Propliner magazine has published photos of Carlos Gomez's DC 7, in vintage American Airlines colors but no titles. Carlos is a well known propliner guru, and is a pilot, owner and flight engineer. I believe he has been the FE on several epic Connie ferry flights for various restoration groups. What's up with his FLA based DC 7? Is it actively engaged in commercial cargo work? Most modern day DC 7 cargo ventures fail, (Brooks in AK, several in FLA) due to expensive and frequent engine problems. I think the DC 7 that Brooks flew in AK went through FIVE 3350s in one year. DC 6s seem much more reliable, good ol 2800s.

Around three or four years ago American Airlines came out with a filmed video production. Reason for the production escapes me at the moment but included was a
Douglas DC-7B I believe. It was explained that the
DC-7 was either leased, borrowed or purchased from
someone or some company. It was spruced up and then painted in post war livery. Again, my memory is a bit
shakey...but I believe there was a scene in the production where three American Airlines transports of
differing vintage flew in formation The DC-7 was one of them. I think the others were a Boeing 727 and a Boeing 777. What ever anyone does....don't hold me to that!

Doug

Around three or four years ago American Airlines came out with a filmed video production. Reason for the production escapes me at the moment but included was a
Douglas DC-7B I believe. It was explained that the
DC-7 was either leased, borrowed or purchased from
someone or some company. It was spruced up and then painted in post war livery. Again, my memory is a bit
shakey...but I believe there was a scene in the production where three American Airlines transports of
differing vintage flew in formation The DC-7 was one of them. I think the others were a Boeing 727 and a Boeing 777. What ever anyone does....don't hold me to that!

Doug

Hi Mark,
I believe the DC-7 is still active. In the May issue of Flying Magazine, columist Tom Block writes about his new job as a co-pilot with Florida Air Transport flying the DC-7.
Carlos was the FE on Maurice Roundy's L1649A (N974R) flight in October 2001 from Sanford to Fantasy of Flight Museum. He has also flown quite a bit with Frank Lang and the MATS Connie.
Regards,
Ralph

N381AA is still flying away. The flights to MBGT (Grand Turk) and MBPV (Providenciales) have been slowing down. Most recently, they operated a few flights down to Guantanamo Bay. Reason...? You're guess is as good as mine...

Carlos has been around for long time. Maybe some of you remember a DC-7B that flew out of MIA back in the early 1990s under the name Trans Air (N1097). Carlos Gomez and William Warra (Warra and Gomez Aircraft) operated that along with HR-ALY, the green DC-7C(F) that had a wing tank explosion during inspection at MIA. Carlos is actually only a licensed flight engineer and airframe/powerplant mechanic from what I remember...

I am sure he is not happy with the presence of Avialeasing since they have been quite busy running flights out of OPF down to Turks & Caicos, Bahamas, and Curacao lately...a bit of competition it seems.

I was up at a video production company here in San Diego and met with the owner and CEO Fred Ashman who
produced the American Airlines Commercial using the Douglas prop transport which I thought was a DC-7. He tells me it was a DC-6. They shot the inflight scenes
which featured two modern jets along with the Douglas from Clay Lacy's Lear Jet camera plane us IMAX film format. Fred tells me that after they shot the production, the aircraft was sent to a bone yard somewhere in New Mexico suffering from a cracked spar. Yet I keep hearing of and seeing on line from time to time a DC-6 or 7 dressed up in American Airlines livery with windows covered with sheet metal. Fred tells me that the aircraft they used also had the windows covered in sheet metal...but realistic looking windows were painted in for the production. Does anyone know if these aircraft are one of the same?

Doug Vernon

The DC-7 in Opa Locka is ex La Mancha Aire N101LM. Martin and Carlos Gomez painted it in its original scheme and gave it its original registration. It was operated as a freighter for American Airlines in the early 1960s as N381AA, later changing hands many times, before it made its way back to what it looks like today.

Ok...than I surmise that this is not the same aircraft as used in the American Airlines commercial which has been identified as a Douglas DC-6. Apparently this aircraft is in fact in a boneyard in New Mexico. Now the question is, what boneyard and where in New Mexico.

Hi

I'm 95% sure that the DC-6 used in the AA commercial in fact is N620NA which is operated out of Doņa Ana, Santa Teresa, NM. I saw and photographed her a few weeks back. I'm still waiting for the rolls of film containing the side-wievs to be developed, but in the mean time check this out:



Rgds

Nicolai Musante

Hey Nicolai,
Did you speak to any of the folks Santa Teresa? Is 620NA flying at all, or dormant?

I only spoke to the airport manager, and he assured me the DC-6 was still flying. Mainly to Mexico. Unfortunately there were no one else to speak to, but the DC-6 appeared to be in a pretty good shape, though looking a bit tired. The belly was extremely dirty, suggesting she might have operated recently from some kind of dirt strip. Have a look at this photo, though it's not the best because of the light. If you look closely, yo can see the dust etc. and the relatively huge ammount of oil stains on the tarmac.



Rgds

Nicolai Musante

Nicolai,

You have confirmed that this is the same aircraft used in the AA commercial. Fred Ashman who directed the AA production said that the DC-6 used was retired to New Mexico in the area you mention.

Next question. According to Ashman that Douglas transport had a cracked spar...and, again according to Ashman, that was the reason the aircraft was grounded. So what has happened since then. Was there in fact a cracked wing spar?
Will FAA allow an aircraft such as the transport fly with a damaged wing spar?...and to me cracked means damaged.

Well now thanks to you and Ashman we know that the planes are one of the same.

Thanks a million Nicolai.

Best to you always.
Doug

Hey Nicolai, that head on photo of this aeroplane is the business!