KLAS- McCarran Field

[Radio Ranger]

Well, here I am in my day job as a G-IV pilot and for the gazillionth time, ended up in Las Vegas Nevada. Usually we park our jet at the north end of the field at (what is now) Atlantic Aviation. This time, the customers wanted to go to Signature Flight Support at the Southwest side of the airport.

And I recalled from the Cal Classic McCarran scenery that this was once the site of the old terminal. A bit of snooping found absolutely nothing on the airfield side to show that an airline terminal once existed on this very spot.

While killing time perusing some books at a Borders Book Store here in sin city, I found one which showed a few pictures of the old Las Vegas. I was particularly interested in the old TWA field at what is now Nellis AFB. (The ill-fated Carole Lombard crash in 42 took off from there.) There were also some pics of what would become McCarran after the war. One of the pictures showed the stacked stone archway that was the main entrance to the terminal for so many years. The next day, we had to go back to the airplane to let the Flight Attendant do some cleaning, and pulling into the Signature parking lot what did I spy, but the same stone archway with a cornerstone labeled 1941. Probably the only thing left of the old terminal. Pretty cool.

The next day I drove out to find the site of the old Las Vegas Radio Range (I was the Project Manager for the DC3 Airways Radio Range Project, so it's a bit of an obsession.) Well darned if I didn't find the exact spot of the Vegas Range towers thanks to a little help from www. historicaerials.com and Google Earth. Unfortunately, nothing there now but a city park. (If you're interested it was in the middle of the North Las Vegas park located at Cheyenne and Nellis Blvd. just a couple miles WSW of Nellis.) I guess I was hoping for old insulators or concrete pads, but couldn't find a thing. What the heck -- it's still fun to say I found it. A side benefit was getting to see the US Air Force Thunderbirds doing some overhead patterns and landings at Nellis.

Now, I can't wait to get home, fire up FS9 and fly a McCarran - Burbank round trip in a Connie or a Convair using the Radio Ranges and Colored Airways. I love this hobby!

See you in the air,

Al

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi Al,

Thanks for the story. I have done a little bit of "aviation archeology" and it's a lot of fun. I've also done the same thing for old railroads (usually easier to find...).

Neat to know that our archway we put so much time into is still there.

[jesse]

Great story, Al. One landmark that I missed when I was in Vegas last October...was just a short distance from McCarran. Just to the west of Rwy 19 was a pretty good size Motel and parked in the front of it was a Blue and White C-124. The thing had been sitting there for years. When Lue and I went to Vegas in October 1997 to attend the 50th anniversary of the USAF, we went over to the old bird to check it out. Some of the feathers were missing along with a couple of doors. I've got a photo of it someplace if I can dig it out. Got all sorts of good stuff from the Thunderbirds. They took us on a guided tour thru the whole outfit. In the picture of the Briefing Room, the Thunderbird mural is on the North wall. On the West wall and out of view is a large chart of the practice are. Also out of sight is the table where each man sits with his name plate in order of his plane number. The flight leader sits at the head of the table during all the mission briefings. The Thunderbird Emblem that is on the floor of their hangar has a special functin. Every new crew chief has to lay on his back at the lowest point under the chain and inch his way to the center of the emblem. There he takes an oath to give the team his very best effort. He then has to go on thru to the other side and exit. All without touching any part of the chain.

Jesse

[qxtoolman]

Jesse:

Neat Pics & nice info........ Thanks for sharing.

Stef

[jesse]

Feb 8, 2009 5:57:45 GMT -5 qxtoolman said:

Jesse:

Neat Pics & nice info........ Thanks for sharing.

Stef

There is one point concerning the mural that I forgot to mention. If you look closely, you will see that each of the aircraft is a different model; representing all of the birds that have been flown during their demonstrations.

Jesse

[Tom/CalClassic]

I noticed that too - but what is the difference between the plane second from the left and the one fourth from the left? They both appear to be F-100's. One has a refueling probe though - I assume they are different models of the same plane? (like the F-84's).

And what the heck were they doing flying F-105's? What a beast!

[jesse]

You are correct Tom. The Thunderbirds used two variants of the F100 Super Saber. The C and D models. As for the F-105, it proved to be too cumbersome and was only flown on six air shows.

Here are the aircraft used up to the F-16 which replaced the T-38.

Jesse

Republic F-84G Thunderjet 1953-1954

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 1954-1956 Mindful of their mission to show the Air Force’s best aircraft, the Air Force selected the swept wing F-84F Thunderstreak as their second aircraft in 1955. The Thunderstreak was modified for the team by adding smoke tanks for the first time, and red, white and blue drag chutes.

North American F-100C Super Sabre 1956-1963 The USAF's first operational supersonic aircraft. With the move from the F-84F to the F-100 Super Sabre in 1956, the Thunderbirds became the world’s first supersonic aerial demonstration team. That same year, the Thunderbirds moved to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, simplifying logistics and maintenance for the aircraft.

Republic F-105B Thunderchief 1964 (only 6 shows flown in type) Largest and heaviest single engine fighter ever produced.

North American F-100D Super Sabre 1964-1968

McDonnell F-4E Phantom II 1969-1973 The F-4’s conversion was the most extensive in the team’s history. Among other modifications, paints that had worked on the F-100 made the F-4 look patchy because of multicolored alloys used in the F-4 to resist heat and friction at Mach 2 speeds. As a result, a polyurethane paint base was developed and used to cover the problem. The white paint base remains a part of today’s Thunderbird aircraft. In addition, given the exhaust output of the F-4's J79 engines, the vertical stabilizer of the #4 slot aircraft was painted flat black.

Northrop T-38 Talon 1974-1981 1974 brought with it a fuel crisis and as a result a new aircraft for the team, the sleek, swift and highly maneuverable Northrop T-38A Talon, the Air Force’s first supersonic trainer. Economically, the T-38 was unmatched. Five T-38s used the same amount of fuel needed for one F-4 Phantom, and fewer people and less equipment were required to maintain the aircraft.

Although the Talon did not fulfill the Thunderbird tradition of flying front-line jet fighters, it did meet the criteria of demonstrating the capabilities of a prominent Air Force aircraft.

[bookie1066]

That C-124 you mentioned is gone now. It was on a lot at the corner of Reno and Koval. The story was it was going to be turned into some kind of resturant but didn't work out. The plane sat there for years unused before it was removed a few years ago. Passed it every day on the way to work.

[jesse]

8-)Ah, my Bookie to the rescue. Thanks for that update. I wondered what ever happend to Old Shakey. We were there at the Circus Circus for a military reunion. Had a ball. Great little town, Vegas. My nephew retired from Nellis and he and his wife still live there.

Jesse ;D