Abandoned Airplanes: KDVT, Season 2, Episode 2 - World's Busiest GA Airport 

Oh man this makes me wanna cry! Such amazing vintage aircraft just rotting away, man if thru could talk...

I was a crew chief on T-33 A's at Shaw AFB S.C. would love to know the Air Force tail number of the T-33 you showed us. I lost track of the last T-33 I crewed in the early 80's. It was 58-0498. Was one of my favorite airplanes and still is. The wing, or tip tanks can be jettisoned in flight by mechanical means. The bolt on the outboard side of the tank is an arming port. The cap comes off and a spring behind it is tensioned with a rachet. When fully tightened the cap goes on and is safety wired. I hope that answers your question if tanks can be jettisoned.

It would probably cost more to restore these planes than what they are worth. But the blue book value isn't the only reason that I would pay attention to. Sometimes you have to do it because its value isn't measured in money.

The wingtip tanks cannot be jettisoned, only centerline or hard point tanks can be jettisoned. If you are ever by the north ramp wash bay and you see a T-28 in a hangar stop by and say hello to us. We are hoping to have it restored and flying by the next airshow season

Real shame. Happy to take some of those abandoned aircraft off their hands and restore them to their former glory.

The Bonanza in that shape killed me

The Cessna 175 has a STOL kit installed on the wings, probably a Horton kit, the leading edge is not falling off.

Love your channel! Brings back a lot of memories from growing up in Fort Worth,Texas near Carswell Air Force Base. Made quite a few air shows with my Dad in the mid 60s. (saw an XB-70 land/take off in 1965!) My favorite plane to visit however (which was out there for many years) was a B-36 Peacemaker. Fortunately it was finally restored and moved to the Pima Air Museum several years back. Keep up the great videos of these timeless aircraft!

Thanks for the memory. 11 years ago, I was a detailer for Arizona Wing Waxers. Came to DVT almost weekly, along with several other airports in the state. What better way for a pilot to spend the day than cleaning and polishing airplanes? Your video clearly shows what the Arizona sun does to uncovered paint. Wonderful memories !!

Omfg. A thunder birds.......awesome ⛈😍

Amazing look at abandoned aircraft almost in my backyard...down here in Casa Grande.

The Fouga Magistar is a cool one

Awesome 👍🏻

Ah to have the time and money to restore and give them away to new aviators would be a real dream for those who love General Aviation. The less expensive aircraft would be great for that purpose while the Thunder Bird and the French Trainer would be great projects for a wealthier owner. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya

A lot of these aircraft could have belonged to cartel members who have died are been captured. I saw a story about this on a Phoenix tv station once.

Hi Tim, Great videos!

Being a pilot at DVT I always wondered about these , thanks!

Thats awesome, I actually go to school at aeroguard!! Just got my ppl, see you in the skies!!

N2997K on the panel.

RCAF T33 Shooting Star. Tip tanks were removable but were never in any variant drop tanks. In the late 70s the T33s that had been overhauled and mothballed in Winnipeg were being prepared for auction. The Canadian version had Rolls Royce Engines which had a significant boost in power output to the General Electric engines used in the American aircraft. The auction was held I Edmonton Alberta and many Americans came to buy planes. They were selling so fast that someone in the Canadian Forces said they might be making a mistake and stopped the auction to re evaluate the sale. For a period of time the remaining aircraft were used as personal transportation for Airforce personnel. If they had an appointment to go somewhere then the fleet of T33s was available to them. They were all eventually taken out of service and sold by crown assets. Personal transport aircraft was transferred to the fleet of Tudor aircraft until they too were removed from service and overhauled with zero time engines and stored in Winnipeg for use by the Snowbirds aerobatic team. The Tudor is no longer produced and airframes and spares are drawn from those planes in Winterpeg.

You got a great idea to feature abandoned aircraft here in Arizona. I live near Deer Valley Airport. I have been involved in aircraft for forty years. First as a licensed mechanic then four years in the Air Force as a line mechanic on C-97 cargo planes. Those abandoned planes have been regulated out of the sky by the FAA. VERY few wanna be pilots have the money to put them back in flying order. Meanwhile the owners pay the monthly tie down fee year after year and the cost of parts just keep climbing.

That Twin Bonanza would make for a neat project. If you had cubic dollars to throw at it.

That Fouga is a French made jet trainer. The one seen in the video was hit by the prop of another plane as it taxied by. I think the guy that hit it was also wondering what it was when he hit it. From what I heard it was already sitting for a long time when that happened.

I believe the owners are lying to themselves like many of us do about various projects, "I'll get around to working on it eventually." Also keeping up both the plane and yourself in flightworthy condition is time consuming and costly, not to mention having to comply with new FAA mandates such as ADS-B.

the damage on the Bonanzas ruddervators is corrosion due to them being skinned with magnesium....due to balance issues you need to find a good used set...and IF you can find them bring a butt load of cash. also that tail doesn't have the leading edge cuff reinforcement AD ..the tails didn't "fly off" they were flown by low time pilots who blew past Vne and made abrupt control inputs twisting the ruddervators along the spar detaching the unit

Most of the planes on the south east side look like they've been there for a while. That 56 Beech Twin, N4968B, is the one that my old dispatcher messed up in 1982! It's still there. At least they fixed the tail and rudder.The Twin jet just popped up about 6 month ago. That crop duster thing has been there about 8 months (My friends plane is the Mooney 5 slots down the line).

I have been at DVT since the late 80s, the 182 I did a annual on in the early 90s, the Luscumbe has been that way as long as I can remember.

I've looked in the windows of most of those, well.... as much as I can. LOL My buddy started the T-33 once. Still considering contacting the owner of that Mooney. Also saw the Cardinal I fly in the background of the CM 170. There's a story to each one of those planes. I know a few of them. Like the one about the Yellow 182. The owner purchased a new plane and left that one to rot. 6 ish years ago it was broken into and all the avionics were stolen out of it. I've talked to the owner a few times over the years, trying to buy it off him, but his perceived value of it reflects his sentimental value. As it sits right now, current condition, no avionics, needing paint, a new engine (Sitting for 12 years) and probably a years worth of rehab... 40K. Airworthy ones can be purchased for 55K. Now you missed going to the north side, which is where I hide. There's a V Tail bonanza thats been on the grounds inoperative for over 25 years. the interior looks like it's melted away. Right next to it is an original mooney M20A with cloth wings. Won a bet once that its wings were cloth. Fun times.

My dream aircraft, the V-Tail Beechcraft Bonanza, it hurts me to see this one rotting away.

I'm doing 3 planes now. Starting with a Citabira ECA, Cherokee 140-Both neglected for years, and a 172E that been parked for a while. After I get those flipped, I should go out west to get more.

Wonder how much rent is at deer valley? Some of those have been bought again in hanger or tie down rent over the years.

I was up at Carefree sky Ranch one day looking around. That airplane did a low pass and then landed and taxiing in and it was smoking smoke was coming out of the front intakes and it made so much noise it was unbelievable. A bunch of people came out from the sky Ranch in a couple of the guys who I guess were in charge were very upset that the guy at landed there. The guy said he had some kind of trouble and had to land but it was hilarious it was like a bucket of bolts smoke pouring out of it the whole deal. I remember it was on a Saturday morning. It had to be sometime in the early 2000s like 2001 or 2002.The plane I’m speaking of is the Thunderbird aircraft the first one he profiles. The red white and blue one.

I know in the early 00s there were some really great planes sitting on the east side of the terminal

Omg i wanna rescue the t bone ❤

The Darter Commander was North American Rockwell response to the C-172. But I'ld take the Cessna Edsel(C-175) any day! Geared prop, cruise 2800-2900RPM, 10gph, 140mph. I flew the swept tail model and it was fun!

Melbourne Beach Florida 🌴🇺🇸 USA What a treasure V tail.Twin Boa.Sky King 310. Iam in heaven 👼 🏄

I have been working on a realistic 1:1 scale Cessna 172 home cockpit for about 2 years now, for X-Plane 11 (and someday, FS2020). I would love to get a Cessna cockpit shell to build it into. Do you have any idea what is the cheapest I could expect to pay for one?

N3648X, the Darter Commander, the owner died. This is why it's been sitting unfortunately.

It is now 2 years later, 2022 when I viewed this. How many of the planes featured in this video are still sitting @ Deer Valley AP?

You ‘bug’ does a great job covering your text on video

I used to work both Thundrbird avn and Westwind. Der valley used to be busy place. All of my birds are gone and parked in desert. the good old days

@20:00 seen one of those the other day and was shocked lived here my whole live and never seen them in the city

Cessna 120: No flaps, no back window (although there is an STC to add one), C85, fabric covered wings (although there is an STC to metalize). Cessna 140: Flaps, back window, C85, fabric covered wings (also STC to metalize which the aircraft in the video has). Cessna 140A: Large flaps, metal wings, back window, C90.

I flew many hours in the right seat of a Cessna 337, (like the one at 19:00 but a 1967 model with a STOL kit and oversize rear scoop). It was a bear to keep that baby flight-ready., and I never quite trusted the hydraulic landing gear system.

The darter100 is also known as the volaire 1050 witch was made by volaire in 1960 it had modified windows and other modifications from the aero 100 witch was made by north America rockwell in 1965

I dont know why I didn't know you were based out of KDVT. I'm a CFI based out of there, I'm sure you hear our Aerosun call outs all the time.

No matter what kind of bird it is, you better have a 6 figure income when going to refurbish an aircraft. A sad story here watching all of this. Going to see more of this to. This country isn't what it used to be.

SOME PLACE PROBABLY IN AZ. IS PROBABLY AT LEAST ONE OF SKY KING'S. AIRPLANE PROBLEM IS TO MANY PEOPLE DIE LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND . YET ITS TO HARD GET TRANSFERRED TO A LIVING PERSON . DAVID ADAM GRENIS 2044 MAPLETON BOULDER COLORADO

My old plane was in Deer Valley...N9168V....Mooney..... Ted Rich owned it till him and his girlfriend passed away in that aerobatics plane.

How do people get ahold of the abandoned planes at dear valley air park

I bought a derelict straight tail 310 about 2 months newer only the one in this vid was in better shape. Lol...Took us two weeks to ferry it from Ok to So Cal and 8 years of mind numbing work but in the end it has been worth it, Resurrecting these derelict a/c is a challenge but not insurmountable if your willing to get your hands dirty and heres a tip: Consider an A&P or IA as a partner or for a share

Sad thing is all those airplanes could of been donated when they worked to people who maybe can't afford to go to flight school and want to fly.

The ilitary jet before 1959 Cessna 175 look like a French made Fouga Magister. It was used as a trainer and as the main plane for the French acrobatic Air Force patrol during the 60. THe plane is circa mid-late 50s to mid-late 60s.

there is a mig15 and a mig21 at the glendale airport if you wanna go check those out

If there to expensive to get flying again how is it they still have value?

Damn dude....get a wind sock for the mic!

So sad to see these planes being abused.

Who own the sky master is he willing to let go I would like to restore that beauty Can you give me more info on it please

I found pictures of that T-33 actually taxing the runway 11 years ago and in it's original silver color.

I see derelict aircraft all over the small town airports. what happens to something like that Luscombe? Is somebody still paying rent? what does the owner do with them?

The “N” number for the Lear is usually painted on the engine nacelle. No engines, no “N” number.

have just made some enquiries and getting replies about the Twin Bonnie....Hopefully something comes of it!

Are they really abandoned? Isn't someone being charged for the tie down spots? or is the airport holding them? Can't they look up the owner by the tail numbers?

N2997K is a 1947 Luscombe that's the silver plane

The black and yellow jet is a French built trainer called a Fouga Magister. The Israelis armed them and used them for ground attack during the 1963 war with Egpt.

The Commander Darter was Rockwell Commanders entry into single engined market. They’re about as rare as unicorns.

So Sad to see all of these treasures going to waist.

You need better audio and more volume

Sad to realize most , 99% of them, will not fly again

My god I am an aircraft engineer and I wish I could get my hands on something like this to restore. Hardly any visible corrosion a lot would likely be ok. Granted a fuck load of money would be needed to get the work done if you are unable to do it yourself.

do these planes just sit here and rot forever?

Research the owners and you will see that most are deceased or elderly.

Why are all these airplanes abandoned? Never seen something like that in Europe

The white Cessna 310 was built in 56, and it owned by the BARRON THOMAS AVIATION HOLDINGS INC WILMINGTON , DE, US. Interesting back story on ol Baron Thomas, he was sued in March 2013 for running a aircraft ponzi scheme. The plaintiffs' counsel described Thomas as a "con artist who stole over $10 million dollars from people all over the country." Seems that this aircraft slipped thru the cracks.

I am biased as I have no interest in Super cars, but can not understand allowing these beauties to deteriorate into junk... Wish I had the money or opportunity to learn to fly.

HOW MUCH TO BUY THESE ?

Skylane and the skymaster belong to the same guy, smh....what a waste. some have the money for aviation but not the passion, those like me who have the passion cant afford to fly, sad watching this.

Hello my name is Jeffrey have you ever come across any comanches?

19:09 cessna 337. That sucks

So this just shows planes rotting away they dont do anything with them correct ?

Its so sad to see these amazing planes just abandon, they could flying today if they were just up kept by the owners

1:26 So its a CT-133

I am based at DVT. Mooney 201

5:55 prop synced with the cameras framerate 😅

How could anyone abandon a skymaster?!

So sad to see.

does any one knows anything about n20859

Come on out here in Virginia and I’ll share with you all the aircraft that are all dead

The saddest thing about your videos is that its probably paperwork that grounded most of them initially and prevents their sale. Lost log books, TBO cost on an engine that runs like a champ, etc. The bonanzas are probably out for elevator corrosion though.

These aircrafts will be auctioned off by the state of Arizona whenever the airport deems necessary it’s the only way to obtain then unfortunately

God…..I get so pissed when I see stuff like this.

not made to be dropped in flight .

So, how could you claim an abandoned plane?

I just Google the registration number or ask who owns this plane by type..will give you the owner .

Audio kinds sucks, love the video tho.

I take it the airport owns these from accrued parking fees.

Test

C9mo conprar uno en donde se encuentran

the T-33 is owned by a guy out of upstate NY he bought it thinking he could have his son go from no time to pilot in it and then couldnt find anyone to train him in it, it sat and then the hydro system went to crap. i have video of the GPU run from when ther mec finished the engine work. the control surfaces are all hydro controlled and the system is 100% shot keeping it grounded.