261
51-16493 N762 N909BW N148KS
N215TS
x
• 51-16493 USAF #1076. Delivered 16-May-1982. L-20A No: 77. Command AF-1. Built as L-20A and re-designated U-6A in 1962.
• 51-16493 Stored at MASDC Davis Monthan AFB, AZ from 31-Aug-1964 until 27-Oct-1964
• N762 Department of the Interior. Regd late Oct 1964. Details unknown from late Oct 1964.
• N909BW Willard Walpole. Circa. 1967.
• N909BW Holt Flying Service Inc. Details unknown.
• N909BW Frank E. Borman. Regd May-1970.
• N909BW Bohman Airways Inc., Ranier, MN. Regd Aug-1972.
• N909BW Wipaire Inc., Inver Grove Heights, MN. On USCAR at 02-Mar-1990 & 29-Feb-1992.
• N148KS Wipaire Inc., Inver Grove Heights, MN Regd Jul-1992.
Note: Wipaire Turbine Conversion.
• N148KS Kermit S. Sutton, Naples, FL. Regd 16-Sep-1992. Res 05-Jun-1993. Regd Jul-1993.On USCAR at 01-Oct-1994.
• N148KS Pilots of the Caribbean LLC., Margate, FL. Regd 07-Apr-2011.
• N215TS Pilots of the Caribbean LLC., Margate, FL. New registration pending 07-Apr-2011. Regd 11-May-2011.
• N215TS Eagle Wings LLC., Alden, IA. Regd 22-Feb-2023.
USAF History.
51-16493 was made available on 02-May-1952 and accepted by the by AMO 6600th Air Depot (Air Material Overseas Unit), at Downsview, ON., on 13-May-1952 and delivered to Goose Bay AFB Newfoundland & Labrador on 11-Jun-1952 and was assigned to the Northeast Air Command and the 6603rd AB Wing, the base host wing, later re designated 6603rd AB Group. It suffered category 2 damage (minor) in an accident SE Of Goose Bay Air Base, on 13-Jul-1952 in a take of accident whilst The pilot was Joseph C Pace. The damage appears to have been repaired at Goose Bay. It then suffered a landing accident West end of Goose Bay, Labrador on 12-Aug-1952 receiving category 2 damage (minor) which again appears to have been resolved locally. The pilot William M Edwards Jr. A third accident occurred at the Goose Bay Air Base, on 04-Feb-1953 when the aircraft suffered category 3, (Medium/serious) damage in a landing accident when attached to the 6603rd Maintenance & Support Squadron at Goose Bay Air Base. Pilot Thomas W Martin.
There followed a move to Olmstead Air Material Area Command, Harrisburg, PA., on 17-Jun-1953 until 05-Apr-1954 for further repair and maintenance. It then resumed its career back at Goose Bay, now with the 6615th Transport Squadron until 01-Sep-1954 when it re joined the host unit now re designated the 6606th AB Wing.
Another time away from its operational role now occurred between 18-Oct-1956 and 08-Dec-1956 when it spent the time at the de Havilland Canada aircraft Facility at Downsview, its birthplace, for maintenance. A return back to Goose Bay and the 6606th AB Wing followed but this was short lived as it moved to Pepperrell, Newfoundland and Labrador, another Northeast Air Command base and joined the 4082nd Strategic Wing and the 6604th AB Wing. The NEA was de commissioned in Apr-1957 and the base was re assigned to the Air Defence Command. This led to a re designation of units and the host unit at Pepperrell now became the 4737th AB Wing. Pepperrell itself was de commissioned in Aug 1960 and in consequence the aircraft moved back to Goose Bay now also part of the Air Defence Command where it joined the 59th Fighter Interceptor Squadron on 19-Jul-1960 remaining until 30-Jun-1961. Another change in policy saw Goose Bay assigned to the Strategic Air Command and in consequence the host unit was re designated 4082nd Strategic Wing from that date.
It was later attached to the 4082nd Strategic Wing Goose Bay AB, NL and the Logistics Command 2704th Air Storage Depot Group, Davis Monthan AFB., AZ., from 31-Aug-1964 before passing to the civilian register with the Department of the Interior from 27-Oct-1964.