Fritz Wester

While I was at Yokota from 1985 to 1987 "Bunch of Sevens" nickname was "Phyllis", short for "Syphilis". Was on an engine change MRT on it at Osan one fine winter eve. After the engine change, about 1 O'clock in the AM started the engine run up. Made me shut down because "FRED" (C-5A) was about 500 feet behind with front and rear open.

I exchanged a few e=mails with Lars a year ago but have not heard from since. As always, I wish Lars the best. Tänker på dig vår goda vän Fritz

PPI in Kent Washington is the sole source for approved Aeroproducts parts. The Aeroproducts regulators for the three blade are the big issue here as there just isn't test benches laying around and the base of knowledge has shrunken considerably. The last I knew PPI had stopped supporting the A6341FND1A as 3212 was the last of the functional 3 bladed A's and no one was using the Aeroproducts prop on the test cell for block testing of raw engines anymore. I do know the Electra operators with the A644 Aeroproducts props were having fits because PPI is so backlogged and is the only game in town when it comes to being fully equipped to handle that prop. In fact PPI is the Type Certificate holder for the A644 prop. The A6341 prop was formerly a Type Certificated product but may now be orphaned as it is not listed as one of the TC's that PPI now holds. A call to Al Hayward at PPI might help.

Also be aware there is an FAA Airworthiness Directive for the L-382 that it can not have a servo gov valve housing installed in outboard positions.

Steve, how about 57-0466? It was in Milwaukee and is currently in the H&R Block Commercial. I'll bet her old Crew Chief would like to know she's a still kick'in.

Nope, didn't make it. Not sure if it's still there. What I did notice since been quite a few years since I had a reason to be at Norton, the entire area outside the main gate was pretty run down and need of attention by the City of San Berno.

Don, the heavy Chain ramp.

Well, that was us too. 57-0466, again. The scenes were shot at San Bernardino, old Norton AFB on the far east end of the ramp for the scene where Chris Kyle talks to his brother and the troops are getting on the plane. I got to meet Clint Eastwood and it was great working with him, what neat guy and a great sense of humor, very soft spoken. Wish we could flown for some scenes but alas it wasn't in the budget. He spent several hours on board the aircraft filming two interior scenes, one with the flag draped caskets, the other scene was apparently left on the cutting room floor.

Ya, that was us. We filmed at Mojave in October. It was was about the most fun on a shoot I have had. The 2014 GMC Sierra Commercial in 2013 was fun too, but this was an easy shoot with a great crew and produced by Heather Heller. Flight Crew was: PIC - Bill Bosley, Co-Pilot - John Arp, FE - Yours truely, Flight Mechanic Aaron Ashworth. Loadies provided by another regular on this board. The aircraft is 57-0466 proudly owned, operated and maintained by TBM Inc. It's last USAFR duty assignment was General Billy Mitchell Field in Milwaukee. Interestinly enough, Bill Bosley has had a nearly 50 year relationship with 0466 having flown it in the 39th and 40th Squadrons at Lockbourne in the middle/late 60's and again in the early 70's at Duke Field. Back in 2011 we flew the old girl out to Maui and back. She's a flyer! Fritz

Pretty sure it was one of National Metals airplanes cut up about 4 years ago on a piece of their land next to DMI's yard. Wombat will know for sure.

I spoke with Lars at Christmas a year ago, and exchanged a few e-mails in Swedish, which I cherish as I too am of Swedish heritage. He was not feeling well then but was quite lucid. I shall keep him in my thoughts and prayers.

Sorry it is NOT Pinal, but it is an "A" Model Fritz why not Pinal? also do you know anything about a camo cockpit at Coolidge. Maybe 58-0729? Bob

Well . . . I can straighten this one out. TBM Inc. is based at Castle Airport. C-130A 57-0466 (N466TM) is owned and operated by TBM Inc. and is NOT the aircraft we donated to the Castle Air Museum. TBM previously owned 4 C-130A's including 56-0473 (N473TM), which was formerly flown by Horseman #4 Bill Hatfield in the slot position of Hercules and the Four Horsemen demonstration team. The photo on the Castle Air Museum web page shows a photo of 0466 in flight, but the aircraft we donated to the museum is actually 56-0473 which is shown in the next photo conducting a personnel airdrop in the early 60's over Taiwan. 56-0473 is currently located at Sequoia Field near Visalia California. Work is underway to make the aircraft ferryable and make its final flight to Castle by late spring of 2015. The aircraft will then undergo an approximately year long process of preparation for display on the museum grounds. Fritz Wester TBM Inc.

Why not just use the real thing? Contact me.

Bob, et al, I was a little slow on getting to 518 at Little Rock. I was the NCOIC of the display team and ran the engines the last time they were run to deplete as much of the fuel as possible after the boost pumps couldn't pump what was left. The Display of 56-0518 is my proudest accomplishment prior to leaving active duty. There is a stone stand with a bronze plaque on it toward the rear of the aircraft dedicating the aircraft to all the men and women of airlift. My friend Carl Bishop who tended the display and I wrote the words embossed on that plaque. Fritz

Giz; No, I'm not kidding. fjw

Giz; Drop me a line sometime. I'll help you get that item checked off your "bucket list". As a former aerial firefighter who lost many friends along the way, my heart aches for the family's who have lost hero's so dear to them. Godspeed. Fritz

Ya, everyone from Lockheed to the Italians are being VERY closed mouth about that one.

The PDM was part of a MAP done by ARINC.

The US Coast Guard also operates a couple of "H's" with GTC's.

GREAT PICS! Yep, that's the Old Girl and a sweetheart she still is! Thanks!

Frank, you have a great history. I was sitting last night chatting with one of my 77 year old employees who was Air America maintenance in the late 60's early 70's and ICCS at the end of Vietnam. Great guy with 58 years of continuous non-stop aircraft maintenance experience. He just changed a fuel control on our "A" model last week and is changing de-ice heaters and coverstocks on a prop now. He has a huge, no that's not right, FREAK'N HUMONGO photo album of his exploits in aviation going back to being a B-47 Crew Chief. For Air Ameica he was at Tahn Son Nuht, Loas and Cambodia. The other thing, one of our C-130A's and you shared a lot of ground together. Do you remember 57-0466, or "four sick, sick" as it was known in the 39th? 466 was the aircraft with the landing accident in India back in about '61, I spoke with the pilot who flew it in and had the tailwind problem due to "tower" providing wrong wind direction/speed and the pilot who flew it out after the temp repair was made. One of our PIC's, one William (Bill) Bosley (USAFR Lt. Col, Ret), was at Lockbourne too, and he flew 466 there and later when it was assigned to Duke Field for some time. Last year, we were on a flight test, flew by Lockbourne and old Bill and 466 were together agian plying the same skies they had flown 45 years earlier. It was fun. Fritz

Dutch, sorry I couldn't get the info you asked for in a timely manner, I was unavailable for a few days. Looks like Bob and Sam did a bang up job with the info.

Dutch, she flys for my partners and I at TBM Inc.

Dutch, Casey is right, fat fingers you know coupled to bleary eyed post. I have spoken with both the pilot who was the unfortunate one to land the airplane in India and was at the controls when the incident occured and also to the pilot who flew it out. VERY interesting story! It was a problematic airplane with many issues by the time it left the "high mesa" of India, thus the nickname "four sick sick". If any of the crew chiefs are still around they might be interested to know the Ole Girl is still flying, in fact just yesterday I had a grand one hour trip! Fritz