C-133 disk

A heads up to folks. I'm assembling a C-133 disk that will have lots of photos and some video. There will be about 1,000 pictures, if I can get permission from people who have sent me pics, over the years. I have lots of video from the McChord stop of 61999, some flight test (stalls) video from Edwards and a 20-minute film of 61999 doing an Alaska mission. That is my summer project. I also have every picture or illustration from my book (about 300) and 140 double-size pages from the 84th ATS/MAS scrapbook. I have a binder of pictures to scan and add to the collection.

This shot shows 40135 on display for an AF inspection of the first airplane. I wish I had put it in the book.

Cal Taylor

Picture for Runaway Prop

Here is the illustration by Fred Ludekens, used in the story, "Runaway Prop." It shows the C-133A in a severe pitch-up, dropping the Thor out the back end. The story has this event occurring at the bottom of a steep descent from 11,000', followed by a steep climb to make the jettison at 200'. I'll leave it to the experienced pilots to discuss the aerodynamic realities of such an event.

Cal Taylor

Runaway Prop

That 's the name of a short story by Frank Harvey, published in the Saturday Evening Post in May 1959. It is one of only two fiction accounts I have read that featured the C-133. The other was a novel by Clive Cussler, in which a C-133 lands at an AF station in Greece and is destroyed on the ground.

Harvey's story is pretty gripping and brings to mind several actual events. If you want to read it, email me at firstfleet@aol.com. I'll figure out how to attach it to my web site, eventually.

Cal Taylor

Additional Note from Dick Hanson:

In less than two hours, 7 of you responded to my e-mail with Runaway Prop attached, and 3 of those indicated the Clive Cussler novel Cal referred to is "The Mediterranean Caper."

To scan the Wikipedia posting on this book, click on:

Wikipedia on Mediterranean Caper.

To actually purchase the book online for $1 + postage, click on:

The Mediterranean Caper.

Additional comment by Jim Maloney:

The Mediterranean Caper ( also published as Mayday) is an action-adventure novel by Clive Cussler published in the United States in 1973. This is the 1st published book featuring the author’s primary protagonist, Dirk Pitt. It was nominated for an Edgar award by the Mystery Writers of America for "Best Paperback Original Novel of 1973."

Island Enterprises C-131 and C-132

Brian Stegner sent a shot of three C-133 models and one C-132, all with 20" fuselages. They aren't painted, yet. The shot was of a QC stage. But, they look really good. I'm having the C-132 painted the same as the early C-133s--white top and da-glo stripes. No word on pricing but it looks like folks will get their money's worth. BTW, I have no financial interest in IE.

Noise levels in the C-133

I had a recent email from Jan Monroe, whose husband "can't hear for ****" (her words). He had 4,000 hours in the C-133 plus Tweet time. I found some pages in an Edwards flight test report that dealt with noise levels in the airplane, including a nice graph the length of the fuselage. Maj Monroe may try a claim with VA, which his docs recommended. I'd be happy to send the info to anyone else who is trying that route. Just email me at firstfleet@aol.com.

Cal Taylor

New C-132 Model

Island Enterprises is building a brand new carved Filipino model of a C-132. I sent a bunch of technical date, including a huge 3-view drawing. Brian Stegner says it looks beautiful. As soon as it arrives, I'll post pictures.

Here's their web site: http://www.islandenterprises.net

Brian's dad is Bob Stegner, who was once NCOIC of propulsion at Tachi and Travis.

Cal Taylor

Dover Mini-Reunion Planning Update

I've logged 23 affirmative replies, for a total of 39 people to attend on Saturday, 8 Oct 2011.

As initially announced the idea is to have a little beer & wine at the AMC Museum in the afternoon, then dinner at Dover Downs.

Sandy will be getting back to me with more details which I will forward to the e-mail list of affirmative replies.

If you haven't replied, and still have serious intent to attend, please let me know ASAP at the following e-mail address: rehanson342@me.com

Douglas C-132 Model

I've been advised there is a C-132 (not C-133!) model for sale on e-Bay, asking $249. To check it out, sign in (or register) to ebay.com and enter "Douglas C-132" in the Search window.

To learn more about the airplane that was never produced, go to the following link to Cal Taylor's website.

Click on:
Comparative Chronologies of C-133 and C-132