC-3 suffered a failure of the no.2 engine, shortly after takeoff from San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico. The flight crew flew a right downwind leg to return to runway 10 for landing. The propeller was feathered but the flight crew were not able to maintain altitude. As the aircraft turned to base leg, control was lost and the DC-3 crashed into Laguna San José in a right vertical bank.
Still retaining Linjeflyg colors, N26DR, basked in Puerto Rican sunshine.
In her early career, N26DR, a Convair 440, flew for SAS and Linjeflyg. During our visit she was owned by San Juan International Airways. She is listed broken-up at Santo Domingo in TRADO colors after November 2006.
On Sunday, August 26, 1979, Cornerstone Construction Inc. Convair 440, N14478, had problems extending the right main landing gear, two touch and go landings were made. The pilot then chose to carry out a gear-up landing on runway 10. The 3 occupants were seen running from the plane. Part of the right main gear and the outboard 5 feet of the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were missing. Presumed she was on a smuggling flight.
N722A awaiting her props.
N722A, was owned by Mr. R.H. Ramos at the time, but flew still in the colors of a long time former operator, ARAMCO. On July 19, 2006, this DC-3, while operated by Tol Air as N728T, ditched in the sea close to St. Thomas following an engine failure.
The graveyard, an overgrown tarmac filled with about a dozen cargo and passenger airplanes long since abandoned and left to rot by insolvent airlines.
N1159S is a DC-3A. On September 18, 1989 she was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo at Humacao Airport, PR.
I photographed, N18916, whilst the sun hid behind a high cloud.
On July 22, 1986, this DC-3, while operated by Borinquen Cargo as N28PR, suffered an engine failure after take-off from San Juan, PR. and made a circuit to land back on runway 10. She was unable to maintain altitude and on base leg crashed into a lagoon.
It was a warm and beautiful April 1980 afternoon when I photographed this stored Air Caribbean Douglas DC-3 a a forgotten ramp of San Juan Airport.
N8661, with construction number 4951, rolled-off the Douglas Santa Monica production-line in 1942 as a C-53-DO Skytrooper. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
Air Caribbean was an airline that started in 1975 and served from Isla Verde International Airport, San Juan, PR. Competition proved an impossible obstacle to overcome for Air Caribbean. In 1979, the airline had its last flight.
Air Caribbean DC-3, N4795, sit silently on a forgotten part of the ramp at San Juan in spring 1980.
N4795, with construction number 11772, rolled-off the Douglas Santa Monica production-line in 1942 as a DC-3A. After the war she flew for Northwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
N999Z glinting in the sun.
After the war, N999Z, with construction number 4976, started flying for Braniff. She is presumably being crunched at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
Her time is running-out.
N285SE, with construction number 2177, is a DC-3A. After the war she flew for United, Frontier and Southeast. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
Air Caribbean DC-3, N16096, in a sad state at San Juan, relegated to providing spares.
During the 70’s, N16096, with construction number 2136, worked for Burbank based Mercer Airways. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
Lots of alluminium parked in SJU, sad to see.
North Cay Airways operated to both of San Juan’s airports starting in 1968. Eventually she ceased operations in 1976.
N39544, with construction number 11649, was built as a C-53D Skytrooper. After the war she was operated by American Airlines, Norhtwest Airlines, Frontier and Avensa. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
Decommissioned and unwanted.
N286SE, with construction number 2004, was built as a DC-3A. After the war she flew for United, Southeast, Frontier and many others. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
N86596, engineless and with paint fading, this forlorn Douglas bird awaits the cutter’s torch at San Juan after being withdrawn from use by North Cay Airways.
The end was nigh for this DC-3 when captured by the camera at San Juan, PR., in April 1980.
N87628, with construction number 19747, was built as a C-47 and had a long career in the military. She was stored at Davis Monthan in 1961. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
With clipped wings, her service life seems over.
N5925, with construction number 4202, was built as a C-47. After the war she flew for American Airlines and Avensa in Venezuela. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
N16060, sits in the graveyard as well.
N16060, with construction number 1902, was built as a DC-3A. After the war had a succesion of owners. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
Workers have begun dismantling the planes.
A snug fit in the parking lot at San Juan International’s maintenance ramp in April 1980, this DC-3 had hopes of resurrection.
N777NA, with construction number 6331, was built as a C-49K. After the war she became a TWA flagship. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
I found this DC-3, covered with moss and alga laying on a remote San Juan tarmac.
On the 'death row' is this DC-3.
N692A, a former TWA ship, with construction number 7318, was built as a C-53-DO Skytrooper. She is presumably scrapped at San Juan in the mid 80’s.
This cute duck cartoon drawing adorned N692A nose section.
- The End -