Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 01-31-2017, 01:10 AM   #1
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
The Albatross Chronicles; bird meets Blue Bird, silliness ensues

THE ALBATROSS CHRONICLES

“Look what followed me home", I've been telling friends the last few days.

Actually, with neither wings nor legs, Miss Albatross hitched a ride on my trusty all-purpose trailer behind the trusty Miss Millicent.
(For the long and sordid tale of Millicent, please see The Millicent Chronicles.
http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/th...gate-1564.html )




She is a Grumman HU-16 Albatross, which is an amphibious plane used primarily for search and rescue. I can still make out “CUE” on her starboard side. 466 of these were built from 1949 to 1961.

She appeared for sale in the most bucolic of local sales channels, among gently-used ladies fashions, children's items, and well-worn furniture. Perhaps I will name her Miss Incongruous.
And what on Earth possessed me to scroll thru such flea market (jumble sale) junk in the first place -- something I rarely do? And a mere hour after the ad appeared! Miss Serendipity? Miss Extra-Sensory Perception?

A dozen years ago, I came within a sneeze of scoring the complete fuselage of a British Aerospace Jetstream 31, located 400 US miles away.
Now, I simply could not pass up Miss Albatross, and only 50 US miles from home. My partner in Millicent and other shenanigans, Peter, was easily enlisted.

The seller, whose family is in the scrap metal line, related that they had cut up three Albatrosses a handful years ago, and all but these 15 feet had become beer cans and mobile home siding. He also said that at least two of them had been used in Mexico, and been fetched back north at some point before scrapping, on a purpose-built trailer.

My research found the planes for sale at Lampson Field in Lakeport, Northern California, in 2008. (Only 20 miles from my home!) They were then sold at auction on 30 May 2009 to the scrap people.


I’m researching her pedigree. We seem to have it down to two serial numbers. Both were built in 1955 for the US Navy, then passed on to Armada de Mexico in 1981, and finally returned to California where they were sold for scrap in May of 2009 – and here is a photo of her at that time:





You might enjoy seeing what a complete Albatross looks like, so…




For good measure, this one is using booster rockets (JATO) for takeoff.



Back to this particular bird….



That is how she appeared for sale last week.
And she is now settled into my back yard.

And what does this have to do with school buses?

You had to ask, didn’tcha.





It gets worse.



Not sure about the teeth, but….


I’m still considering whether to graft her to a conventional bus (dog nose), or a forward control (flat front with front engine, like Millicent). In either, we would perhaps move the engine rearward. In a forward control, we would definitely move the front axle forward. Stay tuned to this station.

How well would they fit together? Like Trump’s small hand in Simpson’s small glove.
At the bottom, Miss Albatross measures 94” across. Millicent measures around 95”. Once the bulkhead (wall) is gone, I bet she’ll flex right into place.

Six feet up, Albatross is down to 90”. More flexing, but we can also pull the bus walls in – by cutting out a long V in the middle of the roof.

The roof arch may be a challenge, but I have no doubt we can do a decent job of it. Or just hide it with a deck or other accessory.

She will need an automotive windshield.

There will be a roof-raise involved. There will be a roof-raise involved.

And of course, all the controls of the bus will be installed in the cockpit.

This thing will comply with the California Vehicle Code, down to the last mud-flap.

I’m not kidding about the back porch in that cobbled-together illustration. There will be a Social Gathering Venue back there.

The job will take several years.

And I will try to chronicle it here.

__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 05:51 AM   #2
Bus Crazy
 
sdwarf36's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Moodus, Ct.
Posts: 1,062
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Champion
Chassis: Ford e-450
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 14
You're a nut. But fun to watch.
__________________
Don't make a fuss-just get on the bus!

my bus build https://www.skoolie.net/gallery/Skoolies/Sped
sdwarf36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 08:48 AM   #3
Bus Geek
 
Tango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Hey Elliot --- I think we should go ahead and reserve you a place in the annual Houston Art Car Parade! That's the kind of stuff we LOVE here. It is the biggest and oldest celebration of vehicular weirdness on the planet. You guys would fit right in. I share my shop space with the director of the Art Car Museum.

30th Annual Houston Art Car Parade | April 8, 2017 | Powered by The Orange Show Houston Art Car Parade
Tango is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 01:57 PM   #4
Bus Crazy
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Winlcok, WA
Posts: 2,233
Q

That looks like a lot of fun!

The only thing I would be concerned about would be weight on the front axle. FE buses are already weighted heavily towards the front. Sticking even more weight forward could cause you some problems. I think perhaps your limiting factor is going to be tires.

But I am sure you will get it figured out!
cowlitzcoach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 03:36 PM   #5
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pensacola and Crystal River, FL
Posts: 647
Year: 1998
Coachwork: AmTran International
Chassis: 3800
Engine: Navistar 7.6L
COOL
I wonder if when they were being built maybe they fuselage was trucked down a highway to some other plant for final assembly?
Thus the 94" width?
DoubleO7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 03:46 PM   #6
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Tango... Yeah, I know a couple Art Car people. Good fun. But Houston is rather far.

Cowlitz... I expect the weight on the front axle will be less than original.

Millicent's front axle scaled at 9,500 pounds when we drove her home in 2006.
Then we move the axle 43 inches (I just measured on Millicent) forward. Then we move the engine a similar amount rearward. The engine alone weighs 1,100 pounds dry.
And the bird is aluminum, and built for lightness.

Good thinking about the tires. 295/75R/22.5 is rated 6,175 pounds. So that's 12,350. No worries.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 03:49 PM   #7
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
007... I cannot imagine that would have been a factor in the design of the plane. They would simply pick up the phone and get an oversize permit.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 03:58 PM   #8
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pensacola and Crystal River, FL
Posts: 647
Year: 1998
Coachwork: AmTran International
Chassis: 3800
Engine: Navistar 7.6L
Ya know, aerodynamics helps save fuel but your going to an awful lot of trouble to do so, LOL.
DoubleO7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 04:12 PM   #9
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Greater Houston, Tx.
Posts: 589
I gotta say this will be fun to follow. In your 1st post here you brought up OJ and his gloves not fitting. When you mentioned small hands I thought you might be getting political on us, (ie Trumps hands) and Coke shot out my nose. Get er done!
1olfart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 08:57 PM   #10
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
You are most welcome, ye Old Flatulent One.

And yes, life is supposed to be fun, daggnabbit!

And after today's measuring and brainstorming, I'm pretty sure I'm in the market for an early-to-mid-1990s Blue Bird Forward Control (flat front with engine up front next to the driver).
40 feet long = 84 pax.
Cummins B = 5.9, or C = 8.3 engine, or International DTA 466. May consider the International DTA 444 = 7.3, which is a V-8.
Must be mechanical.

No Cat.

Allison MT643 transmission. Or stick, of course. No electronic Allison.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 10:16 PM   #11
Skoolie
 
Stewzer55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 142
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Fisher Body
Chassis: GM "B" Platform
Engine: 350 TBI Chevrolet
Rated Cap: 8
There should be in intact one of these in my neck of the woods, might have to check it out. I live about 20 minutes from the USAF Museum, my picture in my avatar is from there.
__________________
Closest I have to a Bus would be my '92 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Station Wagon 1 of 4,347 built.
Stewzer55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 10:40 PM   #12
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
I just now looked at GovDeals, and there is one in Winchester, OH, but it is listed as featuring "lots of rust". So I must rule that area out. But I appreciate all leads!
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 10:50 PM   #13
Skoolie
 
Stewzer55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 142
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Fisher Body
Chassis: GM "B" Platform
Engine: 350 TBI Chevrolet
Rated Cap: 8
I was referring to an Albatross, not a bus. I'd expect some real decent stuff to be able to be had from the much dryer and not salt encrusted west.
__________________
Closest I have to a Bus would be my '92 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Station Wagon 1 of 4,347 built.
Stewzer55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 11:02 PM   #14
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Ah. Stand by.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2017, 11:17 PM   #15
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Yes, you have an Albatross at the Wright Patterson AFB Museum.
It is serial number G-163, build number 515282.
Built for the Air Force in 1952 -- in May or June, looks like early June.
It holds the World Altitude Record for amphibious planes at 32,883 feet.

Next question?
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2017, 03:46 AM   #16
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
So... shopping for a bus.
I'm struggling to understand the length of some Blue Birds. I'm approaching convinced that BB makes (made) different window sizes. Not concerned about height, but length. (One might also say window "width".)

Millicent measures 28", center to center of the window posts. Note... center to center -- not the window itself, which is a tiny bit less.
Put an other way, the full roof panels measure 56" and span two windows.

Could I ask you BB owners to run out and measure yours?

Millicent has 15 windows and 84 pax, and is 39-40 feet.

But I'm seeing buses with only 14 windows, yet also 84 pax and 39/40 feet. Longer windows and roof panels?
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2017, 03:51 AM   #17
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Meanwhile, Albatross is now safely settled in the back yard:



The old trailer axles will probably become a dolly to roll her around on.


The “hood” is missing:



All sorts of possibilities. ;)
.
.
__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2017, 07:04 AM   #18
Bus Geek
 
Elliot Naess's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Clearlake, Northern California
Posts: 2,505
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: TC-2000 Frt Eng, Tranny:MT643
Engine: 5,9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 84
Now I'm sure they have two window widths. This 1994 has both.
Still looking for measurements.

__________________

Elliot Naess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2017, 09:01 AM   #19
Bus Geek
 
Tango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
This is going to be so freakin' gnarly! As previously noted...you will definitely be welcome at the Art Car parade.

And there must be some interesting names in the works (?).

Alba

Bluebatross

Plane Crazy

???
Tango is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2017, 09:35 AM   #20
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,753
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
my bluebird has both window widths on it.. i never was sure why bluebird busses always had 1 or maybe 2 'long' windows.. but every one of them ive seen always did.. never iunderstood what they couldnt standardize on that caused them to make those.. I never have seen a whole bus with the wide windows on it..

-Christopher
cadillackid is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:51 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.