Stead Airport Galleries

Scene at Stead Airport, Nevada, June 9, 2008. Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin in Russian Winter markings on the ramp at Stead.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Stead Airport Galleries

Scene at Stead Airport, Nevada, June 9, 2008. Turbo Thrush Air Attack Tanker 440 on the ramp at Stead. The use of these aircraft to supplement Air Attack activities following the grounding of a major number of aging Tanker aircraft is prudent, but the same as throwing a thimble of water or fire retardent on the Sun. However, folks around Stead might be in for a treat as the airport possesses a large enough runway to handle the new DC-10 and 747 Air Attack aircraft currently under development for fast moving range fires, such as those seen around Stead, and larger Wild Fires in the surrounding National Forests.

In the meantime, Air Attack continues as long as Stead remains undeveloped. Should Stead and the surrounding area be enroached or "in-croached" (from the inside out) by planned development of the "Reno-Stead Airport Regional Business Center," good luck getting a Turbine Thrush in, let alone, a wide-bodied, jumbo jet Air Attack plane like the 747 or DC-10.

Krys Bart and the AAWC remain a looming and dangerous threat not only to the so-called "Reno Air Races," but to everyone in the Reno and surrounding communities within Northern Nevada and California, by this boondoggle of theirs involving the pouring of concrete buildings all over Stead Airport, which also the erection of High-voltage powerlines on lands needed for their virtual emptiness by no less than Air National Guard and Army National Guard assets, BLM and other Forestry-operation Air Attack tankers, Law Enforcement and MED EVAC aircraft using the field at Stead, as well as general aviation aircraft, sport aircraft and gliders navigating the terrain around its proper.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Stead Airport Galleries

Colorful Bell Textron UH-1 "Huey" on the ramp at Stead.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Stead Airport Galleries

Hawker Siddley (British Aerospace) Gnat in aggressor markings on the ramp near Aviation Classics (CIA Aviation) at Stead Airport.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Stead Airport Galleries

Beautiful, "baby blue" Russian markings, Aero Vodochody Albatros at Stead in the Aviation Classics East Hangar.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Stead Airport Galleries

Fairchild F-24 Classic under maintenace at Aviation Classics.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Stead Airport Galleries

North American Navion trainer under maintenance at Aviation Classics.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Stead Airport Galleries

Precious Metal at Sunset

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Nevada in Pictures

The Martin Baker MB.5 replica opened up for internal work at John & Carol Marlin's Stead Airport Hangar. The aircraft has its forward prop installed since our last visit. Work was also underway in the gun bay on the port wing.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

Nevada in Pictures

Air Attack Tanker 184, second of two Turbine Thrush aircraft at the BLM Air Attack base, Stead Airport, Nevada. Should the DC-10 and 747 tankers appear at Stead this year, it should be interesting to see how "turn-a-round" operations are conducted with these large aircraft, which dwarf the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Douglas DC-7 tankers still on duty. Remote refueling with JP4 and fire retardant would be the Editor's best guess, however, the potential of both aircraft in fighting wide-sweeping, fast moving range fires, such as what are experienced around Reno on the Valley floors, could be very effectively demonstrated in this author's opinion.

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

John & Carol Marlin's Martin Baker MB.5 Replica Griffon Engine Run

The MB.5 on the ramp preparing for engine run, single propeller blade set (aft). Johnny indicates that this was the best engine run to date out of just over a dozen completed so far.

April 5, 2008

High winds interfered with the prior day's attempt, but they calmed down long enough on Saturday for Johnny Marlin to run the Mk. 57 Rolls Royce Griffon engine on the MB.5 replica at Stead Airport, Nevada. The forward propeller was removed for the run but will be installed shortly for planned balancing at John Parker's American Air Racing facility, also at Stead.

There are no still photos of the engine running...

...we ran video and audio! <g>

Both coming soon...

Photo: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

John & Carol Marlin's Martin Baker MB.5 Replica Griffon Engine Run

Johnny Marlin (foreground) with ILIPS Group Publisher Mark S. "Bear" Daniels (background) at work bolding the starboard elevator to the Martin Baker MB.5 replica's horizontal stablizer. The elevators were attached so that Johnny had control of the MB.5's empenage due to potential wind gusts at Stead on Saturday.

Videographed on April 5, 2008

Can't wait for us to get our video act together? (Some have been waiting for years...)

Right click and "Save" or "Save As" or "Save Target As" ~ or maybe just "Play" (You might get lucky...<g>) ~ to/on your computer. Once these files are on your computer, you should be able to bring the files up in large format, big picture, using Windows Media Player 10.

These are large files in some cases...

...High Speed, Satellite and DSL highly recommended.

Dial-up will likely not catch the larger files.

Sorry, but wind-pop is evident in the audio on videos conducted outside.

Raw stock footage...some raw language (Very little, this trip...). <g>

Heavy breathing not indicative of the Videographer's love of Aviation. He requires oxygen but prefers not to walk and talk with a hose in his nose...

...unless said hose is filled with Mk 57 Griffon engine exhaust fumes. <ggg>

Flames optional...

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For the Intrepid (UL = Uploading Complete):

MVI_5322.AVI was deleted ~ a three second clip with nothing to contribute.

Note: High Speed Internet a bust tonight ~ uploading of videos going slowly. Still proceeding...Ed. 4/6/08

~~~~~~~~~~

P.S.

"Why didn't someone tell me my ass is so big!!??"

~ Mel Brooks, From the Movie Spaceballs

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Photographer: Joan Carol Marlow / ILIPS Group International

Videographer: M. Daniels / ILIPS Group International

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