Ameriflight PA-31 boneyard

MikeD

MikeD

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Where the poor Chieftains have gone to pasture

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They’re fairly complete, just have been parked for awhile. Don’t know if they are up for sale yet
 
Boris Badenov said:
Sooooo many poo-stains from some little freight-pup getting in a little bit over their snout. Rust with grace.
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That's a phrase I like. I hope, as time passes, that I "rust with grace."

I'm worried that I'll drool and play with myself in front of the nurses, but (honestly) there is no nursing home in my future - barring. stroke where I have no control.

Still, I'd like to "rust with grace" as I'm able in these years that are left.
 
Bob Ridpath said:
That's a phrase I like. I hope, as time passes, that I "rust with grace."

I'm worried that I'll drool and play with myself in front of the nurses, but (honestly) there is no nursing home in my future - barring. stroke where I have no control.

Still, I'd like to "rust with grace" as I'm able in these years that are left.
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Nah! Rust NEVER sleeps!


View: https://youtu.be/i6RZY4Ar3fw
 
ppragman said:
It may have been my favorite airplane to fly...

The twin otter was cooler, the 1900 was more comfortable, the caravan had more comfortable seats... but the PA31-350 was probably still my favorite airplane to fly.
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Flying IFR in the Chieftain (technically, mine was a T-1020) in southeast was the most fun flying I’ve done. The PC-12 was a better airplane, the Caravan easier and more comfortable, and overall I like the Lear 45 more than any of them, but the Navajo was the most fun.
 
Man, thats sad to see. When I was doing my civilian flight training in the '01-'03 timeframe, these guys came through every morning and every night, adjacent to our ramp. Them and the Empire Caravans. At the time, they were the coolest big airplane around.
 
Isn't it cool when you were just starting out you thought a light twin was a big airplane. Thinking, "Man, how great would it be to fly a big plane like that". Those were the days. I almost feel sorry for the zero to hero types who go straight to the airlines that missed out of the "baby steps transition thru the flying career".
 
Richman said:
Sadly, just about every other large GA piston twin is heading to the same fate for the same reasons.
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Yeah, I'm flying a piston twin Aero Commander 500 that's used for fire suppression again this summer. I noticed the total time on the airframe was in the 10,000's but it's a 68 model. They only put maybe 150 hours a year on them. Just two or three flights a week during the fire season. They seem to be pretty well taken care of.
 
DE727UPS said:
Yeah, I'm flying a piston twin Aero Commander 500 that's used for fire suppression again this summer. I noticed the total time on the airframe was in the 10,000's but it's a 68 model. They only put maybe 150 hours a year on them. Just two or three flights a week during the fire season. They seem to be pretty well taken care of.
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I know you don’t but if you did want to fly some really high time AC500s check out Central Air Southwest, by some kind of miracle they have escaped the small shop 135 grim reaper and are still going.

I really liked the Chieftain, just a good honest workhorse of an airplane.
 
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