This is a collection of photos of every type of aircraft I've ever taken, or at least every one I can lay my hands on. I admit, some of the scans were pretty bad, the photos themselves suffering from being 30 years old and/or printed on textured paper, or due to the fact that I used to process my own black-and-white negatives and wasn't very accurate. My goal is to replace or add to the scanned photos with new digital images of the same type aircraft someday. I've tried to be as complete as possible with the aircraft model numbers, and manufacture or order dates (where available) are in brackets afterwards to give you a general idea of their age. Aircraft serial numbers, bureau numbers, N-numbers, etc. (if known) come after the dates. Aircraft names in quotation marks are the unofficial nicknames given to the planes by the pilots who flew them, not the official names given to them by their manufacturers.
Okay, it's time to take off and get on with the show. Happy Landings!
Okay, it's time to take off and get on with the show. Happy Landings!
![Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
Very few people ever heard of this unusual experimental aircraft but I happened to be at the Oxnard Airport one day while they were out performing tests on it. The AVE Mizar was the latest attempt at the creation of a viable flying automobile, or roadable aircraft -- a commuter aircraft design that has fueled the imagination of aeronautical engineers for decades. (The flying surfaces are to detach from the vehicle, allowing the pilot/driver to use the vehicle as it was intended.) However, this particular design -- a Ford Pinto outfitted with full flight controls and attached to the wings, rear engine and tail assembly of a Cessna Skymaster -- failed during a flight test on September 11, 1973, and was destroyed, killing both occupants.](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-tb98PW5/0/Ti/AVE%20Mizar%20%5B1973%5D%20N68X-Ti.jpg "Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
Very few people ever heard of this unusual experimental aircraft but I happened to be at the Oxnard Airport one day while they were out performing tests on it. The AVE Mizar was the latest attempt at the creation of a viable flying automobile, or roadable aircraft -- a commuter aircraft design that has fueled the imagination of aeronautical engineers for decades. (The flying surfaces are to detach from the vehicle, allowing the pilot/driver to use the vehicle as it was intended.) However, this particular design -- a Ford Pinto outfitted with full flight controls and attached to the wings, rear engine and tail assembly of a Cessna Skymaster -- failed during a flight test on September 11, 1973, and was destroyed, killing both occupants.")
![Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
After rummaging around through all my old B/W negatives, I just couldn't stand it anymore and bought a slide/negative scanner so I could have more views of this remarkable aircraft. I'd forgotten I'd gotten so close to it.](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-b8hntWQ/1/Ti/AVE%20Mizar%20%5B1973%5D%20N68X%20%5B1%5D-Ti.jpg "Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
After rummaging around through all my old B/W negatives, I just couldn't stand it anymore and bought a slide/negative scanner so I could have more views of this remarkable aircraft. I'd forgotten I'd gotten so close to it.")
![Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
The Ford Pintos used for the AVE Mizar project (one for the flying model seen here; one for a static display model) were obtained through Galpin Ford (see license plate) in North Hills, California -- who are still in business after all these years! Through a video that has recently become available, I was able to find out that this particular Ford Pinto carried the California vehicle registration 689CXF. Check out the video showing this aircraft flying, as well as the story of one of its project mates by clicking here: www.cookieboystoys.com](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-tz53cpT/1/Ti/AVE%20Mizar%20%5B1973%5D%20N68X%20%5B2%5D-Ti.jpg "Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
The Ford Pintos used for the AVE Mizar project (one for the flying model seen here; one for a static display model) were obtained through Galpin Ford (see license plate) in North Hills, California -- who are still in business after all these years! Through a video that has recently become available, I was able to find out that this particular Ford Pinto carried the California vehicle registration 689CXF. Check out the video showing this aircraft flying, as well as the story of one of its project mates by clicking here: www.cookieboystoys.com")
![Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-r6zznjR/2/Ti/AVE%20Mizar%20%5B1973%5D%20N68X%20%5B3%5D-Ti.jpg "Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973")
![Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, California - August 1973
And I even got one of the Mizar taking off! What a coup this was!!! It's too bad I had to take it with my crappy old Vivitar 90-230mm telephoto zoom lens, but I got it anyway. There are very few shots of this thing in the air.](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-bczDZQC/1/Ti/AVE%20Mizar%20%5B1973%5D%20N68X%20in%20flight-Ti.jpg "Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, California - August 1973
And I even got one of the Mizar taking off! What a coup this was!!! It's too bad I had to take it with my crappy old Vivitar 90-230mm telephoto zoom lens, but I got it anyway. There are very few shots of this thing in the air.")
![Aero C-104 Jungmann [1948] N707S (was OK-BIF)
Santa Paula Airport, Santa Paula, California - December 1975
This airplane is a license-built Czechoslovakian version of the Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, a 1930s German training plane often referred to as "the plane that trained the Luftwaffe," although this plane was never in the military. At the time this photo was taken, it was owned and flown in aerobatic exhibitions all over the country by none other than Mira Slovak, the pilot of the Bell P-39 Mr. Mennen. (Photos of the Mr. Mennen photo shoot will appear later in this gallery.) The cowling seen here is a non-standard cowling, as this one is designed to cover a 225-hp Lycoming engine, which replaced the original Walter Minor 4-III engine. (By the way, that isn't a painting error on his plane's side -- that way you can read his name when he flies by inverted.)
The lion crest seen on the tail is Mira's salute to his home country, Czechoslovakia, from which he escaped in the 1950s by flying an airliner from Prague to Frankfurt, West Germany. He was granted political asylum in the United States in December of 1953, and went on to fly race planes and drive hydroplanes throughout the 50s and 60s, the most notable being the hydroplane Tahoe Miss, the last hydroplane he ever drove in competition.
If you ever want to see one of these planes being put through its paces, check out the movie The Great Waldo Pepper.](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-JCJS4xG/3/Ti/Aero%20C-104%20Jungmann%20%5B1948%5D%20N707S%20%28OK-BIF%29-Ti.jpg "Aero C-104 Jungmann [1948] N707S (was OK-BIF)
Santa Paula Airport, Santa Paula, California - December 1975
This airplane is a license-built Czechoslovakian version of the Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, a 1930s German training plane often referred to as \"the plane that trained the Luftwaffe,\" although this plane was never in the military. At the time this photo was taken, it was owned and flown in aerobatic exhibitions all over the country by none other than Mira Slovak, the pilot of the Bell P-39 Mr. Mennen. (Photos of the Mr. Mennen photo shoot will appear later in this gallery.) The cowling seen here is a non-standard cowling, as this one is designed to cover a 225-hp Lycoming engine, which replaced the original Walter Minor 4-III engine. (By the way, that isn't a painting error on his plane's side -- that way you can read his name when he flies by inverted.)
The lion crest seen on the tail is Mira's salute to his home country, Czechoslovakia, from which he escaped in the 1950s by flying an airliner from Prague to Frankfurt, West Germany. He was granted political asylum in the United States in December of 1953, and went on to fly race planes and drive hydroplanes throughout the 50s and 60s, the most notable being the hydroplane Tahoe Miss, the last hydroplane he ever drove in competition.
If you ever want to see one of these planes being put through its paces, check out the movie The Great Waldo Pepper.")
![Aero Commander 100-180 Lark Commander [1969] N4019X
Casparis Airport, Alpine, Texas - August 2010
The Aero Commander 100 was produced in the 1960s, the various models of which were known as the Darter Commander and Lark Commander. Originally designed by Volaircraft, the firm marketed the original three-seat version as the Volaire 1035 and produced a four-seat version with a more powerful engine called the Volaire 1050, before North American Rockwell purchased all rights to the design in 1965 for production by its Aero Commander division. The vertical stabilizers on earlier models of the Aero Commander 100 had straight leading edges, much like Mooney aircraft. In 1967, North American Rockwell introduced the improved 100-180 Lark Commander, which had a more powerful 180-hp engine, a swept-back vertical stabilizer, reprofiled cowling, and a 200-lb increase in maximum takeoff weight.
The Darter Commander version continued in production until 1969 and the revised Lark Commander continued until 1971, by which time Rockwell had dropped the Aero Commander brand name. Attempting to compete with the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee, Rockwell found the light aircraft market too competitive for its liking, and sold the rights to all versions of the aircraft to Phoenix Aircraft in 1971, who never undertook production.](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-pBcRKSZ/1/Ti/Aero%20Commander%20100-180%20Lark%20Commander%20%5B1969%5D%20N4019X-Ti.jpg "Aero Commander 100-180 Lark Commander [1969] N4019X
Casparis Airport, Alpine, Texas - August 2010
The Aero Commander 100 was produced in the 1960s, the various models of which were known as the Darter Commander and Lark Commander. Originally designed by Volaircraft, the firm marketed the original three-seat version as the Volaire 1035 and produced a four-seat version with a more powerful engine called the Volaire 1050, before North American Rockwell purchased all rights to the design in 1965 for production by its Aero Commander division. The vertical stabilizers on earlier models of the Aero Commander 100 had straight leading edges, much like Mooney aircraft. In 1967, North American Rockwell introduced the improved 100-180 Lark Commander, which had a more powerful 180-hp engine, a swept-back vertical stabilizer, reprofiled cowling, and a 200-lb increase in maximum takeoff weight.
The Darter Commander version continued in production until 1969 and the revised Lark Commander continued until 1971, by which time Rockwell had dropped the Aero Commander brand name. Attempting to compete with the Cessna 172 and Piper Cherokee, Rockwell found the light aircraft market too competitive for its liking, and sold the rights to all versions of the aircraft to Phoenix Aircraft in 1971, who never undertook production.")
![Aero Commander 500A [1962] N95AR
Casparis Airport, Alpine, Texas - April 2009
The FAA Registry has this airplane listed as a 500A, but the lettering under the cockpit windows states it's a 500S, probably since this aircraft has undergone modifications to make it a Shrike version. According to information from one Bobby Nunnally:
"This aircraft was purchased new by the Mayfield Dairy in Tennessee, when the father of that company turned it over to his son. The son wanted a jet, though, so the Commander was put on the market. The company I flew for bought it and had it renovated inside and out -- new paint, new engines, new glass, air conditioning added, radar, and wool carpet. A GPS and new fuel bladders were added, also, after we had a rupture over Charlotte, North Carolina. The N-number was changed to N95AR when all these modifications were done. The Shrike conversion was done in part, but I think we could have done more. The company doing the conversion was Awbrey & Richey, Inc, started in 1995, thus the number N95AR. Mr Awbrey came up with the paint scheme. It really fit the bird well. It was a good aircraft and I hated to see her go, but the company and the boss retired, so they sold her."
Thank you, Bobby! Aero Commander N95AR is currently registered to Mountain Air, LLC out of Marion, Indiana.
In the late 1960s, I got to see Bob Hoover perform his "Energy Management" precision flight demonstration in a model very similar to this one, the 500U Shrike Commander. (I still have the program he autographed.) To see Bob's demonstration for yourself, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUVWHUR5OEI](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-3t43bvS/1/Ti/Aero%20Commander%20500%20N95AR-Ti.jpg "Aero Commander 500A [1962] N95AR
Casparis Airport, Alpine, Texas - April 2009
The FAA Registry has this airplane listed as a 500A, but the lettering under the cockpit windows states it's a 500S, probably since this aircraft has undergone modifications to make it a Shrike version. According to information from one Bobby Nunnally:
\"This aircraft was purchased new by the Mayfield Dairy in Tennessee, when the father of that company turned it over to his son. The son wanted a jet, though, so the Commander was put on the market. The company I flew for bought it and had it renovated inside and out -- new paint, new engines, new glass, air conditioning added, radar, and wool carpet. A GPS and new fuel bladders were added, also, after we had a rupture over Charlotte, North Carolina. The N-number was changed to N95AR when all these modifications were done. The Shrike conversion was done in part, but I think we could have done more. The company doing the conversion was Awbrey & Richey, Inc, started in 1995, thus the number N95AR. Mr Awbrey came up with the paint scheme. It really fit the bird well. It was a good aircraft and I hated to see her go, but the company and the boss retired, so they sold her.\"
Thank you, Bobby! Aero Commander N95AR is currently registered to Mountain Air, LLC out of Marion, Indiana.
In the late 1960s, I got to see Bob Hoover perform his \"Energy Management\" precision flight demonstration in a model very similar to this one, the 500U Shrike Commander. (I still have the program he autographed.) To see Bob's demonstration for yourself, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUVWHUR5OEI")
![Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander [1967] N3711H
LAX International Airport, Los Angeles, California - early 1970s
The Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander was designed by Ted Smith, the designer of the Aero Commander line of prop twins as well as the Smith Aerostar 600, later to become the Piper PA-60 Aerostar when Piper bought the production rights. The 1121 Jet Commander first flew on January 2, 1963, and after successful development, went into full production in early 1965. Soon afterward, however, Aero Commander was acquired by North American Rockwell, but Rockwell already had the highly successful Sabreliner executive jet. Rockwell then sold the rights to the Jet Commander -- as well as 49 uncompleted aircraft -- to Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in 1968, who began producing it as the 1121 Commodore Jet.](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-2MT8RNb/1/Ti/Aero%20Commander%201121%20Jet%20Commander%20N3711H-Ti.jpg "Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander [1967] N3711H
LAX International Airport, Los Angeles, California - early 1970s
The Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander was designed by Ted Smith, the designer of the Aero Commander line of prop twins as well as the Smith Aerostar 600, later to become the Piper PA-60 Aerostar when Piper bought the production rights. The 1121 Jet Commander first flew on January 2, 1963, and after successful development, went into full production in early 1965. Soon afterward, however, Aero Commander was acquired by North American Rockwell, but Rockwell already had the highly successful Sabreliner executive jet. Rockwell then sold the rights to the Jet Commander -- as well as 49 uncompleted aircraft -- to Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in 1968, who began producing it as the 1121 Commodore Jet.")
Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
Very few people ever heard of this unusual experimental aircraft but I happened to be at the Oxnard Airport one day while they were out performing tests on it. The AVE Mizar was the latest attempt at the creation of a viable flying automobile, or roadable aircraft -- a commuter aircraft design that has fueled the imagination of aeronautical engineers for decades. (The flying surfaces are to detach from the vehicle, allowing the pilot/driver to use the vehicle as it was intended.) However, this particular design -- a Ford Pinto outfitted with full flight controls and attached to the wings, rear engine and tail assembly of a Cessna Skymaster -- failed during a flight test on September 11, 1973, and was destroyed, killing both occupants.
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
Very few people ever heard of this unusual experimental aircraft but I happened to be at the Oxnard Airport one day while they were out performing tests on it. The AVE Mizar was the latest attempt at the creation of a viable flying automobile, or roadable aircraft -- a commuter aircraft design that has fueled the imagination of aeronautical engineers for decades. (The flying surfaces are to detach from the vehicle, allowing the pilot/driver to use the vehicle as it was intended.) However, this particular design -- a Ford Pinto outfitted with full flight controls and attached to the wings, rear engine and tail assembly of a Cessna Skymaster -- failed during a flight test on September 11, 1973, and was destroyed, killing both occupants.
![Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
Very few people ever heard of this unusual experimental aircraft but I happened to be at the Oxnard Airport one day while they were out performing tests on it. The AVE Mizar was the latest attempt at the creation of a viable flying automobile, or roadable aircraft -- a commuter aircraft design that has fueled the imagination of aeronautical engineers for decades. (The flying surfaces are to detach from the vehicle, allowing the pilot/driver to use the vehicle as it was intended.) However, this particular design -- a Ford Pinto outfitted with full flight controls and attached to the wings, rear engine and tail assembly of a Cessna Skymaster -- failed during a flight test on September 11, 1973, and was destroyed, killing both occupants.](http://highroad.smugmug.com/Airplanes/Aircraft-I-Have-Met/i-tb98PW5/0/L/AVE%20Mizar%20%5B1973%5D%20N68X-L.jpg "Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
Very few people ever heard of this unusual experimental aircraft but I happened to be at the Oxnard Airport one day while they were out performing tests on it. The AVE Mizar was the latest attempt at the creation of a viable flying automobile, or roadable aircraft -- a commuter aircraft design that has fueled the imagination of aeronautical engineers for decades. (The flying surfaces are to detach from the vehicle, allowing the pilot/driver to use the vehicle as it was intended.) However, this particular design -- a Ford Pinto outfitted with full flight controls and attached to the wings, rear engine and tail assembly of a Cessna Skymaster -- failed during a flight test on September 11, 1973, and was destroyed, killing both occupants.")
Advanced Vehicle Engineers (AVE) Mizar [1973] N68X
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
Very few people ever heard of this unusual experimental aircraft but I happened to be at the Oxnard Airport one day while they were out performing tests on it. The AVE Mizar was the latest attempt at the creation of a viable flying automobile, or roadable aircraft -- a commuter aircraft design that has fueled the imagination of aeronautical engineers for decades. (The flying surfaces are to detach from the vehicle, allowing the pilot/driver to use the vehicle as it was intended.) However, this particular design -- a Ford Pinto outfitted with full flight controls and attached to the wings, rear engine and tail assembly of a Cessna Skymaster -- failed during a flight test on September 11, 1973, and was destroyed, killing both occupants.
Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California - August 1973
Very few people ever heard of this unusual experimental aircraft but I happened to be at the Oxnard Airport one day while they were out performing tests on it. The AVE Mizar was the latest attempt at the creation of a viable flying automobile, or roadable aircraft -- a commuter aircraft design that has fueled the imagination of aeronautical engineers for decades. (The flying surfaces are to detach from the vehicle, allowing the pilot/driver to use the vehicle as it was intended.) However, this particular design -- a Ford Pinto outfitted with full flight controls and attached to the wings, rear engine and tail assembly of a Cessna Skymaster -- failed during a flight test on September 11, 1973, and was destroyed, killing both occupants.