N199AB update

June 25, 2008

Here is the latest on the C-133 move to Travis Air Museum.

We just spoke with Terry Juran from the museum and he is very upbeat on the response we have had from former C-133 members and their families! He was able to secure a greatly reduced price for the fuel by including the C-133 as a participant in the Air Show at Travis Air Force Base over Labor Day weekend.

From the promised donations and from the Travis Air Museum Board who pledged $5,000 during its Board Meeting this weekend, we appear close to one third of the total dollar amount we need for fuel.

If you are able to contribute, donations must reach Terry by August 1, 2008 to make the Labor Day event. Donations can be sent directly to:

PROJECT C-133

TRAVIS AIR MUSEUM

400 BRENNAN CIRCLE

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA 94535

Here are some answers to your recent questions:

Q: If the funds donated exceed what is needed for fuel, how will it be spent?

A: All PROJECT C-133 designated donations received by the Air Museum will be placed in a special account and used for the C-133 only. The account will be used for expenses such as restoration, maintenance, site preparation, etc.

Q: Was the C-133 in Alaska ever assigned to Travis Air Force Base?

A: We have verified that 60199 was assigned to Travis Air Force Base from February 1960 to November 1960.

Q: What social activities are planned for the C-133 arrival on Labor Day weekend?

A: We are still in the planning stages of any social activities. Watch for regular updates for more information.

Thanks to those of you who have pledged donations to this project! We are excited and optimistic about Travis AFB displaying the C-133.

We welcome any questions you may have.

John and Jetta Burnett

jnburnet@cwnet.com

Boeing 40 Video

Thanks again, Sandy Sandstrom, for bringing us this fascinating "little piece of aviation history." Click on: Pemberton Restoration Boeing 40C Video

Also, check out this website: Boeing 40

Excerpt:
This is a picture of our Boeing 40C, 5339, in 1928 shortly before its crash in the Oregon mountains.

N199AB Fuel to Travis

An update from Terry Juran, at the Travis Museum. He can get fuel for $3.04/gal, vice $6. About 16,000 gallons are needed and money to get the Alaska crew home. So, about $50,000 is the goal. He is contacting various potential sponsors, I have had input from other possible sponsors and have written to a person who has put lots of money into aviation projects. One of my contacts is going to submit my short article on the move to Pacific Flyer. Things are moving toward the goal of a Labor Day arrival with several low passes.

Sneak Preview

Coming Soon!
June Book of the Month

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was one of the most influential of the United States' founding fathers. As the first secretary of the treasury he placed the new nation on a firm financial footing, and although his advocacy of strong national government brought him into bitter conflict with Thomas Jefferson and others, his political philosophy was ultimately to prevail in governmental development. Hamilton's own career was terminated prematurely when he was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.

N199AB to Travis

Just in from John Burnett

June 18, 2008

Here is the latest information we have on the delivery of the Alaskan C-133 to Travis Air Force Base.

Travis Air Museum will be receiving the C-133 from Alaska along with two additional C-133s from the Mojave Desert. The plans are to have the one from Alaska arrive at Travis during the Air Force Celebration over the Labor Day Weekend.

The two that Travis will receive from the Mojave are not flyable and will be used for spare parts. There are plans to remove the fight deck from one of them and install it inside the museum. The museum hopes to involve former crew members in this project (more information on this when it becomes available).

The biggest challenge the museum has at the present time is the fuel purchase to fly the plane from Alaska to Travis. [Cal comment: 18,000 gallons for unpressurized flight of 7:55 plus reserves will cost about $108,000].

The museum has received a donation of $5,000.00 from a former C-133 crew member. This member is challenging other former members for donations, up to an additional $5,000.00, which he will match.

So many of you have asked how you can help. To make your donation, please send a check or money order to:

C-133 PROJECT
TRAVIS AIR MUSEUM
400 BRENNAN CIRCLE
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA 94535

Those who donate $250.00 or more will have their name placed on a donation plaque in the C-133 area of the museum.

Terry Juran from the Travis Museum will be in Alaska next week to inspect the
C-133 and we are hoping to post pictures on this site when he returns.

Spread the word and please send any questions to us:

John and Jetta Burnett
Jnburnet@cwnet.com

Fuel Burn

For anyone out there who remembers performance figures:

Put on your engineer's cap for a minute and give me some round figures ( I figure you don't even need the Dash One Dash One to do this). The big ticket item to get N199AB from Anchorage to Travis is fuel.

The direct flight from Anchorage to Travis takes 6:55 at 250 knots. A route via overhead McChord required 7:13. Adding 1:30 for reserves, that gives a maximum of 8:43, so round off to 9:00 fuel required. Jet-A fuel is running about $6/gal. What is the burn rate for a flight at 10000 or 15000 (I don't know if they would choose to go pressurized or unpressurized. Would it save fuel to fly unpressurized? In any case, how much fuel would be needed to cover 9:00? What is the total cost?

Let me know at firstfleet@aol.com.

I want to see if any fund-raising is an option.

Cal Taylor

Emer Procedures Tng Film

An email from Tim Elliot (lastgasp@aol.com), son-in-law of Maj. Tom Miller.

"He flew the C-133 for a number of years.

As it happens, he appeared in a 16 mm Air Force training film, and I'm trying to track down a copy for him.

What: 16 mm training film titled "Emergency Procedures for the C-133A"
Who: U.S. Air Force Photo Mapping Squadron, which at the time operated out of Orlando
Where: I hope you can tell me...
When: Filmed in 1961 or 1962 and distributed for some years thereafter "

Tim says he has had no luck in AF channels, so hopes a private party might be the key.

Anyone out there who might have or know where to find this or any other C-133 training film. Traditions has only a couple, just of the roll-out and arrival at Dover.

Cal Taylor

N199AB/61999 Update

This is a summary of what I have learned about the potential move of N199AB/61999 from Anchorage to Travis AFB. The Jimmie Doolittle Museum has received a letter of intent to transfer the airplane. Two big issues are gathering funds to repaint the airplane in military markings and to pay for the fuel. Assuming that those are accomplished, the concept is to have the airplane arrive during a Labor Day air show at Travis. There are still lots of hoops to be jumped through to make it happen, but there are good prospects for the last airworthy C-133 to go home. 61999 was assigned to Travis from Feb to Nov 1960.

Cal Taylor