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Registration Number NC4532
Merry Christmas
Here is an example of an airplane juggled between owners
and creditors on the cusp of the Great Depression.
This airplane is a Ford 4-AT, S/N 4-AT-16, rolled out the
door on 3/8/28 by Stout Metal Airplane Co., Dearborn, MI.
It was sold to Maddux Air Lines, Inc. of Los
Angeles, CA on 3/29/28. It was a trimotored airplane with Wright engines
L-7543, C-8094, R-8155.
It landed at Tucson on 4/13/28 piloted by Larry
Fritz, an
early transport pilot and Chief Pilot for Maddux. He carried
seven passengers (12 possible), including Mr. and Mrs.
Maddux. They were on a round-robin trip from Los Angeles,
staying on the ground in Tucson for only an hour.
The image, above, of NC4532 in flight from Aero Digest,
July 1928. The text talks about a round trip made by the reporter
on Maddux Air Lines over the Los Angeles to San Francisco
route with a stop at Bakersfield,
CA. The author was very satisfied with the voyage; comfort,
fellow passengers, speed and accomodations. For the flight
experience aboard a sister ship, see NC1781.
The same image as in the Aero Digest article was used by
Maddux for its 1929 time table and tariff brochure (right).
In
January 1929, NC4532 suffered an accident in Santa Rosa,
CA. Pilot M. Guglielmetti (transport license #5064) reported
that, “wheel
struck soft spot in landing, nosing up on sudden stop.” Five
passengers reported no injuries, however the airplane had
a, “buckled
fuselage in front of rudder & crushed bulkheads in 4
rear bays.” Mr.
Maddux called it, “A trifling accident.” It
was repaired as of 2/15/29 with replacement parts coming
from the factory.
In August 1929, the airplane transferred to the Maddux Air
Lines Company (note the difference: “Company”
vs. “Inc.”). In October there was a violation
cited involving the, “mate on this airplane and use
of intoxicating liquor by passengers.” Prohibition was
still the law of the land, don’t forget. No action was
taken.
Maddux sold NC4532 to Consolidated Air Lines, Sacramento,
CA on 9/23/30, with legal ownership
on the bill of sale assigned to Aviation Credit Corp.,
San Francisco,
CA. A certificate of repossession was issued
by Aviation Credit on 1/28/31, simultaneous with its sale
to Western Pacific Aviation Corp., Alemeda Airport, Alemeda,
CA. Six seats were removed as Western Pacific intended
to use the ship primarily for freight. Curtains and curtain
rods were also removed.
A certificate of repossession was again issued by Aviation
Credit on 4/24/31, simultaneous with its sale to Pony Express
Company, Seattle, WA. Its registration had expired, and it
was granted a ferry flight from Seattle to Swan Island for
inspection. The inspection failed because of corrosion on
the wing and fuselage.
On 6/24/31 title again went to Aviation Credit. With over
a year hiatus, an inquiry by the federal government to Aviation
Credit Corp. on 11/11/32 was answered thus:
“1. Do you still own the aircraft? …………………
.…Unfortunately, yes.
2. Is the aircraft now in service?.........................
..........No.
3. Has it been permanently dismantled or salvaged?..Not licensed,
nor fit to fly.”
There was no answer to a query made 11/34. The registration
was revoked 12/26/34, Merry Christmas.
UPLOADED: 06/05 REVISED: 04/20/06, 04/21/06, 09/03/06
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