Mystery Plane

[Zach Decou]

Hey guys

Spotted this in a satellite image of an airport I'm working on. Can anyone identify the aircraft in the image? My heart leapt at the possibility that a Goose is parked not far from my house, but my wife said she didn't think it looked like a goose. Any ideas?

The airport is KOKM.

*pardon the ad. It's a free app.

Edited November 1, 2012 by Zach Decou

[Kaphias]

Twotters have a rectangular horizontal stabilizer, so its not that. Was thinking a Shorts or a Dornier but it looks too short to be either of those.

Edit: thought you said you thought it was a Twotter, I see you said Goose haha. Looking at some 3-views it certainly looks like it could be.

Edit again: Google's imagery makes it a little easier. (click on the thumbnail)

Edited November 1, 2012 by Kaphias

[larjeet]

How about a Widgeon The goose had radial engines and those engines are just to narrow to be radial

[Kaphias]

How about a Widgeon The goose had radial engines and those engines are just to narrow to be radial

Thanks Larry, you got me on the right track... looks like it's N8497J, a 1953 Grumman Albatross.

http://www.myaviation.net/search/search.php?view=&regnr=N8497J

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1198332/

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N8497J.html

[Zach Decou]

Holy crap guys! Not only do we have the mystery solved in just a couple posts, but there's an albatross close to me! Might have to go for a drive. Thanks!

[PWJT8D]

How about a Widgeon The goose had radial engines and those engines are just to narrow to be radial

Correct that a Goose was originally manufactured with radials but that is not the case today. There have been a few that have been converted by McKinnon Enterprises. Here is a rather local one by me which is now a McKinnon G-21G with 680 SHP PT6A-27 turboprops.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6578354&nseq=0

[edwin]

Cannot find an image of a Grunman so far where the Cockpit Windshield protrudes the Engines

Edited November 2, 2012 by edwin

[Kaphias]

Cannot find an image of a Grunman so far where the Cockpit Windshield protrudes the Engines

Did you look at the images that I linked to in my previous post? Both of those show that the Albatross had a cockpit windshield in front of the props.

[edwin]

Yes Kaphias it certainly does protrude as in your shots. But wouldn't the Floats do the same. Do you have a plan view? Zachs image just seems so much finer all round. Great puzzle!

Yeah it';s got to be!

Edited November 3, 2012 by edwin

[Kaphias]

Yes Kaphias it certainly does protrude as in your shots. But wouldn't the Floats do the same. Do you have a plan view? Zachs image just seems so much finer all round. Great puzzle!

From what I've read the plane is just sitting there rotting away, so it wouldn't surprise me if they've been removed.

Edit: 3-view:

Edited November 3, 2012 by Kaphias

[edwin]

What a crying shame. Cheers Kaphias

[Patrik Hedström]

Wow if only I had such a cool plane next to my house.