AlaskaAV
GONE WEST
Mission, TX
http://members.jcom.home.ne.jp/geta-p/C/C-133/C-133.htm
Many years ago, a friend of mine determined the bush of Alaska needed a large cargo aircraft for his bush operation. After lots of thinking it over at happy hour with friends, he decided to head for the boneyard in AZ. They started looking over the old retired C-133s and finally they picked out three that they liked and a very good deal was made like almost nothing. They arranged to have them towed to a work area where they stripped one aircraft to get the other two ready to fly, no small feat in itself and took lots of time needless to say. No powers at be ever asked questions, whether by choice or oversight, I have no idea. A case of Crown Royal does wonders at times.
Somewhere my friend found a current certified flight crew that could test fly them and do some crew training.
Anyway, test flights were conducted with the two flyable aircraft and still no one said anything. Than one night, a fuel company was called to top off both aircraft and along about daylight or before, both left VFR with no flight plan to indicate direction and at low altitude and than much later and at a higher altitude, they filed an inflight IFR flight plan for Anchorage. They left the third aircraft behind but I understand the loads taken out were lots and lots of spare parts including spare engines. I am not sure if they had to stop for fuel but suspect if they did, it would have been in Canada. Remember, that is just what I suspect and not factual. Once they got to ANC, they started getting one bird ready for charter operations. Sounds good, right? Wrong. The powers at be finally caught up with them and were very upset with the guy because he pulled the wool over their eyes in the deal in AZ. The FAA would not give them certification for commercial operations with the C-133s because "they felt they were underpowered" which I suppose they really were however they would authorize operations for government charters. Hey, sounds good, right? Correct this time. You would not believe the loads into the bush that suddenly became government shipments, mostly local city government loads. Lumber for a construction company was sold to the city for $1 and than the city sold it back for $1 plus other considerations after the "government" charter had been completed. Many, many homes were built that way and many vehicles including trucks were hauled. The cost of living in the bush went down because of the C-133 operation. I suppose this was on the fringe of being illegal but who in Alaska ever reads the laws?
For those that live in Anchorage or the bush of Alaska, I am sure you have heard that aircraft depart. It has a very distinctive sound from those 4 turbo props. Unbelievably quiet really for the size but what a load they could carry. To my knowledge they only used one of the two aircraft flown to Alaska. They are parked at Stevens International Airport in Anchorage now.
It is my understanding, and I suspect this is true, that my friend received more revenue from his first government charter flight than the entire project, including the cost of 3 aircraft, had cost him. Who gained? Those living in the bush. Who lost? The powers at be that could not control the situation. Hmmmmm, Interestinggg, Buttt Trueeee as said by the guy on Hee Haw on TV.
I love it when a plan comes together and the little guy beats the big guy.
Many years ago, a friend of mine determined the bush of Alaska needed a large cargo aircraft for his bush operation. After lots of thinking it over at happy hour with friends, he decided to head for the boneyard in AZ. They started looking over the old retired C-133s and finally they picked out three that they liked and a very good deal was made like almost nothing. They arranged to have them towed to a work area where they stripped one aircraft to get the other two ready to fly, no small feat in itself and took lots of time needless to say. No powers at be ever asked questions, whether by choice or oversight, I have no idea. A case of Crown Royal does wonders at times.
Somewhere my friend found a current certified flight crew that could test fly them and do some crew training.
Anyway, test flights were conducted with the two flyable aircraft and still no one said anything. Than one night, a fuel company was called to top off both aircraft and along about daylight or before, both left VFR with no flight plan to indicate direction and at low altitude and than much later and at a higher altitude, they filed an inflight IFR flight plan for Anchorage. They left the third aircraft behind but I understand the loads taken out were lots and lots of spare parts including spare engines. I am not sure if they had to stop for fuel but suspect if they did, it would have been in Canada. Remember, that is just what I suspect and not factual. Once they got to ANC, they started getting one bird ready for charter operations. Sounds good, right? Wrong. The powers at be finally caught up with them and were very upset with the guy because he pulled the wool over their eyes in the deal in AZ. The FAA would not give them certification for commercial operations with the C-133s because "they felt they were underpowered" which I suppose they really were however they would authorize operations for government charters. Hey, sounds good, right? Correct this time. You would not believe the loads into the bush that suddenly became government shipments, mostly local city government loads. Lumber for a construction company was sold to the city for $1 and than the city sold it back for $1 plus other considerations after the "government" charter had been completed. Many, many homes were built that way and many vehicles including trucks were hauled. The cost of living in the bush went down because of the C-133 operation. I suppose this was on the fringe of being illegal but who in Alaska ever reads the laws?
For those that live in Anchorage or the bush of Alaska, I am sure you have heard that aircraft depart. It has a very distinctive sound from those 4 turbo props. Unbelievably quiet really for the size but what a load they could carry. To my knowledge they only used one of the two aircraft flown to Alaska. They are parked at Stevens International Airport in Anchorage now.
It is my understanding, and I suspect this is true, that my friend received more revenue from his first government charter flight than the entire project, including the cost of 3 aircraft, had cost him. Who gained? Those living in the bush. Who lost? The powers at be that could not control the situation. Hmmmmm, Interestinggg, Buttt Trueeee as said by the guy on Hee Haw on TV.
I love it when a plan comes together and the little guy beats the big guy.