USCG HC-131A No. 5792; "LAST FLIGHT OF THE C-131: Coast Guard 5792 speeds down the runway on its final flight to the 'bone yards.' Gathering speed, going. . . . ."; 23 November 1982; Photo Release No. 11-14 (no photo number); photo by PA3 Sean Patrick Smith, USCG.
Just for the record I got this in an e-mail from a friend of mine.. I guess there is a lot of stuff out there I don't have a clue about.... anyhow, he started out as an Ensign at Group Baltimore .... (Mike Self)
quote:
Wray
I found this on the USCG web site. It is the last HC 131 on the take-off roll leaving Air Station Miami cir. 1982(??), maybe '83. It is on it's way to the graveyard in Tuscon, AZ. I'm in the cockpit!
Trivia . . . it has 5000 pounds of pot on board. We we to make a pit stop in Fargo, ND for the DEA. The pot was to be used in Chicago for a sting operation. We only made it to St. Louis due to a blizzard in Fargo around 9:00 PM and we had to off load it - the two DEA Agents on board were extremely drunk having downed a few bottles of very fine Kentucky Whiskey enroute.
When we delivered it to the graveyard, it was late on a 3-day holiday Friday afternoon. The folks that we were to sign over the aircraft were already gone for the weekend. I wish that I could have seen their faces on Tuesday morning when they discovered all of the stems and seeds that were still on board!
Michael
Oh well.. I thought it was interesting...
Wray.. P.S. Just noticed.... that picture was taken on my birthday!
I was with Mike on that flight. I'm not sure but I think I'm the only Coastie to take a HU-16, C131 and a HU-25 to the boneyard in Tuscon. I was in Miami from 75-79, 81-84, 86-90. Great fun.
GET THIS...that airplane is sitting on an airport ramp in Victoria, Texas. Some 'ol boy bought that plane to still fly it but aparently it is so eatin' up with corrosion it would only be good for one flight to the museum in Florida it is supposedly going to.
