Fellow PPRuNers, Sorry I have not been following this thread on this forum ?? But may I offer you some of my photos of this 'different' aircraft making a two hour appearance at Norwich this morning ...... Keith.
I have learnt quite a bit about the Johnsons and the Sikorsky S 38 & S 39 from the website refrred to by ICT_SLB, all interesting stuff. They were certainly great explorers.
Sadly it would appear Martin died as the result of an aircraft accident:- Martin dies of injuries sustained in a commercial plane crash in Burbank, California (January 13) Does anyone have any details of the aircraft involved?
Martin Johnson died, and his wife injured, in the crash of a Western Air Express Boeing 247 NC13315 in the Saugus/Newhall CA mountains. The date of the accident is 12 Jan. 1937.
This mountain pass claimed at least one other B-247 (UAL NC13355) and a brand-new NWA Lockheed 14H NC17394 within a year or so of each other. This is the stuff of Fate Is The Hunter.
I note the new N28V has H-S Hydromatic props (22D40 - full feathering) where the original had ground-adjustable props. That's one of the few external differences to be seen - and certainly a worthwhile concession to safety!
Went to see it on 22nd Sept at Goodwood. Nobody seemed to know when it would be departing. The pilot, Tom Schrade, was unwell a few days ago and had gone to Duxford for some R&R. A few snaps I took are here:
My wife and i would have loved a ride, John, but on the day we saw it the a/c looked a bit forlorn - sitting alone at Goodwood with nobody quite knowing what was happening; least of all when it was leaving. (Also, I doubt we'd have been able to afford the "fare"!!).
Looks like he may be flying just now (Friday 13:40). the 'spot adventures' page that showed the planes position (Spot Adventures) has been dormant for awhile but it now shows one plot with a time od 13:31, a position off the south coast near Bognor. Perhaps Tom's 'trying it out' in the sea! DT
UPDATE at 14:50....now over France....and it managed to avoid being shot down by the 'Abbeville' boys as it passed over their base..(oh no that would have been 70 years ago sorry).
probably best just to ask Tom straight out if maybe you could hitch a ride. I got chatting to him in the USA at Oshkosh and ended up spending an entire day flying with him and his friends. I doubt he'll ask for a contribution. Otherwise offer him a few bob for fuel. It takes about five people in the back if I remember correctly.
Have remained in touch ever since, on and off but he didn't say where in the South of France he was headed when I spoke to him last week.
I just found this site. I am Tom Schrade the pilot in the picture. I have always been curious how the landing looked from the ground. As I recall they winds were nearly a direct crosswind of 20 knots gusting to 28 knots. I know my co-pilot didn't think it was possible to land successfully with the winds at that velocity... and he is a well known European Astronaut who had been on the International Space Station twice and on MIR once.
The plane is currently at an Aviation Museum in Oppenhain Germany, I hope to continue the journey to South Africa sometime in January or February. Depending on my ability to get the money for the fuel.
I was wondering if anyone got that photo. It was about all I could handle. Is it possible to have you email the photos you have taken, and would it be OK to put them on my unlimitedadventure web site? I don't know how to copy them from this site. Thanks Tom
Thanks again my phone number in the US is 702 292-5615.
Last edited by Tom Schrade; 25th Nov 2010 at 19:20.
Reason: I didn't know we couldn't put our email address in the the posting... Sorry
Hey John We met at Oshkosh 2002 or 2003 didn't we? and weren't you with Frans Dely and you were the editor or Publisher of "The South African Flyer," weren't you? I am making progress on getting to South Africa, half way there right now! The plane is in Grossenhain Germany at an aviation museum run by Josef Koch. I think Frans told me that you have a number of other aviation magazines now. I am new to these networks so I might need some advice. Thanks Tom If you send me your phone number, I will give you a call.
Last edited by Tom Schrade; 25th Nov 2010 at 19:21.
Reason: Not sure, but believe we shouldn't post other emails.. is that correct?
