Mojave Airport, or Mojave Air and Space Port as its known now, is one of many aircraft storage and reclamation airports dotted around California. Paul Filmer takes a flight around the airport.
ex TWA CV-880 N815AJ – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
My first trip here was in 1984, and then you were free to roam the ramps, but these days of course that’s certainly not the case. Even the tours of the storage areas don’t allow photography anymore, due to people not abiding by simple rules.
overview – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
overview – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
One way to get around the problems of heat-haze on the ground and a cluttered view, is to tackle photography from the air.
Southern Air Boeing 747-300 N818SA – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
RC685 N6811S and Saab A32A Lansen N4767R – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
World Airways Cargo MD-11F N381WA – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
The amount of aircraft has reduced in the last few years, with the majority of the stored aircraft now in the main central storage area.
Air Canada Boeing 767-200 C-GAUN – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Thai Airways Boeing 747-400 HS-TGM – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Aerocalifornia Servicios Aereos DC-9-15 XA-LAC – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
There are still a surprising number of aircraft that have hung on over many years. The obvious ones are the Convair jets, of which there are three still here.
This used to be the airport known for the long row of ex TWA CV-880s, but now only one survives. N815AJ still has the old TWA cheatline on the left side and, to be honest, I’m pleasantly surprised it’s still here.
ex TWA CV-880 N815AJ – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
CV-990 N990AB still shows APSA (Peru) titles and ceased operations in 1971. What the plan is for these two old birds is unknown to me, but hopefully they won’t be scrapped.
ex APSA CV-990 N990AB – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
The final CV-900 serves as a gate guard. It’s ex NASA N810NA and flew with them between 1975 and 1983. (Not shown in this report)
Until a few years ago there were lots of DC-8s, but now only a single example survives. N603AL is a DC-8-73CF from ATI.
ex ATI DC-8-73AF N8603AL and ex FedEx Boeing 727-200F N491FE – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
unidentified F-106, ex South African Air Force MB326Ms and DH Dove N4916V – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Saab A32A Lansen N5468X – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Also, surprisingly, the pair of C-133s are still here. It was assumed that, once N199AB went out of service in Alaska and was ferried to Travis AFB, these would no longer be required as a spares source.
C-133A N136AR and N201AR – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Aloha Boeing 737-200 N823AL – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
KLM Boeing 747-400 PH-BFK – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
One of the newest arrivals is the ex Fry’s Boeing 747SP N747A, which NASA is to use as a spares ship.
Fry’s Boeing 747SP N747A – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Boeing 707-300B N707CA – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Southern Air Boeing 747-200F N760FA with Gulfstream III N213BA – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
The pair of BAC111s from Northrop-Grumman are a pair of aircraft that I’ve been desperate to shoot for a few years. They’re just too far from the fence-line to get a decent shot due to heat-haze, but from the air it all worked out.
BAC111s N161NG and N111JX – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Northwest Airlines DC-9-31 N917RW – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Boeing 707-300B N454PC flanked by a Martinair Cargo MD-11F PH-MCW and Gulfstream IIB N660AF – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Ex Hawaiian Airlines DC-10-10 was registered as N557FE for FedEx but never taken up in the end, and sits here in bare metal slowly being robbed of salvageable parts.
ex Hawaiian Airlines DC-10-10 N557FE – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Air France Boeing 747-400 F-GITE – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
Aerocalifornia Servicios Aereos DC-9-15 XA-RNQ – © Paul Filmer – Global Aviation Resource
All in all it was a very interesting flight and it gave me a nice overview of what’s currently stored here.
Fascinating! Thanks for the photographs and the words.
Wouldn’t you just like to shake those people who can’t keep simple rules and spoil things?
Seems to be getting more and more common these days Peter.