Tamiya 1/48 F4D-1 Skyray with a Story

That is sweet that you were able to model an aircraft for him that he actually flew.

What squadron is it from and where did they fly out of? 

According to the Wiki article on USN tail codes, K was assigned to NAS Olathe in 1946. It was changed to 7K in 1956.

NAS Olathe was in Gardner, KS and was a USN Navy Air Reserve and Marine Air Reserve, as well as a Naval Air Technical Training Center.

Skyrays operated there until 1966.

Al's last flights and Skyray experiences were in Olathe Kansas at at the Naval base as a reservist. At that time I had applied to the Navy to be a pilot. I was at Olathe taking flight tests and while walking between buildings along the runway a lone Skyray taxied by only yards away. It could have even been Al. He turned and waited for take-off still only yards away. The concrete runway was filled with puddles from a light rain. It was a dark and gloomy day. Suddenly his burner lit and a long orange flame erupted behind him. As he began to roll the puddles were being blasted away in a strange expanding cloud and the noise was deafening. The roll was short and the Skyray lept into a high angle of attack and was gone into the clouds in seconds. I was impressed even to the present. The vision of that day returned as I placed Al's Skyray in the display. Wow.  

Max

Now THAT isn't something you see every day. I truly envy you that experience.

Thanks for that and it's great you built the Ford for him. Yes I'm sure he loves it.

I figured that it was a reserve unit, as the local reserve unit at Los Alamitos was coded 7L

Your tale of seeing one take off in close proximity is pretty memorable indeed. Experiences like that are priceless and make service life worth the hardships.

Gorgeous Skyray. Love your story as well.

Thanks Aggieman!  

Max

Cool!  Nice work!

That Skyray did look mean in the show. I should build another I suppose after seeing that hair raising take-off. I hadn't seen the model for a few years and it re-enthused me somewhat.

Thanks for the comments Miss. and Fly-n-hi!

Max

Great job! I live in Olathe and have researched the aircraft that flew out of the base. The 7K caught my attention immediately! I wish I could have seen the base when it was active. I'm a member of the CAF and our hangar is at the former base. The Army has a reserve Chinook unit, and they still use the original tower. 

Nice build!

Just read an article in an old Airpower Magazine about the Skyray.  Lots of nice reference shots, and article was very complementary on the bird.  Got me thinking of building one- looks like that Tamiya kit is a good choice.

Darren Roberts

Great job! I live in Olathe and have researched the aircraft that flew out of the base. The 7K caught my attention immediately! I wish I could have seen the base when it was active. I'm a member of the CAF and our hangar is at the former base. The Army has a reserve Chinook unit, and they still use the original tower. 

 

Hey thanks Darren! When the base was active I had applied to be a Naval Aviator. An instructor and I, parachute and all, front seat, took an SNJ for a wring out and simulated carrier landing on the painted runway after a cruise around KU. Memorable for sure! I passed all my tests but was still in college and they recommended that I finish. Long story, the two friends I tested with were both killed in aviation accidents and I never went back.

Max

Don Stauffer

Nice build!

Just read an article in an old Airpower Magazine about the Skyray.  Lots of nice reference shots, and article was very complementary on the bird.  Got me thinking of building one- looks like that Tamiya kit is a good choice.

 

 

Hey thanks Don. The kit was good and I too should build one for me. Keep me posted!

Max

Hodakamax

 

 

Darren Roberts

Great job! I live in Olathe and have researched the aircraft that flew out of the base. The 7K caught my attention immediately! I wish I could have seen the base when it was active. I'm a member of the CAF and our hangar is at the former base. The Army has a reserve Chinook unit, and they still use the original tower. 

 

 

 

 

Hey thanks Darren! When the base was active I had applied to be a Naval Aviator. An instructor and I, parachute and all, front seat, took an SNJ for a wring out and simulated carrier landing on the painted runway after a cruise around KU. Memorable for sure! I passed all my tests but was still in college and they recommended that I finish. Long story, the two friends I tested with were both killed in aviation accidents and I never went back.

Max

 

I can see why you decided to pass on it. That's a very sobering experience to lose friends like that. You still have the memories, though, and the fact that you passed all of your tests. That's something to be proud of!