I've flown this plane several times. My brother bought it in Calexico, CA around end of 1982. Along with our dad, he ferried it home to Kennett, MO and dad's 2000' grass ag strip. It was orange and white with a civilianized windshield and overhead glass at the time. They painted it in pretty short order an a couple of years later, we removed the entire windshield/overhead and replaced it with a stock overhead/windshield frame and all new glass (which was a story in itself). IIRC, it was damaged in 1994 in a ground accident which damaged one wing outboard of the engine nacelle. Terry Sullivan, my brother, dad and I have all been good friends since the 80s. Terry bought this plane from my brother following the accident which broke the wing. Terry did it right restoring the old Bomber, doing an great job. Glad to see it has a new home where it will be well cared for and flown regularly. Jim Rice Collierville, TN
My grand dad bought one in 1947 from the army air core in Oklahoma - he had a similar plane that needed a wing that he was going to replace and part out the rest of the plane he bought in Oklahoma. However - when he made it up to Janesville airport the fog (according to the newspaper) was the worst on record and unfortunately after flying around for a bit trying to figure out the landing went into spin and nose dived into a cornfield and died.
Absolutely Love the UC-78! Glad to see you got a hold of this one. Hope you take us all Flying with you in it so we too can continue to enjoy the marvelous antique Twin Cessna
I'm going to have to go up there one of these days. Scott did bring up an interesting point; with my mother in a retirement community, I wonder how big a draw I'd have heading there and patching a computer into a projector and using your vids to let people see planes they might have flown or remember from their childhood. Or how quickly an outing would be organized to have busloads of seniors headed up there. Thanks brother, always cool to see an old plane that's new to me.
We're doing a UC-78 restoration now. As a fun fact, the current owner of "Songbird" gave us the original wing mount doorstop from the plane in the series. Pretty cool, eh?
When I Was a Kid Every Airport West of The Rockies Had One Sitting In Some State of Deterioration... Engines Missing,,, Windows Busted Out,,, Flippers Missing ect,,, ect...
I've flown this plane several times. My brother bought it in Calexico, CA around end of 1982. Along with our dad, he ferried it home to Kennett, MO and dad's 2000' grass ag strip. It was orange and white with a civilianized windshield and overhead glass at the time. They painted it in pretty short order an a couple of years later, we removed the entire windshield/overhead and replaced it with a stock overhead/windshield frame and all new glass (which was a story in itself). IIRC, it was damaged in 1994 in a ground accident which damaged one wing outboard of the engine nacelle. Terry Sullivan, my brother, dad and I have all been good friends since the 80s. Terry bought this plane from my brother following the accident which broke the wing. Terry did it right restoring the old Bomber, doing an great job. Glad to see it has a new home where it will be well cared for and flown regularly.
Jim Rice
Collierville, TN
My grand dad bought one in 1947 from the army air core in Oklahoma - he had a similar plane that needed a wing that he was going to replace and part out the rest of the plane he bought in Oklahoma. However - when he made it up to Janesville airport the fog (according to the newspaper) was the worst on record and unfortunately after flying around for a bit trying to figure out the landing went into spin and nose dived into a cornfield and died.
Absolutely Love the UC-78! Glad to see you got a hold of this one. Hope you take us all Flying with you in it so we too can continue to enjoy the marvelous antique Twin Cessna
Great video Eric! Loved the sneak peek of the Albatross in the background, my favorite airplane!
Can't wait to come back down and see all the amazing aircraft! Thanks for all the work you do brother.
I have a wooden propeller for a UC-78. It is a beauty, mounted it above my fireplace.
I just got a model of this plane for Christmas, Merry Christmas!
Beautiful airplane!!!!
Thanks for sharing! I really enjoy these walk around videos, please keep them coming.
Kind regards
Tomas
Denmark
I'm going to have to go up there one of these days. Scott did bring up an interesting point; with my mother in a retirement community, I wonder how big a draw I'd have heading there and patching a computer into a projector and using your vids to let people see planes they might have flown or remember from their childhood. Or how quickly an outing would be organized to have busloads of seniors headed up there. Thanks brother, always cool to see an old plane that's new to me.
Loved watching this and other utube on the bobcat . my dad built these in the 40's before getting drafted
My Dad flew these at Pampa in August 1944 in transition to the B -25J Wright at the same airfield.
Another wonderful video. I have learned quite a bit watching.
Timothy Godwin Thanks, glad you liked it!!
He said......he wondered about your videos a few years ago.....LOL They're awesome....always have been.
Love this videos! Thanks for all the work! /Andreas, Sweden
We're doing a UC-78 restoration now. As a fun fact, the current owner of "Songbird" gave us the original wing mount doorstop from the plane in the series. Pretty cool, eh?
Love the videos!
Tom Ford Thank you so much Tom! Glad you like them
My dad was a pilot in WWII and after the war he bought one of these UC78s in Canada brand new for $350.00
Sky King's first "Songbird"!
When I Was a Kid Every Airport West of The Rockies Had One Sitting In Some State of Deterioration... Engines Missing,,, Windows Busted Out,,, Flippers Missing ect,,, ect...
Excellent.
nice little plane, the original song bird, on the Saturday morning sky king show! why no reruns?
My dad had almost 60 years in aviation and he told me that he got his multi-engine rating in a bobcat
Didn't SKY KING tv show use this airplane in the beginning before the newer plane in the show ???????
Somewhere there's an interesting story about Dewayne Wallace when he took the Bobcat to be certified. Maybe someone can chime in with story.
I always thought this thing was cool. Probably very few flying today