Paging Kalitta L-1011 Pilots

[Fris B. Fairing]

I'm hoping to contact the pilot(s) who flew N106CK to the boneyard at Victorville sometime prior to July 2007. Any leads appreciated.

Rgds

[zerozero]

Let me guess.

You're from the FAA and you're here to help.

[unwashed]

We can't do any other commercial flying while in the employ of Kalitta, but I will ask.

[The AvgasDinosaur]

Earl, Fergineer and / or 411A or your favourites if you want her moving again. Ferrydude probably has some recent experience too.
Don't forget your camera if you do.
Be lucky
Dave

[Fris B. Fairing]

Thanks to all who replied. There's nothing sinister about my request. I have acquired the captain's control yoke from N106CK for display and I'd like to add a bit of first hand history to the exhibit. The state of the placard on the yoke suggests that Autoland was in use right to the end. Is this so?

Any stories about N106CK will be much appreciated.

Rgds

[411A]

Is this so?

Not necessarily....and especially in the case of Kalitta.
His idea was to maintain with a blunt screwdriver and a hammer...does not work well with the L1011 aircraft.
He found out the hard way.

[glhcarl]

Not necessarily....and especially in the case of Kalitta.
His idea was to maintain with a blunt screwdriver and a hammer...does not work well with the L1011 aircraft.

Remember Connie Kalitta, once said, "I made enough money off drag racing that I could afford a hobby, owing an airline".

[muduckace]

Remember Connie Kalitta, once said, "I made enough money off drag racing that I could afford a hobby, owing an airline".

yeah well he sure ran his "hobby" like a cut throaght airline. Not speaking for the new op but the l10/8/classic op was sold off to KIA for a petty penny, KIA in return sold all MX and ground equip back in a closed auction (pretty much for free). KIA then folds to take a loss and Connie starts back up with a fleet of classics and a military contract.

[411A]

I'm guessing they didn't operate a fleet of aircraft with expired LLPs though...

If you only knew...

[Willit Run]

I can fairly well assure you, all the L-1011's did auto-lands to the very end. I think I did the last revenue flight with that one. I'd have to check my log.

[fergineer]

Hi Dave....Sadly my UK loicence has expired, my antiguan licence may still be valid though. N reg so it wont matter at all as they wont let me fly it.

[fesmokie]

You Bet Auto Land worked!!! It had to!!!.. cause we were so fatigued most of the time.

[Earl]

Thanks for the recommend AVGAS, not current on this type anymore either.
Sounds like they are stripping this one down with the yoke gone etc.
Sad ending for a great airplane.

[Fris B. Fairing]

Thanks again to everyone who responded. Sadly Earl is correct. The aeroplane has been parted out and broken up. It's a sad end for any aeroplane but the museums of the world can't save them all. Does anyone have any anecdotes about N106CK?

Rgds

[The AvgasDinosaur]

A potted history from the German L1011 website

msn 293C-1211
Version : L1011-385-1-15-200(F) [-200]
First Flight: 05.05.81
Powered by: 3 x Rolls Royce RB211-524B402
MTOW (lbs): 474.000
Complete flying time (Hours): 51875
Landings: 13782
Status : Stored
Curriculum vitae
15.05.1981 delivered British Airways ; registered G-BHBP ; leased British Airtours ; named Whitesand Bay
03/1982 returned British Airways
05/1985 leased British Airtours ; named Osprey
10/1985 returned British Airways
31.12.1990 total hours: 32150
22.05.1991 stored Mojave
08/1991 leased Air Lanka ; re-registered 4R-ULM
11/1994 returned British Airways ; re-registered G-BHBP ; stored Cambridge
31.07.1995 G-registration canceled ; bought Marshall Aerospace ; bought American International ; re-registered N106CK
02/1996 converted -200F
05/1999 new name of operator Kitty Hawk International
04/2000 stored Yipslanti
06/2000 stored Rome
04/2001 stored Victorville
07/2002 still for sale via Langdon ; was for Pacific East Asia Cargo at 09/2002 ; not taken up
13.11.2002 bought Wells Fargo Bank Northwest
02.06.2002 moved to or near scrapyard
09.03.2005 seen Victorville
03.05.2006 seen Victorville
12.04.2007 N - registration still valid
13.07.2007 seen Victorville

Hope it helps.
Be lucky
David

[411A]

any idea what state the landing gear on that A/C was in

Yes, we have access to all the records.

[The AvgasDinosaur]

Quote from fergineer

Hi Dave....Sadly my UK loicence has expired, my antiguan licence may still be valid though. N reg so it wont matter at all as they wont let me fly it.

Quote from Earl

Thanks for the recommend AVGAS, not current on this type anymore either.

The dream team gets smaller by the day
Time you guys got your pens and pencils out, it's autobiography time folks, before it all gets forgotten or there is no one left to write it, please
Be lucky
David

[Fris B. Fairing]

AvgasDinosaur

Many thanks for the history. I'd still like to contact the pilot who parked her for the last time.

Rgds