171

51-16473

N712F

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• 51-16473 USAF #1010. L-20A No: 11. Available 21-Dec-1951. Accepted 31-Dec-1951. Delivered 11-Jan-1952. Built as L-20A and Re-designated U-6A in 1962.

• 51-16473 Stored at MASDC, Davis Monthan AFB., AZ. Sep-1963 until 27-Oct-1964. PCN (Product Control Number) unknown.

Airworthiness Date: 19-Oct-1967.

• N712F US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Circa 1964–1990.

• N712F Sale reported on USCAR Mar-1980.

• N712F Sale reported Mar-1990 & Sep-1992 as per FAA record 06-Dec-1999.

• N712F C. Harvey Calden, dba Hilltop Aviation, Jay, ME. Regd 02-Nov-2000. Canx 03-Sep-2011.

• N712F Bill E Sims, Anchorage, AK. Res’d 16-Sep-2011. Regd 12-Jan-2012. Expiry date 31-Jan-2015. Sold 2019.

• N712F Aircraft Marketing & Leasing LLC., Fairbanks, AK. Regd 14-Sep-2019.

• tt 6,100.00 hours.

• Current •

USAF History

51-16473

L-20A #1010 No: 11. Available 21-Dec-1951. Accepted 31-Dec-1951 and. Delivered 11-Jan-1952. Although stated as to be delivered to Ladd AFB., it was diverted en route to Elmendorf where its first assignment was with the Alaska Air Command and the Base Flight Squadron of the 5039^th Air Transport Group from 11-Jan-1952 until 21-Feb-1952 before moving to Eielson AFB and the 5010^th Composite wing for three months until 03-Jun-1952. A move back to Elmendorf and the 5039^th until 06-Jul-1952, followed when the Air Transport Group was re-designated the Air Depot Wing where it stayed until 13-Apr-1953. It did however suffer category 3 damage (medium) in a takeoff accident on 05-Jul-1952 at Tatalina Airstrip in Alaska.

Emblem of 5039^th Air Transport Squadron

The aircraft suffered another category three accident on 12-Sep-1952 at a location 5 mi. south of Pilgrim Springs, Alaska with a forced landing caused by engine failure. A visit to the 5039^th Maintenance Group ensued before going the 5039^th Air Base Wing, again a re-designation of the Air Depot Wing, from 07-May-1953 and an immediate allocation to the 5^th Liaison Squadron 08-May-1953 – 04-May-1954. Maintenance again occurred between 04-May-1954 and 24-Jun-1954 presumed caused by a further accident at Fire Island landing strip, Anchorage, Alaska on 03-May-1954 when it suffered category 3 damage in a landing accident that included a ground loop. The pilot was Donald K. Hotchkiss. It then passed to the 5039^th Air Base Wing until 03-Feb-1955 and a move to the 5039^th Air Repair Squadron (ARP). It is not known whether this is another re-designation, as the next allocation was with the 5039^th Air Transport Squadron from 10-Jun-1957 until 03-Oct-1957.

A change of Base to Eielson and the 5040^th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Group between 03-Oct-1957 and 10-Oct-1961 was its longest deployment as it was allocated to the 5010^th Air Base Wing from 10-Oct-1961, back to the Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Group from 01-May-1962 and returning to the 5010 Air Base Wing on the 02-Sep-1962 until 06-Mar-1963.

Emblem of the 5010^th Air Base Wing

There was now a complete change, as it was re assigned to the Air Defence Command at Grand Forks AFB and the 478^th Fighter Wing from 06-Mar-1963 until Jun-1963 and then another re-assignment to the Strategic Air Command but still at Grand Forks with the 319^th Bombardment (Heavy) Wing between Jun-1964 and Sep-1963. The aircraft’s final move within the Air Force was to the Logistics Command and the 270^th Air Storage and Disposition Centre at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona in Sep-1963 where it remained until passing to civilian life in 1964.