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Air tankers - Main page
FOUNDED:
Ray Elgin in 1963. Sold to John Elgin in 1971. Purchased
by Matt Ziomek in 1986.
GENERAL:
Aero Flite provides aircraft, crews and ground support
to service federal and state wildland firefighting agency contracts throughout the continental United States and Alaska. The
company also supports private agencies in spraying operations. Aero Flite's commitment to its customers is to provide consistently,
top-notch, professional services.
COMPANY OPERATIONS:
Aero Flite services several federal aerial firefighing
contracts. The company will commence spraying operations in CY 2000. The owners also manage a successful local FBO, Kingman
Aero Services.
IMPROVEMENTS/INNOVATIONS:
Aero Flite pioneered a significant weight
reduction program on the WAIG retardant dispensing tank which allowed it to meet strict Interagency Airtanker Board performance
criteria and continue operating on Federal contracts.
AREAS CONTRACTED:
Continental United States and Alaska
FLEET (Types of aircraft):
One C-54E, one C-54G, one M-18B Dromader,
one Aztec, one Piper Cherokee 6.
FBO operates one Cessna 172.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
10
CONTACT:
Matt Ziomek
(520) 757-1002
FAX (520) 757-2951
email:
aerodc4@ctaz.com
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Serial #: 44-35323
Construction #:
28602
Civil Registration:
N8026E
CF-CDD
Model(s):
A-26C
RB-26C
Name:
Ginny Sue
Status: Airworthy
Last info: 2002
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History:
Delivered to USAAF as A-26C/44-35323, March
1945.
- Delivered to ETO, April, 1945.
- Returned to U.S.A., July 1945.
- Assigned to 4255th Base Unit, Granada Field,
MS,
July 1945-Feb. 1946.
- Transferred to 4160th Base Unit, Hobbs Field, NM,
Feb. 1946-Sept.
1947.
- Transferred to 4185th Base Unit, Hill AFB, UT, Sept. 1947.
- Redesignated B-26C, July 1948.
- Transferred
to 67th TRW/12th TRS/Far East Air Force,
Tague Airbase, Korea, June 1951.
- Equipped with large nose mounted
camera and
redesignated RB-26C.
- Transferred to 183rd Transport Squadron/Air National Guard,
Hawkins, MI, 1956.
- Transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB for storage, Dec. 1957.
L.B. Smith Aircraft Corp, Miami, FL, July
1958
- Registered as N8026E.
Kreitzberg Aviation, Inc., Salem, OR, 1966.
Aeroflight Inc, Troutdale, OR, 1969
Aero
Union Corp, Chino, CA, 1969.
- Converted to air tanker configuration.
- Flown as tanker #55.
Conair Aviation Ltd.,
Abbotsford, BC, May 1970.
- Registered as CF-CDD.
Aero Union Corp, Chico, CA. Sep. 1970-1972
- Reregistered as N8026E.
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Flew as tanker #C55.
William Dempsey, East Wenatchee, WA, 1977.
- Flew as tanker #55
Don A. Goodman, Missoula, MT,
1977
Lester Riley, Anchorage, AK, Circa 1978.
- Used as a "River Sander", dropping sand and crushed coral
on frozen rivers to aid in ice breakup.
- Also used as fire bomber.
Dr. Don Rogers, Anchorage, AK, Circa 1979.
The
Air Museum, Chino, CA, July 1980-1992
- Flown as "435323/Ginny Sue.
The Air Museum/Planes Of Fame, Valle, AZ,
2002.
- Static Display.
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Above two shots show Jim Byers flying Aero Flite's A-26 Invader at
Troutdale, OR in the mid 60s.
Jim flew P-38s with the 474th FG ETO with 3 kills, F-51Ds in korea with the 12th FBS (after
getting kicked out of the 67th FBS!).
He flew TBMs, A-26s and A-24 bug sprayers for Holly Flether at Aero flite for many
years.
Serial #: 43-22511
Construction #: 18608
Civil
Registration:
N86469
Model(s):
A-26C
B-26C
Name: None
Status:
Destroyed
Last info: 1971
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History:
Aeroflight Inc, Troutdale, OR, 1963-1969.
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Registered as N86469.
Aero Union Corp, Chico, CA, 1970-1971.
- Crashed and destroyed during firebombing, Springville,
AZ, May 4, 1971.
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Note:
NTSB Identification: LAX71FUJ99
14 CFR Part
91 General Aviation
Event occurred Tuesday, May 04, 1971 in SPRNGRVILLE, AZ
Aircraft: DOUGLAS B-26, registration: N86469
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FILE DATE LOCATION AIRCRAFT DATA INJURIES FLIGHT PILOT DATA
F S M/N PURPOSE
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3-1480 71/5/4 SPRNGRVILLE,ARIZ DOUGLAS B-26 CR- 1 0 0 COMMERCIAL AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
TIME - 0715 N86469 PX- 0 0 0 FIRE CONTROL 49, 17000 TOTAL HOURS, 17
DAMAGE-DESTROYED OT- 0 0 0 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
RATED.
DEPARTURE POINT INTENDED DESTINATION
DEMING,N MEX WINSLOW,ARIZ
TYPE OF ACCIDENT PHASE OF OPERATION
STALL IN FLIGHT: STARTING SWATH RUN
PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
FACTOR(S)
MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
SKY CONDITION CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
CLEAR UNLIMITED
VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED) NONE
OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE TEMPERATURE-F
NONE 43
WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
210 10
TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
VFR NONE
FIRE AFTER IMPACT
REMARKS- OBSERVED STEEP L BANK APPROACHING DROP ZONE.DENS ALT APRX 7900FT MSL.
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