AmazonChitlin

I took this a couple months ago. It's MZJ. It was the first (and only) time I've gotten to see one of the Dreamlifter 747's. In the upper right hand corner with only stubs for wings, is the (I believe) first A320 that was scrapped. I have a larger resolution photo if anyone wants a copy.

rthompsonjr

MZJ is a cool place, I always took new students down there at least once and did full stop - taxi backs so they could see all the stuff on the ramp up close.

jungle

Very nice shot. This airfield has some history that may be interesting to some: Pinal Airpark - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AmazonChitlin

I've never landed there...just flew past it a lot on my way from Phoenix to Tucson and back. I always have wanted to land there though...maybe I will at some point in the future.

Jungle, thanks for the link! I didn't know it used to be a the CIA's main base of aeronautical operations! Looks like I'm going to have to go on a hunt for the other bases mentioned. Everything exists for seemingly ever out here.

Thanks for the comments Rthompsonjr and Jungle, I appreciate them!

AviatorPop

Pinal is an awesome airport to fly over, and its even better to land there. I look forward to overflying it every time I head down to TUS. If you get the chance just south is AVQ and you can check out the 6 starships that are all in a row. Apparently the guy needed to buy them for the parts or something along those lines, very cool...

multipilot

That would explain why there's a 747 Dreamlifter on the ramp.

Cool photo.

BoredwLife

The CIA is still there. When you do one of those stop and go's make one a full stop, hop out and take a few pictures. The results are quite ammusing. At least Im sure its ammusing to the guys with the guns that come out and try and decide whether or not to shoot you.

UAL T38 Phlyer

Evergreen International has a big maintenance operation at Marana. If you've ever seen their demo-video of their 747 Supertanker, it was shot there. And of course, they fly the Dreamlifter.

That would be the reason the Dreamlifter is there--probably periodic maintenace, or just storage. When I flew for them, they had 3 jets parked there due to an AD on the cargo-door. (Was too expensive to justify fixing them).

The airport's history is also the reason that everyone thinks Evergreen is a front-company for the CIA. It isn't, but the owner, Delford Smith, does have a lot of political connections, and did contract work for the CIA back in the day. Throughout their headquarters are pictures of him shaking hands with former presidents and heads of State, ambassadors, Secretaries of State, etc.

At my interview, the two Chief pilots' last question to me was "Any questions?'

I said, "Well, all my squadron buddies think I'm applying for a front-company for the CIA...."

They turned and looked at each other, and busted-out laughing. "No, we're not a front-company for the CIA!"

I still got hired. Actually not a bad place to work.

Cubdriver

That Dreamlifter is sitting on the ramp at McConnell AFB, I just saw it from 3,000 returning with one of my students. If it is still there tomorrow I will get a snapshot and put here.

todd1200

Saw the Dreamlifter in Charleston, SC a couple months ago