Ron Mak's Propliners

Well-known in Dutch propliner circles, Ron Mak's history with classic transports go back a long way.
Ron has been particularly involved in the Consolidated PBY Catalina, at some point actually organizing tours with this fascinating flying boat, but his journeys to countries far and wide concerns all vintage propliners and I am proud to be able to share some of his images and recollections here.

Photos © Ron Mak Collection

-> Most images can be clicked on for a larger format photo <-

Ron Mak's interest in my website was sparked by Gene Richardson's account of FAP2002's (a Consolidated PBY Catalina) restoration.
Photo © Michel Anciaux, Ron Mak Collection

Ron wrote: "I was involved in preparing this PBY-5A Catalina, c/n 1737; during 1988 I travelled to S.America for the umpteenth time... But it was my first trip to Paraguay, and esspecially for this Cat.
By coincidence a photo had been published in Propliner magazine and I wrote mr Tony Merton Jones and asked for details of the photographer, who appeared to be a Belgian and married to a Paraguayan; the photographer was a purser with SABENA and she worked with LAP in Brussels. I met them in Brussels and when I boarded the 707 at BRU I had obtained from them additional info on this Cat plus contact adresses to get to the Catalina.
To cut a long story short: I had a hell of a time getting to the Cat but I got there in the end!
On the very last day of my holidays in Paraguay I managed to the plane and make some photos; it was almost restored to airworthiness, the only thing missing was a Cat manual...
Well, I had been involved in research of Catalina's for many years and I had at home the required manual! In January 1989 I brought the manual to Brussels and handed it over to Captan Cesar Rios who was flying with LAP; and he took it to the FAP base and shortly after this the Cat took to the air !!

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina FAP2002,
in maintenance at Asuncion 20Oct88.

This PBY was located at Nau Camp at first, near the International airport of Asuncion, and later flown from Nau Camp to Asuncion Int'l."

Contacts

Ron Mak is seen handing over of the Catalina manual to El Coronel Jesús Rios, at the Sheraton-Brussels hotel on 02Jan89

Interior of the Catalina FAP2002, at Asuncion in 1989.

FAP2001, a single C-131D Convair (c/n 322) was operated by the FAP, seen here at Asuncion on 03Nov88; it was previously registered T-93 (renumbered in 1980) and ex/USAF 55-297 (saw active service in Germany, Europe with USAFE).

Source:
The ConvairLiners Story, by J.M.Gradidge (Air-Britain, 1998)

Douglas C-47B FAP2010 c/n 15882/32630, ex/T-81

The Paraguayan government started operating social services within the country in the late 1940s, using Beech C-45s and Bonanzas. In Mar54 they were coordinated under Transporte Aéreo Militar, when the first C-47 was delivered. Three more were supplied in Jun55 and there were 5 in use by mid-1957. In the early 1960s2 more followed under MAP and another came from the USAF misson.
Four more were supplied in 1964 and 5 in 1967, again under MAP. These were supplemented by a DC-6 and a Convair T-29. Initially the C-47s were numbered from T-21 to T-85 (odd numbers only), but in 1980 the Fuerza Aérea del Paraguaya adopted a new system from FAP2001 to FAP2023.
32 C-47s were known in 1982, and 4 in 1993. In April 2000 one was airworthy and 3 others in store.

FAP2028 C-47B 44-77083,
© Michel Anciaux, Ron Mak Collection

FAP2028 c/n 33415, at Asuncion,
© Michel Anciaux, Ron Mak Collection

Right: construction plate of DC-3 FAP2028 (c/n 33415)
Photo © Michel Anciaux.

This Douglas C-47B crashed on 24Nov94, while on take off from Puerta la Victoria.

Source for the DC-3 information is DC-3, The First Seventy Years, published by Air-Britain in 2006.

FAP2030 (c/n 12557), camouflaged

C/n 12557 in is above mentioned DC-3 book referred to as crashed on 24Nov94, but also noted as seen acting as an instructional airframe at Asuncion in 2003: probably a mix up with above FAP2028.

T-47, c/n 32926 (was to become FAP2013, but not taken up).

This photo was taken by and is copyright to Michel Anciaux.

Various stored DC-3's; top is FAP2023 (c/n 34376, ex/T-85)

Both photos © Michel Anciaux, Ron Mak Collection

Ron Mak sent me these rather unique photos, recalling some adventurous travel in Ethiopia.

Two Ethiopian Airlines DC-3s in maintenance at Addis Ababa during Jan.1988

ET-AGH (c/n 950) in maintenance at Ethiopia Airlines' facility

C-47A ET-AHQ c/n 4607, Addis Ababa Jan.1988

ET-AIB (c/n 42969) awaiting its load

ET-AIB seen departing

This is ET-AJG, Douglas DC-3C c/n 13576.

~~Unidentified~~ DC-3 airframe at Zamboanga City, Feb.2002

"The unidentified DC-3 at Zamboanga is one of Swiftair. RP-C860 and RP-C862 have been reported earlier as derelict there.
I just checked my slides and I have of both of them, but although minor differences in paint/config existed in their earlier life, the DC-3 pictured by Ron Mak has seen too many typhoons to confirm one way or another..."
Alexandre
[AeroTransport Data Bank] www.aerotransport.org

Heinz Rentmeister provided the following information:
This DC3 at Zamboanga City is RP-C862, not 860, although the owner claims it is 860!
I checked the remaining plates inside: it is definitely RP-C862.
[DC-3, Air-Britain 2006: c/n 19996 ex 43-15530 NC57985 PI-C862. )

ET-AHS at Addis Ababa, Jan.1988

The start of an unusual flight !!

Ron Mak and in the white shirt his brother Chris,
both experienced propliner hunters!

ET-AGT (c/n 13843) in flight over Ethiopia, en route from Gondar to Bahar Dar (Jan.1988)

Ambassadors for Propliner magazine!

The inflight service...

Cargo and bags

In August 2007 Ron Mak returned from the Philippines (see: Wikipedia) and kindly provided some photographic souvenirs of the present propliner scene in the Philippines.
To add to the report Ron also included some 2006 photos; this is not meant to be a complete report of the scene at Manilla or the Villamor Museum, as obviously aircraft are present which are outside the scope of this website.

NAMC YS-11 RP-C3586 at Clark Jul07.

Ron wrote: "At Clark DMIA one can now find the Caribou, formerly parked at Omni Field; also this new NAMC YS-11 for Aboitiz and some smaller stuff in like the Beech and Dorniers."

Ron also wrote:
"I also saw some NAMC YS-11's at Manila-Domestic airport, most were without engines; the Connie and the DC-4 were still there, although moved to another location."

Dornier Do-28D-2 Skyservant
RP-C673 of Seair (c/n 4174)

Dornier Do-28D-2 Skyservant
RP-C1179 (c/n 4127), also of Seair

N5611D c/n BA-316.
The history of this Beech E18S has been described on my webpage Photos by Friends & Guests page 6.

In Propliner no.110 (2007) Peter J.Bish wrote a report on this aircraft, reporting "...on a recent visit (07Aug06) to this Beech E18S and owner Russell D.Large. Russell bought the derelict 1957-vintage Beech in Yap (part of Federal States of Micronesia) in 2004 and ferried it to Clark for restoration. Despite initial intentions to remove the long nose modification, Russell decided that the long nose's purpose, the ability to carry 800lbs of baggae up front, made practical sense for his planned use around the Philippines.
Although the original Beech 18 was certiffied for 8.000lbs, N5611D boasts a capability of 10.100lbs having also had a spar strap fitted during restoration.
The only difference the long nose makes to handling the aircraft is extra sensitivity in pitch control.
Russell is a former USAF C-123 and DHC-4 pilot and flew regularly in the early-1970s from Clark, where he since made his home and fine quality furniture business. He upholstered the interior of N5611D himself, incorporating renovated seats from a Queen Air, totally new interior trim and headlining plus his own impressive instrument panel (including GPS panel).
Russell keeps his Beech (and other aeroplanes) at Iren Dornier's Seaair facility on the northwest side of Clark."

The remark "..having also had a spar strap fitted during restoration" was not entirely clear to me. However, to quote mr John Hiatt's song "with a little help from my friends" (actually, fellow enthusiasts on Classic-Propliner forum), I obtained the following information:
'eLaReF'- Spar Strap: strengthening piece added to the spar to give extra life/weight lifting capabilities. Has to be 'approved' design, not just any old bit of angle iron riveted on! This concept is not confined to the Beech 18.
'Tripod'- In C-118's there would be a flat rectangular plate about 1""thick the width of the spar and would run about 12-14' across the spar,mid wing. A good airframe life extender.
Heinz Rentmeister- when I checked the plane's plates at Clark Field, Pampanga, in 2005, it sported an additional modification plate: "E18S modernized to gross weight of 9600 lbs. per Beech drawing 404-000020, date 5/63."

Thanks guys!

De Havilland C-7A Caribou, RP-C2702 c/n 98, "Clementine" (at Clark DMIA)

RP-C2702 was used by Jan's Helicopter Service, flying tuna fish...

The Lockheed Constellation is seen in the back
(Manilla-Domestic AP, 01Aug07).

Manilla-Domestic airport, Aug07.

Manilla 02Aug07, RP-C550 of Victoria Air.
C/n is 14292/25737.

Photos of RP-C550 on Airliners.net

Manilla 02Aug07, Ron wrote:
"At last a Dakota which is operational again, RP-C1353; in 2004 it was hardly more than a wreck and it is now active again for CM Aero Services (unfortunately I did not get to see it fly). Photo taken at Manilla-Domestic airport. "

RP-C1353 is C-47B c/n 25368.

An impression of the museum at Villamor AFB, photos date from 2006 and 2007.

Villamore A.F.B Museum, Manila -06Aug06-.

YS-11 RP77, interior (31Jul07 )

NAMC YS-11A, RP77 (c/n 2179)

Cockpit of RP77, 31Jul07

Douglas C-47B 48301 (c/n 14117/25562)
Villamor AFB Museum 31Jul07.

43-48301 served in Japan & Korea (VC-47D)
before going to the Philippines. (06Aug06).

HU-16 48607 preserved Villamor AFB, Manilla (31Jul07).

HU-16 48607 c/n G-026
Villamor AFB, Manilla 06Aug06.

NAMC YS-11A RP-C3592 (c/n 2108),
at San Jose, Philippines

Disembarking at San Jose from NAMC YS-11 on 07Aug06.

RP-C3592 sustained substantial damage on 02Jan08 when it overshot the runway on landing at Masbate Airport in windy conditions. It originated from Manilla with 43 passengers onboard. The aircraft is understood to have touched down with one set of wheels off the edge of the runway. It overshot the runway and came to rest against a concrete perimeter fence, damaging its nose and the right propellor on impact. The right main landinggear collapsed and there was also fuel spillage. No injuries were reported.
[Source: World Airline Fleet News,Jan.2008]

En route San Jose to Manilla, 08Aug06

En route San Jose - Manilla, 08Aug06 in an YS-11.

We conclude this 'report' with some photos of military prop transports.
On the right we see 3 Fokker F.27s, from left to right can be read: 'unidentified' (reported as 10267)- 10310 - 10327.
(08Aug06, Manilla).

Philippine Air Force Hercs (left to right: 3552, 3545, 0749) at Mactan, Cebu (08Aug06).

C-130 Hercules, 3946, at Mactan (Cebu) 08Aug06.

Antonov An-24V RP-C7205 (c/n 77303) at Manilla in August 2007. The operator is Mosphil Aero.

This is RP-C3217, an YS-11A-500 (c/n 2083) which Ron shot at Manilla during August 2007, in a less than operational appearance...
The last operator was Asian Spirit, though it has been leased/operated by South Phoenix Airways at some point.
On the fuselage is written: "Philippine Partner BIMP - EAGA Air Alliance".
Now stored, what will be next ?

This NAMC YS-11A-500 is RP-C3592 of Asian Spirit, taken during the same visit to Manilla IAP.
As JA8735 it enjoyed a career with Air Nippon. Asian Spirit bought RP-C3592 in 2003, when the YS-11 were phased out in Japan on a massive scale, many went to the Philippines.

Formerly operated as JA8717 by Japan Air Commuter, it was damaged on 30Aug04 by a typhoon... but it was repaired and found its way to Aboitz Air and this NAMC YS-11A-500 is now registered RP-C2677. Its c/n is 2092.

RP-C3585 is another NAMC YS-11A-500 of Aboitz AC. Its c/n is 2149 and it was formerly operated by Japan Air Lines and Japan Air Commuter as JA8771. Source: ATDB

RP-C986 is a Beech G18S (cn BA-557) of which the owner is described as C.R.Miller and is operated by CM Aero Services. Previous identities include N9308Y, N607RP and N807P .
In the back is RP-C707, a Beech E18S (BA-126), also owned by C.R. Miller by operated by Commuter Air Philippines.
Previous identities include JA5502 and N8475D.
Source: www.ab-ix.co.uk/RP- complete.xls

This De Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter N702PV (c/n 702) was registered to Baymen Int'l Ltd on 23Jan07 and Ron came across this impressive "Truck of the Bush" at Manilla on 02Aug07.

Ron has travelled the world far and wide in search of the 'Propliners'...
This fine shot depicts Curtiss C-46A Commando HK-388 of Aeropesca; the location was Villavicencio,Colombia in 1980.
Two Curtis C-46A Commando's have flown in Colombia with tailnumber HK-388: c/n 25796 was destroyed somewhere and c/n 26796, Aeropesca's, seems to have vanished, its ultimate fate obscured...
Source: ATDB

TI-1010C of TAISA was photographed by Ron at Panama Tocuman in november 1971. True vintage: this is Curtiss C-46D Commando c/n 33348 and unfortunately no longer around...

This is YN-BRG, coming in to land at a dirst strip at Corn Island (date Nov.1980).
One may not be too surprised to learn that YN-BTG c/n 22576, in service with Aeronica, has vanished too: ulitmate fate unknown!

And this is how it looks and feels to be onboard YN-BRG:
In flight service between Corn Island and Bluefields Nov.1980 !

Lanica's YN-BRG submitted to maintenance on the ramp

Cockpit of YN-BRG. Photo taken 07Nov80.

Passengers waiting to board.

Bluefields 06Nov1980: The Bluefields air terminal is located on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS), approximately 45 minutes from Managua by plane. Its coordinates are: N 11 59' 20", W 083 46' 30".

Curtiss C-46 under maintenance on the ramp at La Paz, Bolivia.

Ron came across these two DC-3's at Villanueva del Pardillo -near Madrid,Spain- in 1991.
According to the owner it concerned two former Iberia DC-3's.
Information / comments welcomed.

DC-3s at Villanueva del Pardillo, 1991

Comments on the identity welcomed !!

Comments (as posted on Yahoo's DC-3 eGroup):

Villanueva del Pardillo / owner unknown / type C-47 / registr ? / c/n ? / stored, holiday home built of a former Iberia C-47 fuselage, together with a Douglas C-54 Skymaster fuselage

In december 1991 I have visited both Dakota's (there is NO C-54). These are former Iberia DC-3's and only the fuselages were present. It was also possible to have a look inside, but it was not possible to find any ID's. There was a bathtub inside the cockpit !!!
The location is between Villaneuva del Pardillo and Villafranca del Castillo (closer to the latter) along road M509. About 25km NorthWest of Madrid. If you ask in the village, people can help you.

I have a note saying they could be EC-ACL (c/n 12154 ?) and EC-ACK (c/n 20405 ?) but no confirmation.

Ron photographed this Ilyushin IL-18D ER-ICB (c/n 188010603) at Istanbal-SAW on 23Mar06.
As ER-ICB it has operated for Pecotox Air, Grixona, Galaxy Air (leased) and is currently (April 2008) operating for Tandem-Aero. Before becoming ER-ICB it was RA-74296 and operated for Tretyakova Airlines and before that: Aeroflot.

This IL-18 arrived unexpectedly at Istanbul-Sabiha Gokcen, from Pristina ( Kosovo ), and was seen loading textile. At night it continued on to Baku for a fuelstop and onwards to final destination Biskek.
The cockpit made an excellent impression: Capt Russo Vladimir himself had recently painted it and restored it to 'as new' condition!
Capt Russo had also flown in Angola for a company called Alada.

Loading through a passenger door...

Captain Russo Vladimir

IL-18 ER-ICB on Airliners.net

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06-Apr-2008