TF-JFA Beechcraft C-45H (AT-11*)

TF-JFA Beechcraft C-45H (AT-11*)

  • TF-JFA Beechcraft C-45H  (AT-11*)
Árgerð/Year of mfr.:
1953 (1942*)
Raðnúmer/Constr. number:
AF-602 (1286*)
Vænghaf/Wingspan:
14,53 m.
Lengd/Length:
10,41 m.
Hámarksþungi/Max. weight:
4273 kg.
Hreyflar/Engines:
2x 450 ha. Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN14B
Farflugshraði/Cruising speed:
298 km./klst.
Sætafjöld/Number of seats:
11
Eigandi/Owner:
Jóhannes Fossdal
Fyrri skrásetningar/Previous I.D.:
TF-JMP, TF-JME(1), USAF 52-10672, (USAAF 41-27441*).

Þessi flugvél kom til Akureyrar 2. júlí árið 1964. Hún bar einkennisstafina TF-JME og var önnur tveggja C-45H flugvéla sem Tryggvi Helgason í Norðurflugi keypti af umframbirgðum flughers Bandaríkjanna. Hin vélin, TF-JMD, var tekin í notkun strax eftir komuna til Akureyrar en TF-JME flaug ekki aftur fyrr en árið 1968. Þá höfðu verið gerðar á vélinni ýmsar breytingar sem bættu mjög burðargetu hennar og afköst. Þessar breytingar voru samkvæmt teikningum Hamilton Little Liner og framkvæmdar á verkstæði Norðurflugs sem þá var í skúrbyggingu á Akureyrarflugvelli. Vélin var notuð um árabil við farþega- vöru- og sjúkraflug héðan frá Akureyri, en var tekin úr notkun um 1978. Vélin er nú í einkaeign.

Samkvæmt skráningarskölum Loftferðaeftirlits Flugmálastjórnar er TF-JFA af gerðinni Beechcraft C-45H og smíðaárið 1953. En við nánari athugun kemur í ljós að vélin er ein 900 flugvéla af gerðunum T-7, T-7C, T-11, C-45B og C-45F sem smíðaðar voru á árum síðari heimsstyrjaldarinnar en voru síðan endursmíðaðar hjá Beechcraft samkvæmt samningi við flugherinn frá 1951. TF-JFA var upphaflega smíðuð árið 1942 sem Beechcraft AT-11, raðnúmer 1286. Hún var afhent U.S.Army Air Forces Bombardier Training School á Victorville herflugflugvellinum í Californíu 9.maí árið 1942 og var herskráningarnúmer hennar 41-27441. Að heimstyrjöldinni lokinni var 41-27441 sett í geymslu á Norton herflugvellinum í Californíu. Árið 1948 var tegundarheiti 41-27441 breytt í T-11. Árið 1953 var vélin flutt í járnbrautarvagni til Herrington í Kansas-fylki þar sem hún var endursmíðuð. Nýendursmíðaða vélin var afhent Continental Air Command, þeirri deild flughersins sem hafði umsjón með varaliðum, á Ellington herflugvellinum í Texas þann 8. janúar 1954 . Hún var nú skráð sem C-45H flutningaflugvél með nýju raðnúmeri (AF-602) og nýju skráningarnúmeri flughersins (52-10672). Vitað er að 52-10672 var um tíma með bækistöðvar í New York (árið 1956) en 1958 var vélin aftur komin til vesturstrandarinnar nú í þjónustu 195. orrustuflugsveitarinnar í varaliði Californiu á Van Nuys flugvellinum við Los Angeles. Árið 1963 var ekki lengur talin þörf fyrir 52-10672 og henni var flogið til Davis Monthan flugvallar í Arizona þar sem hún var sett í geymslu. Þessar upplýsingar eru fengnar frá Bob Parmerter, einum helsti sérfræðingi heims í sögu Beechcraft 18 flugvéla.

Alls voru framleiddar rúmlega 9.000 Beechcraft 18 flugvélar, í fjölmörgum útgáfum, á árunum 1937 til 1969. TF-JFA er ein af níu flugvélum af gerðinni þessari gerð sem hafa verið í notkun hér á landi. Sú fyrsta var TF-ISL Flugfélags Íslands, sem tekin var í notkun vorið 1942.

This aircraft was delivered to Akureyri on 2nd July 1964 with the callsign TF-JME. It was one of two Beech C-45H aircraft that Tryggvi Helgason acquired from the U.S.A. in 1964 for his company Norðurflug.The other aircraft, TF-JMD, was taken into use immediately after arrival in Akureyri. TF-JME, however, did not fly in Iceland until 1968 as it was after arrival taken into the Norðurflug maintenance shed for conversion to the Hamilton Little Liner standard. This conversion resulted in an increased payload and performance. TF-JME was used for passenger, cargo and ambulance flights from Akureyri until 1978 when it was taken out of use. It is in private ownership and flies on occasion.

According to the official registration papers, TF-JFA is a Beechcraft C-45H manufactured for the U.S.Air Force in 1953. Research, however, reveals that the aircraft is one of 900 World War Two vintage Beech T-7, T-7C, C-45B and C-45F that were completely rebuilt by Beechcraft according to contract from 1951. TF-JFA was originally built in 1942 as a Beechcraft AT-11, c/n 1286. It was delivered to the U.S.Army Air Forces Bombardier Training School at Victorville, California on 9th May, 1942 with the USAAF serial no. 41-27441. After the war 41-27441 was stored at Norton AFB in California. In 1948 the type designator was changed from AT-11 to T-11. In 1953 the aircraft was moved by railroad to Herrington in Kansas where it was rebuilt by Beechcraft. The "new" aircraft, now a C-45H tranport with a new c/n, AF-602, and a new Air Force serial no., 52-10672, was delivered to the USAF Continental Air Command at Ellington AFB in Texas on 8th January, 1954. It is known that 52-10672 was based in New York City sometime around 1956. In 1958 the aircraft was back in California, now serving with the 195th FIS, Californina Air National Guard, based at Van Nuys (Los Angeles). In 1963 52-10672 was declared surplus to requirements and put in storage at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona. The information on the aircraft's manufacture and military history has been supplied by aviation historian Bob Parmerter, a foremost expert on the Beechcraft 18 series. 




A total of approximately 9.000 Beechcraft 18 aircraft, in various models, were produced between 1937 and 1969. TF-JFA is one of nine aircraft of this type to be used in Iceland. The first was a Beech 18D, TF-ISL, taken into use by Flugfélag Íslands (Iceland Airways) in 1942.

Íslenskar Beechcraft 18/C-45 flugvélar/ Icelandic Beechcraft 18/C-45 aircraft
Skrás.:/
Reg.:
Type:/
Tegund:
Raðnúmer:/
C/N:
Flugrekandi:/
Operator:
Í notkun:/
In use:
TF-ISL 18D 176 Flugfélag Íslands hf. (nr.3), Reykjavík
Iceland Airways Ltd.
1942 - 1945
TF-ISF UC-45E
(AT-7B)
4782 Flugfélag Íslands hf. (nr.3), Reykjavík
Iceland Airways Ltd.
1947 - 1948
TF-BVB AT-11C 
(C-18S)
3696 Flugfélagið Vængir hf. (nr.2), Reykjavík 1955 - 1961
TF-AIS C-45H AF-731 Flugsýn hf., Reykjavík 1964 - 1966
TF-JMD
TF-JMO
C-45H AF-598 Norðurflug, Akureyri
Flugfélag Norðurlands hf., Akureyri
1964 
1976 - 1979
TF-JME
TF-JMP
TF-JFA
C-45H AF-602 Norðurflug, Akureyri
Flugfélag Norðurlands hf., Akureyri
Jóhannes Fossdal, Reykjavík/Akureyri
1968
1978
1998
TF-RED C-45H AF-783 Vængir hf. (nr.3), Reykjavík 1971 - 1974
TF-REE D-18S A-226 Vængir hf. (nr.3), Reykjavík 1971 - 1973
TF-FHM
TF-JMB

TF-EBB
E-18S BA-132 Landflug hf., Reykjavík
Norðurflug, Akureyri
Flugfélag Norðurlands hf., Akureyri
Flugstöðin hf., Reykjavík
1971 
1973 
1975 
1977 - 1978