Where old planes go to die (eventually)

I spent a week in the Caribbean in early April flying charters out of
San Juan. Our planes were stuffed away out of sight on apron 7 at SJU.
Interesting place there - we shared ramp space with a grounded DC-3, a
pair of Convair 440s, a few freight 1900s & Metros, a hunk of 727
fuselage, and a derelict Mallard & PBY. San Juan is home to Four Star
- a freight company that flies DC-3s (some with the Baseler turboprop
conversion) which is amazing to consider as those planes are 50+ years
old and still in revenue service. Watching the Convairs' engines
start, it became obvious why there's no mosquito problem on the ramp -
you've *never* seen so much smoke from a plane that wasn't on fire...
(note to Dudley H: Did those things puke oil when they were new??) It
kinda added to the outback vibe of the place - where else but the
Caribbean or South America do you see these old props still flying
people/freight? I was hoping to see a DC-6 or -7 but no luck.

On May 11, 7:14 am, Kingfish wrote:
I spent a week in the Caribbean in early April flying charters out of
San Juan. Our planes were stuffed away out of sight on apron 7 at SJU.
Interesting place there - we shared ramp space with a grounded DC-3, a
pair of Convair 440s, a few freight 1900s & Metros, a hunk of 727
fuselage, and a derelict Mallard & PBY. San Juan is home to Four Star
- a freight company that flies DC-3s (some with the Baseler turboprop
conversion) which is amazing to consider as those planes are 50+ years
old and still in revenue service. Watching the Convairs' engines
start, it became obvious why there's no mosquito problem on the ramp -
you've *never* seen so much smoke from a plane that wasn't on fire...
(note to Dudley H: Did those things puke oil when they were new??) It
kinda added to the outback vibe of the place - where else but the
Caribbean or South America do you see these old props still flying
people/freight? I was hoping to see a DC-6 or -7 but no luck.

They don't die, they return to the earth from which they came.

On 11 May 2007 07:14:19 -0700, Kingfish wrote:

Watching the Convairs' engines
start, it became obvious why there's no mosquito problem on the ramp -
you've *never* seen so much smoke from a plane that wasn't on fire...
(note to Dudley H: Did those things puke oil when they were new??) I

Round engines are dry sump with a separate oil tank. After shutdown,
the oil left in the engine ends up in the bottom cylinder(s) whereby
it will eventually seep through the gaps in the rings.

Most of them require rotating a few blades prior to turning on the
mags to make sure there is no hydraulic lock ( could bend a rod) and
to spit any oil out the exhaust. It's the same reason you see the guys
pulling them through by hand in old movies.

When they light off, they throw oil mist and smoke out the pipes. You
don't want your plane close behind one of them or you'll need a wash
job.

New or old they all do it.

On May 11, 9:14 am, Kingfish wrote:
I spent a week in the Caribbean in early April flying charters out of
San Juan. Our planes were stuffed away out of sight on apron 7 at SJU.
Interesting place there - we shared ramp space with a grounded DC-3, a
pair of Convair 440s, a few freight 1900s & Metros, a hunk of 727
fuselage, and a derelict Mallard & PBY. San Juan is home to Four Star
- a freight company that flies DC-3s (some with the Baseler turboprop
conversion) which is amazing to consider as those planes are 50+ years
old and still in revenue service. Watching the Convairs' engines
start, it became obvious why there's no mosquito problem on the ramp -
you've *never* seen so much smoke from a plane that wasn't on fire...
(note to Dudley H: Did those things puke oil when they were new??) It
kinda added to the outback vibe of the place - where else but the
Caribbean or South America do you see these old props still flying
people/freight? I was hoping to see a DC-6 or -7 but no luck.

Go to KHUM LA...there is a 6 there. They use it for oil dispersal and
(hard to believe) mosquito spraying.

Robert