AIR AMERICA: HELIO H-500 TWIN COURIERS by Dr

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

AIR AMERICA: HELIO H-500 TWIN COURIERS by Dr AIR AMERICA: HELIO H-500 TWIN COURIERS by Dr. Joe F. Leeker Twin Courier N8745R msn 2 to become VT-DVC, taken at Sharjah on 16 March 1966 (with kind permission from the photographer, John Phillips) First published on 15 August 2003, last updated on 15 March 2021 The strangest aircraft said to have been flown by Air America seems to be a Helio H-500 Twin Courier, which is mentioned by Robbins, Air America.1 But official Air America records preserved at the Air America Archives do not mention such an aircraft. However, some Air America pilots also flew the Twin Courier, when engaged in CIA operations that were not part of Air America operations, and this may explain the idea that Air America was said to also have operated the Helio H-500 Twin Courier. Helio Publicity of 1959 for the H-500 Twin Courier2 1 Robbins, Air America, p. 106. 2 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP61-00763A000200100086-8.pdf . 1 Indeed, from the very beginning, the Helio H-500 Twin Courier was developed according to the ideas of the CIA. On 5 March 1959, Col. William Burke, Acting Chief of the CIA’s Air Branch or DPD (Development Projects Division), said: “If the requirement is valid, the twin engine Helio is a good choice.”3 On 30 June 1959, the CIA’s Air Branch stated that “confirming our conversation of 29 June, I recommend that the proposal by HELIO for a Pantobase gear for the twin Helio be accepted.”4 On 23 September 59, the DPD’s Director of Operations was asked to comment the communications and navigation radios proposed for the Helio 500: “It is desired that the Operations Branch indicate by endorsement to this memorandum whether or not the proposed radio equipment is adequate to fulfill the mission requirements of the Helio 500. It is further requested that the frequencies to be set in the secondary VHF communications system be selected in accordance with the mission requirements.”5 On 15 October 59, Col. Stanley W. Beerli, Chief of DPD’s Operations Branch, indicated to the Chief, Development Branch, DPD the VHF military frequencies to “be installed in the set for use by Eglin Detachment” plus some others for Military Emergency and Ground Control.6 On 10 December 1959, DPD memo no. 8446-59 stated that “it is necessary to have an Air Force flight test evaluation at an early stage of the airframe development program” asking the Directorate of Plans to “make the necessary arrangements for an Air Force Pilot-Engineer team to perform a limited Category I test evaluation. The program will be conducted at the Helio Aircraft Corporation plant in Norwood, Massachusetts. It is anticipated that this evaluation will be started in late February, 1961. The flight test program will be a limited quantitative performance and qualitative stability and control investigation.”7 On 15 March 1960, a CIA Staff Meeting announced that “a delay in rolling out the twin-engine Helio was experienced in order to give priority to the readying of the […]. The twin-engine aircraft is now expected to roll out 28 March and after one week of ground tests begin its air tests.”8 On 13 June 1961, the CIA’s DPD asked for a modification of the “twin engine airplane engine cowling.”9 Reportedly, in 1960/1, the USAF evaluated 2 U-5A Twin Couriers, 59-5955 and 59-5956, at Hurlburt Field, FL, which was part of the Eglin AFB complex as “Eglin Auxiliary Field No. 9”,10 for use by the air commandos,11 but msn 2 was only built in February 1962,12 and on photos, the prototype of the Helio Twin Courier does have USAF Insignia, but no serial number at all.13 As it seems, the tests were not satisfactory. In a memo sent on 13 October 1961 to the Chief, Development Branch of CIA’s DPD, we read: “At Edwards AFB […], in addition to Project IDEALIST, discussions on the Helio Twin flying qualities and possible alternate aircraft were held at the Main Base. Some write-ups were brought back for analysis and comparison. The failure of Helio thus far to produce a safe two-engine aircraft with performance to meet our requirements warrants careful review to determine the propriety of continuing our support.”14 On 6-9 December 1961, the CIA’s Air Support Branch visited the Helio Aircraft Corporation in Massachusetts 3 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP61-00763A000100060201-5.pdf . 4 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP61-00763A000200020202-7.pdf . 5 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP61-00763A000200080107-7.pdf . 6 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP61-00763A000200100096-7.pdf . 7 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP61-00763A000200150160-0.pdf . 8 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP63-00313A000600050016-4.pdf . 9 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP81B00961R000100050092-0.pdf 10 See https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/hurlburt-field . 11 Andrade, US military aircraft designations, p.172. 12 The msn plate reads “built 2/7/62” (e-mail dated 8 December 2017, kindly sent to the author by John Phillips). 13 See the USAF photos at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helio_Twin_Courier#/media/File:Helio_U- 5A_Twin_Courier.jpg and at https://doc8643.com/aircraft/TCOU . 14 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP67B00511R000100110084-7 , second document, no.5. 2 and learned that the FAA had checked the cockpit visibility of the Twin Courier as “OK” and that “HAC’s new target for delivery of the No.1 Twin is 20 December 1961.”15 So the 2 USAF serials known for Helio U-5As (59-5955 and 59-5956) plus the 3 USAF serials known for Helio U-5Bs (63-8072, 53-8073, and 63-8074)16 were probably only allocations that were never taken up, as it is known that all 7 Twin Couriers built immediately received a civil registration number and immediately went to the CIA. The old website of the Helio Aircraft Company (formerly at http://www.helioaircraft.com/aboutus_history.htm ) stated about the Twin Courier: “Only seven of these aircraft were built and all were delivered to the CIA.” As to their field of operations, it has been said that these aircraft were to be used in Indochina,17 however, no use of these aircraft in Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia is known, where the Agency used the aircraft of Air America. Five areas of operations are known for the Twin Courier: Nepal, Bolivia, Peru, training in the US, and finally India. a) Nepal: Air Ventures H-500 taken at Beirut in August 1966 by Guido E. Bühlmann (used here with kind permission from G. Bühlmann) In August 64, Air Ventures Inc. of Washington, DC, the CIA’s proprietary based in Nepal, received Helio H-500 N10034 (msn 4). A photo of Twin Courier N10034 was taken at Beirut, Lebanon, in August 1966 by Guido E. Bühlmann. Since some Air America helicopter pilots like Elmer Munsell flew with Air Ventures at that time, this may have created the idea that Twin Helio N10034 also belonged to Air America. Air Ventures “was established to provide air support for agency-financed and -directed tribesmen who were operating in Chinese-controlled Tibet. […]. As the Tibetan operations were cut back and eventually halted during the 1960s, this airline was reduced in size to a few planes, helicopters, and a supply of spare parts. Still, up to the late 1960s, it flew charters for the Nepalese government and private organizations in the area.”18 “An AID contract was awarded to […] Air Ventures, Inc., between 1963 and 1967, ostensibly to assist a tele-communications project within the country.”19 15 See https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP33-02415A000400380019-5 . 16 See http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1963.html . 17 See https://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Braas/8941.htm . 18 Victor Marchetti / John D. Marks, The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence, New York (Alfred A. Knopf) 1974, p.146, extract located in UTD/Hickler/B1F7. 19 Robbins, Air America, pp.97/8. 3 b) Bolivia: In the summer of 1965, Air America pilot William Andresevic, who had flown the regular Helio extensively in Laos, was ordered to fly a Helio Twin Courier to Bolivia for evaluation by the US Embassy.20 “That was in the summer of 1965, not 1964. After some operational use in Bolivia, I returned it to an airstrip in Virginia.”21 This operational use may have been an aftermath of the coup organized by the CIA against Bolivia’s President Paz Estenssoro in November 64. When, in April 1952, Victor Paz Estenssoro became president of Bolivia by a revolution of the anticapitalist Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario, he nationalized the tin mines and declared the labor unions supporters of the new régime; especially the almighty Central Obrero Boliviano labor union was the right arm of the government. These reforms, however, resulted in an economic decline, as did agrarian reforms introduced at a later date. Cuban influence became stronger than ever, and in 1961, a Communist revolution supported by Fidel Castro was crushed. The situation became even more intolerable, when Bolivia left the Organization of American States in 1962, and when, in May 1964, Paz Estenssoro eliminated the political opposition. All arms and ammunition were controlled not by the official Bolivian Army, but by relatives and reliable friends of the president, who commanded the civilian militia as an elite palace guard and in this way controlled the whole state.
Recommended publications
  • A Design Study Me T Rop"Ol Itan Air Transit System
    NASA CR 73362 A DESIGN STUDY OF A MET R OP"OL ITAN AIR TRANSIT SYSTEM MAT ir 0 ± 0 49 PREPARED UNDER, NASA-ASEE SUMMER FACULTY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM ,IN Cq ENGINEERING SYSTEMS DESIGN NASA CONTRACT NSR 05-020-151 p STANFORD UNIVERSITY STANFORD CALIFORNIA CL ceoroducedEAR'C-by thEGHOU AUGUST 1969 for Federal Scientific &Va Tec1nical 2 Information Springfied NASA CR 73362 A DESIGN STUDY OF A METROPOLITAN AIR TRANSIT SYSTEM MAT Prepared under NASA Contract NSR 05-020-151 under the NASA-ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program in Engineering Systems Design, 16 June­ 29 August, 1969. Faculty Fellows Richard X. Andres ........... ......... ..Parks College Roger R. Bate ....... ...... .."... Air Force Academy Clarence A. Bell ....... ......"Kansas State University Paul D. Cribbins .. .... "North Carolina State University William J. Crochetiere .... .. ........ .Tufts University Charles P. Davis . ... California State Polytechnic College J. Gordon Davis . .... Georgia Institute of Technology Curtis W. Dodd ..... ....... .Southern Illinois University Floyd W. Harris .... ....... .... Kansas State University George G. Hespelt ........ ......... .University of Idaho Ronald P. Jetton ...... ............ .Bradley University Kenneth L. Johnson... .. Milwaukee School of Engineering Marshall H. Kaplan ..... .... Pennsylvania State University Roger A. Keech . .... California State Polytechnic College Richard D. Klafter... .. .. Drexel Institute of Technology Richard S. Marleau ....... ..... .University of Wisconsin Robert W. McLaren ..... ....... University'of Missouri James C. Wambold..... .. Pefinsylvania State University Robert E. Wilson..... ..... Oregon State University •Co-Directors Willi'am Bollay ...... .......... Stanford University John V. Foster ...... ........... .Ames Research Center Program Advisors Alfred E. Andreoli . California State Polytechnic College Dean F. Babcock .... ........ Stanford Research Institute SUDAAR NO. 387 September, 1969 i NOT FILMED. ppECEDING PAGE BLANK CONTENTS Page CHAPTER 1--INTRODUCTION ...
    [Show full text]
  • Canadianplane Trade
    CANADIAN Plane Trade COPA Flight Classified Section FEATURED LISTINGS FOR MAY, 2018 Q SET AVIATOR HEADSETS & HELMETS 2004 WAG-AERO 2+2, HOMEBUILT, HYBRID CELLULAR & SATELLITE 130 TT, ICOM Com, GTX327 Mode-C, PORTABLE FOLDING BOAT AIRCRAFT TRACKING Upgrade Current C of A, Mazda-13B Engine, WWW.PORTA-BOTE.COM Great for your fleet tracking! Affordable Very RWS EC2 and RD1-C Redrive, fishing and hunting. Take it anywhere High Rate GPS Tracking, Advanced As good as the best, but a lot always hangared, $42,000 as-is, you can go. Be safe with the lightest, 2-way Messaging, Accurate Fixed Wing $32000 less engine. 613-552-6277, durable and stable folding boat. and Helicopter Flight Time Reports, less, only $685! Hi Tech. Classic Electronic Checklists, Transmit EFB, [email protected] (3152.16440) Gilles Berthiaume 514-592-4186 Design, Durable, Light Weight. Manifest, & Custom Form Data, COPA Members register for or [email protected] (3135.16487) External Sensor Inputs. Call us now extended warranty. Committed to for a free trial! Phone (647) 560 1188 serving your Aviation Community. www.v2track.com (2481.15716) Dealer enquiries welcome. RS Designs 204-726-4221 aviationheadsets.ca 1973 PIPER ARROW II - $60,900 CAD 4,419 hrs TT; 1220 hrs SMOH; 132 hrs SPOH; Always Hangared. 1970 PIPER CHEROKEE 180, 9017 Great looking aircraft...A true example TTSN, 1137 SMOH, Well Maintained, of general aviation. Clean interior and Commercial, Training Aircraft! $ 45,000 1960 CESSNA 172, 0-300 CONT, 874 exterior with a lower time air frame. CAD. Apex Aircraft Sales 905-477- SMOH, 30 STOH, 2172 TTSN, CofA Aviation Unlimited 905-477-0107 ext 7900, www.apexaircraft.com (2245.16476) due May 2018, Horton STOL, EDO 225 (2247.16474) 2000 Floats, $60,000 CDN O.B.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Philip Agee's Inside the Company: CIA Diary
    INSIDE THE COMPANY: CIA DIARY Inside Cover: Excerpted from a page-one pre-publication review in the Washington Post "Book World" When Victor Marchetti's The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence was published it contained intriguing blanks where material deemed too sensitive by the CIA had been. There are no blanks in Philip Agee's Inside the Company: CIA Diary. This densely detailed expose names every CIA officer, every agent, every operation that Agee encountered during 12 years with "The Company" in Ecuador, Uruguay, Mexico and Washington. Among CIA agents or [contacts] Agee lists high ranking political leaders of several Latin American countries, U.S. and Latin American labor leaders, ranking Community Party members, and scores of other politicians, high military and police officials and journalists. After a stint as an Air Force officer (for cover) and CIA training, Agee arrived in Quito, Ecuador in late 1960. During the glory years of the Alliance for Progress and the New Frontier, he fought the holy war against communism by bribing politicians and journalists, forging documents, tapping telephones, and reading other people's mail. But it was a faraway event which seems to have disturbed him more. Lyndon Johnson's invasion of the Dominican Republic in 1965 was an overreaction Agee couldn't accept. In 1968, he resigned with the conviction that he had become a "servant of the capitalism I rejected" as a university student—"one of its secret policemen." Agee decided to write this reconstructed diary to tell everything he knew. He spent four years writing the book in Europe, making research trips and dodging the CIA.
    [Show full text]
  • Aircraft Library 
    Interagency Aviation Training Aircraft Library Disclaimer: The information provided in the Aircraft Library is intended to provide basic information for mission planning purposes and should NOT be used for flight planning. Due to variances in Make and Model, along with aircraft configuration and performance variability, it is necessary acquire the specific technical information for an aircraft from the operator when planning a flight. Revised: June 2021 Interagency Aviation Training—Aircraft Library This document includes information on Fixed-Wing aircraft (small, large, air tankers) and Rotor-Wing aircraft/Helicopters (Type 1, 2, 3) to assist in aviation mission planning. Click on any Make/Model listed in the different categories to view information about that aircraft. Fixed-Wing Aircraft - SMALL Make /Model High Low Single Multi Fleet Vendor Passenger Wing Wing engine engine seats Aero Commander XX XX XX 5 500 / 680 FL Aero Commander XX XX XX 7 680V / 690 American Champion X XX XX 1 8GCBC Scout American Rockwell XX XX 0 OV-10 Bronco Aviat A1 Husky XX XX X XX 1 Beechcraft A36/A36TC XX XX XX 6 B36TC Bonanza Beechcraft C99 XX XX XX 19 Beechcraft XX XX XX 7 90/100 King Air Beechcraft 200 XX XX XX XX 7 Super King Air Britten-Norman X X X 9 BN-2 Islander Cessna 172 XX XX XX 3 Skyhawk Cessna 180 XX XX XX 3 Skywagon Cessna 182 XX XX XX XX 3 Skylane Cessna 185 XX XX XX XX 4 Skywagon Cessna 205/206 XX XX XX XX 5 Stationair Cessna 207 Skywagon/ XX XX XX 6 Stationair Cessna/Texron XX XX XX 7 - 10 208 Caravan Cessna 210 X X x 5 Centurion Fixed-Wing Aircraft - SMALL—cont’d.
    [Show full text]
  • •Flying a Helio Courier •Airventure Awards •Vin Fiz Straight & Level Vintage Airplane GEOFF ROBISON STAFF VAA PRESIDENT, EAA 268346, VAA 12606 EAA Publisher
    SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 Super CUB One •Flying a Helio Courier •AirVenture Awards •Vin Fiz Straight & Level Vintage Airplane GEOFF ROBISON STAFF VAA PRESIDENT, EAA 268346, VAA 12606 EAA Publisher . .Jack J . Pelton, . .Chairman of the Board Editor-in-Chief . J . Mac McClellan Editor . Jim Busha Oshkosh 2013 is now . [email protected] VAA Executive Administrator Max Platts in the history books 920-426-6110 . [email protected] Advertising Director . Katrina Bradshaw 202-577-9292 . [email protected] Uppermost in the minds of many of our members today is the Advertising Manager . Sue Anderson recent FAA action to assess operational fees for air traffic control ser- 920-426-6127 . [email protected] vices at AirVenture Oshkosh. To me, this is a particularly troublesome Art Director . Livy Trabbold development that arises out of the issues relevant to sequestration as VAA, PO Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903 it was applied to the FAA. Early on in this debate Congress responded Website: www.VintageAircraft.org by exempting the FAA from the budget cuts that sequestration im- Email: [email protected] posed on them. Of course, we all wrongly assumed that this would eliminate the then “proposed” fees placed on AirVenture Oshkosh. This very burdensome level of fees is really an unfair tax on a signifi- cant aviation event that has been leveled by the FAA without any authority whatsoever to act in this manner. My real purpose here is to merely reach out to our membership and encourage you all to TM continue to communicate to your representatives in Washington our strong displeasure with this unauthorized attack on general aviation.
    [Show full text]
  • 200101-1974 Helio Courier HT-295.Pdf
    96-inch-diameter, three-blade propeller the world of Helio flying. I'm at the taxis to the active runway, puts down 30 at 64 percent of engine speed. A set of controls of a truly rare bird-one of degrees of the Helio's huge flaps ("You four Handley-Page leading-edge slats only 19 tricycle-gear Helios ever built. use 40 degrees for taking off in mud or hangs down from the massive wing, And boy do I feel lucky; Helio lore is tall grass," he says), then turns the air• which comes with certain pre-rein• full of hair-raising ground loops in tail• plane into our 10-knot crosswind• forced ribs-ribs ready for installing wheel models. I've heard it said that meaning that the airplane is perpendic• hard points for rocket launchers. This is ground loops are almost unavoidable ular to the runway. Now I know what's no run-of-the-mill general aviation air• in Helio taildraggers, and that not one coming: Ograbicz intends to take off in plane. This is a Helio Courier HT-295. of the 528 Helios ever built has a dam• the 100-foot width of the runway. The brainchild of Massachusetts age-free history. Then it's full power, an acceleration to .... Institute of Technology professor Otto My instructor is Mark Ograbicz, a vet• 30 mph on the airspeed indicator, a tug Koppen and Harvard University profes• eran Helio pilot who has spent hundreds on the yoke, and we're airborne well sor Lynn Bollinger, the first 250-hp of hours in Helio slow flight (see "Ready before we reach the edge of the runway.
    [Show full text]
  • Or CAMBRIDGE COURIER BOSTONIAN HYANNIS HELIO
    HYANNIS HELIO or CAMBRIDGE COURIER BOSTONIAN By WALT MOONEY. PerfesserPeanut takes another side trip to Boston,by way of Hyannis(to visitthe Kennedys?)and Cambridge,and comes back with a scale-likemodel that just HASio be built. o This month'smodel is not a Peanut the eastcoast and their minimu m weight addition of a 3/B by 1 inch drag flap and it is not a scale model either. is 7 grams.They also give points for Linderthe leIl aileron.The model will fly However,it is scalelike and it is rela- charismaat their contests.Out Westwe fine outdoorswithout it, but will not tivelysim ple to build, and it will realiyfly have usuallydecided on some novelty turn in quite so tight a turn radius. well evenif it isbuilt bv a rankbeeinner rule tor our contests.For instance,one Most of the model constructiontech- and is not assembled;ith a lot o"fskill. )uly 4, we required all entriesto have niquesare very standard,and so really TheHyannisport Helio, or Cambridge an American flag on their model. need no commenls,however, one lea- Courier,take your choice,is built to the Further,most WesternBostonians have ture of the tail surfaceand the entire Westernstyle Bostonian rules. These are resembledreal airplanes to someextent. winB structurerequires some explana- repeatedhere: Theoriginal Helio Courier was built at tron. 1. Maximumwing span,16 inches. Norwood, Massachusetts,a short dis- The tail surfacesuse diagonalribs to 2. Maximumwing chord,3 inches. tancesouth of Boston.The Cou rier was a resistwarping and have externalspars 3. Maximum lengthfrom the thrust short field airplaneand incorporated madeof thin basswoodwhich are added bearingto the most aft point on the largeslotted flaps and full spanleading to both sides after the surfacesdre airplane,14 inches.
    [Show full text]
  • United States Army Aotation Planning ^Manual
    7-3 rene# FM 101-20-1 FIELD MANUAL UNITED STATES ARMY AOTATION PLANNING ^MANUAL HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT Of THE ARMY SEPTEMBER 1971 ÏHE ARMY ÜBRARV1 WASHINGTON, D. C. FOR-OFFICIAL USE ONLY ? tiln ir* — A " T .■rv a fy\S31FIED 4 nf 1 pt[ VJi'i’ W J D U O U J-Ma Ï SM-Sf tfOeffa } \ FM 101-20-1 FOREWORD This manual is published in accordance with the be revised annually to ensure current and accurate provisions of AR 95-70 and contains official U.S. data, as well as provide additional factors of interest. Army aviation factors data in a single-source document AMC is responsible for coordinating pertinent planning to be used as a planning guide ONLY. The factors, factors with the appropriate Army staff agency. when used with other Army program documents (e.g., Army Materiel Plan and Materiel Annex Part II to 5 Year Force Structure and U.S. Army Aircraft Standard Users of this manual are encouraged to submit Avionics/Surveillance Configuration, 5 Year Plan recommended changes or comments to improve the Requirement), will assist commanders, planners, and manual. Comments should be keyed to the specific programmers in establishing a basis for operational, page, paragraph, and line of the text. Reasons should logistical, materiel, personnel, estimates, and the cost be provided for each comment to ensure understanding requirements for combat readiness of all types and and full evaluation. Comments should be forwarded models of Army aircraft. In the event such Army direct to Headquarters, U.S. Army Materiel Command, program documents, as mentioned above, indicate later Research, Development and Engineering Directorate, revision, such revisions will take precedence.
    [Show full text]
  • AVIATIONLEGENDS MAGAZINE 2014 AVIATOR LEGENDS Stories of Extraordinary Adventure from This Year’S Thirteen Honorees
    AVIATIONLEGENDS MAGAZINE 2014 AVIATOR LEGENDS Stories of extraordinary adventure from this year’s thirteen honorees. A special publication of BE A SPONSOR ! Over 200,000 Attendees — 28% of State! Arctic Thunder — Still the Largest Single Event in Alaska ! Thanks to all Past Sponsors Be Part of it! Alaska Air Show Association an Alaska 501(c) 3 Non-profit All Donations Tax Deductible — AASA Mission — Provide Aviation Education, Inspiration, and Advocacy AASA Provides Scholarships Space Camps, UAA Pilot Training AASA is Civilian Partner to JBER Supporting Arctic Thunder AASA supports Air Events Statewide Arctic Thunder 2016 Starts Now! — Be a Sponsor — Receive Statewide Print, Radio, Internet and TV Exposure plus Day of the Event Seating and pre- and post-event recognition Email : [email protected] Want to Help Advance Aviation? — Join our all Volunteer Board Contents Lake Hood, Photo by Rob Stapleton 5 EDITOR’S LETTER 16 WIllIAM “BIll” DIEHL 36 RON SHEARDOWN Aviation Pioneers Aircraft Manufacturer Polar Adventurer and Rescue Legend 7 WALT AUDI 20 GARLAND DOBSON 40 WARREN THOMPSON Pilot of the Far North Dedicated Serviceman and Pilot Rescue Mission Legend and Teacher 11 ALBERT BAll, SR. 24 JOYCE GAlleHER 43 NOel MERRIll WIEN This year’s Alaska Aviation Legend program Life of Adventure in Rural Alaska Diversified and Experienced Pilot is dedicated to Albert Ball, Sr. and his adventurous spirit. 28 ROYCE MORGAN 47 KENNETH GENE ZERKel Airline Entrepreneur and Doctor Experienced Pilot and Aviation 12 DICK AND LAVelle BETZ Entrepreneur Longtime Alaska Guides 32 PAUL SHANAHAN True Alaskan Bush Pilot 4 EDITOR’S Letter Aviation Pioneers BY ROB STAPLETON n your hands is documentation of hun- abbreviations.
    [Show full text]
  • AIR AMERICA - COOPERATION with OTHER AIRLINES by Dr
    AIR AMERICA - COOPERATION WITH OTHER AIRLINES by Dr. Joe F. Leeker First published on 23 August 2010, last updated on 24 August 2015 1) Within the family: The Pacific Corporation and its parts In a file called “Air America - cooperation with other airlines”, one might first think of Civil Air Transport Co Ltd or Air Asia Co Ltd. These were not really other airlines, however, but part of the family that had been created in 1955, when the old CAT Inc. had received a new corporate structure. On 28 February 55, CAT Inc transferred the Chinese airline services to Civil Air Transport Company Limited (CATCL), which had been formed on 20 January 55, and on 1 March 55, CAT Inc officially transferred the ownership of all but 3 of the Chinese registered aircraft to Asiatic Aeronautical Company Limited, selling them to Asiatic Aeronautical (AACL) for one US Dollar per aircraft.1 The 3 aircraft not transferred to AACL were to be owned by and registered to CATCL – one of the conditions under which the Government of the Republic of China had approved the two-company structure.2 So, from March 1955 onwards, we have 2 official owners of the fleet: Most aircraft were officially owned by Asiatic Aeronautical Co Ltd, which changed its name to Air Asia Co Ltd on 1 April 59, but three aircraft – mostly 3 C-46s – were always owned by Civil Air Transport Co Ltd. US registered aircraft of the family like C-54 N2168 were officially owned by the holding company – the Airdale Corporation, which changed its name to The Pacific Corporation on 7 October 57 – or by CAT Inc., which changed its name to Air America on 3 31 March 59, as the organizational chart of the Pacific Corporation given below shows.
    [Show full text]
  • Canadianplane Trade
    CANADIAN Plane Trade COPA Flight Classified Section FEATURED LISTINGS FOR OCTOBER, 2018 Q SET AVIATOR HEADSETS & HELMETS HYBRID CELLULAR & SATELLITE 1977 PIPER NAVAJO CR - $229,900 PORTABLE FOLDING BOAT USD 6,579 hrs TT; 1,478 / 1,478 AIRCRAFT TRACKING Upgrade WWW.PORTA-BOTE.COM Great for your fleet tracking! Affordable Very hrs SOH; 1,478 / 1,478 hrs SPOH; fishing and hunting. Take it anywhere PANTHER CONVERSION!!! The High Rate GPS Tracking, Advanced you can go. Be safe with the lightest, 2-way Messaging, Accurate Fixed Wing As good as the best, but a lot Right Aircraft for Business or Pleasure; durable and stable folding boat. and Helicopter Flight Time Reports, less, only $685! Hi Tech. Classic Garmin 430 WAAS, Avidyne MX-500, Gilles Berthiaume 514-592-4186 Electronic Checklists, Transmit EFB, Design, Durable, Light Weight. Garmin TCAS, Colemill Short Wing or [email protected] Manifest, & Custom Form Data, COPA Members register for Tips, 4 Blade Q-tip propellers, Full De- (3135.16492) External Sensor Inputs. Call us now extended warranty. Committed to Ice System, Air Conditioning, Vortex for a free trial! Phone (647) 560 1188 serving your Aviation Community. Generators, Oxygen and MUCH www.v2track.com (2481.15723) Dealer enquiries welcome. MORE!!! Aviation Unlimited 905-477- RS Designs 0107 ext 225 (2247.17221) 204-726-4221 aviationheadsets.ca 2000 CESSNA 172 SKYHAWK FLOATPLANE – CALL FOR PRICING!! 3,181 hrs TT; 172 hrs SMOH; 272 hrs SNEW ; Millennium 2009 AEROCOUPE (Ercoupe) 335 TT 2000 C172S with New PK2300 1967 PIPER TWIN COMANCHE, 0-200 crank C90 cam in C85.
    [Show full text]
  • AIR AMERICA: HELIO H-395 SUPER COURIERS by Dr
    AIR AMERICA: HELIO H-395 SUPER COURIERS by Dr. Joe F. Leeker First published on 15 August 2003, last updated on 24 August 2015 The types of missions flown by Air America’s Helio Couriers: The Helio Courier was an aircraft designed for undeveloped terrain. Air America’s first Helio was introduced to Laos in January 59, but as pilots did not like the aircraft, it sat idle at Vientiane airport until February 1960. At that time, USAF Major Aderholt convinced Air America crews that the Helio could land at places where most other aircraft had difficulties to land, and after dozens of short and tricky mountaintop landing sites (“Lima Sites,” at that time still called “Victor Sites”) had been carved out of the terrain with primitive methods, the Helio became one of Air America’s work horses in Laos. Over the next couple of years, the number of those small mountaintop airstrips grew to about 450, and with them grew the number of Helios used by Air America for a variety of missions. These missions ranged from communication to flying around CIA case officers or ARMA people, recruiting soldiers for the Hmong army, transporting medical doctors and medicine, dropping small supplies, inserting and picking up spies and agents in enemy territory, and so on. Joe Hazen recalls: “As for case officers and military, I know I flew several in addition to Bill Lair, Tony Poe, Art Ellsmore, Pat Landry, Tom Fosmire and Earl Jones. As for military, the only one I can remember specifically is Col. Arthur ‘Bull’ Simon, who was in uniform when I flew him from a crash site of an Army Beaver east of Pakse to Pakse (L- 11) to re-fuel and then to Vientiane” (e-mail dated 9 July 2005, kindly sent to the author by Joe Hazen).
    [Show full text]