
A pigeon decided to roost on the C-119 twin boom/double tail empennage and posed for me.
Transcriptions are verbatim except where noted.
Brochure:
Welcome to the Museum of Flight and Aerial Fire Firefighting. The Museum…was founded in 1987 and incorporated in 1992. It was staffed by Hawkins & Powers employees until 2004 and then was run by volunteers until 2008. The museum reopened in 2014 with the help of the Greybull Area Chamber of Commerce.
Aerial Firefighting
Many types of aircraft and many different designs have been utilized to combat forest fires since the late 1920s. In the early 1950’s, the first modern air tankers were developed and began testing in the Western United States. Mel Christler and Morris Avery started an aerial firefighting company in Greybull [Wyoming] in the 1960’s with Hawkins&Powers taking over in 1969. They went out of business in 2004 and the planes you see here are what were left and later auctioned off.
From the Website (www.museumofflight.us/)
For many years Hawkins & Powers Aviation, Inc. conducted firefighting operations from the South Big Horn County Airport, in Greybull. They also repaired active Air Force aircraft under a civilian contract.
C-119 brochure:
The C-119 evolved from the C-82 “Packet” built by Fairchild during WWII. In 1947, Fairchild built a total of 1,102 C-119s to haul cargo and troops for the U.S. and five other countries. The Royal Canadian Airforce used their C-119’s to resupply outposts throughout their country in the Arctic where landings were often made on sea and ice. The C-119 saw extensive action in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. These aircraft were purchased by Hawkins and Powers in the early 1970’s. The C-119 with the jet on top was used for firefighting, the other one was not needed as an aerial tanker, and was held for use in aerial spraying, movie making, and cargo hauling. A couple of Hawkins & Powers C-119s can be seen in the movies “Flight of the Phoenix” – the 2004 version- and “Always”. The two C-119’s here are on loan from the US Forest Service.
MFAF Website (www.museumofflight.us/aircraftgalleries.html)
The Fairchild C-119 is also known as the "Flying Boxcar" because it can hold the same weight as a railroad boxcar. The C-119 evolved from the C-82 Packet built by Fairchild during WWII. The first C-119 prototype flew in 1947 and deliveries began in 1949 with a total of 1,184 aircraft being built. The C-119 saw extensive action in Korea and Vietnam for the US, and were used mainly for hauling cargo and troops. Many C-119s were provided to other nations as part of the Military Assistance Program, which included the Royal Canadian Air Force. After its retirement from active duty many C-119s soldiered on in the U.S. National Guard until the mid 1970s. The two C-119s in the museum were purchased by Hawkins and Powers in the 1970s. Hawkins and Powers used tanker 136, with the jet on top, for firefighting and the other C-119 was used for aerial spraying, movie making and cargo hauling. The two C-119s in the museum are on loan from the U.S. Forest Service.
On-site signage:
WESTINGHOUSE J34 ENGINE
This pod you see on the top of the C-119 aircraft is a J-34 jet. The engine was build by Westinghouse Aviation Gas Turbine Division company in the late 1940s. The jet will produce 3400 lb (15.kN) of thrust. The engine was used for extra power for takeoff and any time the airplane was used on firefighting missions or working with heavy loads at low altitudes. During the rest of the flight it would be shut down because of the high fuel consumption.
In the early 1970s, Hawkins & Powers Aviation added the J34 jet engines to many C-119s by removing engines from the P-2V Neptune planes. The Neptune engine was redesigned so that it could be mounted on top of the C-119 fuselage.
On-site signage:
FAIRCHILD C-119 TRANSPORT (Royal Canadian Air Force)
Starting in 1947, Fairchild produced a total of 1,102 “Flying Boxcars” to haul cargo and troops for the US and five other countries. The C-119 evolved from the C-82 “Packet” also built by Fairchild during WWII.
Wingspan – 106.5 feet Engines – Write R3350 (3,500 hp)
Length – 86.5 feet Gross weight – 74,000 pounds
Maximum Speed – 250 mph Cruising Speed – 205 mph
Range – 2000 miles Service Ceiling – 23,900 feet
Carrying Capacity – 30,000 pounds of cargo or 32 troops
The Royal Canadian Air Force acquired their first 24 C-119s in 1952 with the last being retired in 1065. The RCAF used their Flying Box Cars to resupply outposts throughout their country and especially in the Arctic where landings were often made on sea ice. In 1956 and 1957, these aircraft were also used to assist the United Nations relief efforts in the Middle East.
This aircraft was purchased by Hawkins and Powers, and while never needed for conversion to an aerial tanker, was held for use in aerial spraying, movie making and cargo hauling.