FLIGHT International, 10 July 1975
We awoke at 7.30 the next morning and breakfasted
at the island's one and only hotel before returning to the
airport to supervise the loading of 14,0001b of frozen
lobster. It was loaded by hand and within a couple of
hours we were ready to depart for Miami, where our load
of lobster would begin its trek across the States to
California.
After looking out of the side window to check that all
was clear, we started up. The Merlins eagerly roared into
life and we taxied out to the runway, where we held to
let a Turks and Caicos Airways Islander land. As soon as
the Islander had passed we trundled onto the runway and
opened up. The speed increased quickly and at lOOkt, as I
remember, we became airborne. We flew low over the
town and set course for Miami. On the homeward flight Bud
and George took their lives into their hands by letting me
"I am constant as the Northern
Star of whose true fix'd and
resting quality there is no fellow
in the firmament."
(Julius Caesar, act J3SC.I,I:6O)
have control for half an hour. For all I felt not a little
hesitant about having charge of a unique aeroplane, no
harm came of it and just over two hours later we descended
into Miami International from our 10,000ft cruise altitude.
From the approach to Miami I could see the seaplane base
of Chalks Air Services, which operates regular amphibian
services to the Bahamas. We made a perfect landing and
passed a couple of old Connies and DC-4s on our way back
to the freight shed.
Another load of freight for the Islands awaited us at the
shed and the aircraft was refuelled, unloaded and reloaded
in readiness for a return trip to the islands less than 212hr
after our arrival at Miami.
This time the freight consisted of a car, furniture, 100ft
of guttering, carpeting for a church at South Caicos, and
thousands of pounds of food. I watched in fascination as
the car was loaded through 'UXA's small freight door. Ten
minutes later the car was aboard the Argonaut, having
been lifted by a fork-lift truck and then positioned by
another lift from the rear. This time I stayed behind in
Miami and got permission to stand by the runway to photograph the departure from close up. I was escorted there in
a patrol car, and told not to cross the yellow line painted
40ft from the runway's edge. When I said "close up," I
really meant it.
A Boeing 720 took off as I positioned myself, and I had
to restrain myself from standing back to avoid the wingtip.
Then I could hear it coming. As if trying to remain hidden
from onlookers, the Argonaut nipped out from behind the
freight shed and quickly trundled onto the runway. The
throttles were opened up at once and she began to roll.
She bore down on me with the Merlins playing a sweet
symphony and her full-throated roar reverberating across
Miami Airport. She gracefully lifted off just to the right
of me and posed nicely in the camera viewfinder for a
photograph. I watched her climb away at an almost imperceptible rate, drifting in the pronounced crosswind. Soon
she became a small speck in the sky, banking to the west.
At noon the next day I rejoined the crew at Miami Airport, this time bound for Sarasota, where the aircraft is
maintained. This is also her old home, where she used to be
based with Cavalier and Air Caicos. Not having to worry
about freight, we immediately boarded the aircraft up the
ladder at the rear, secured the doors and another
memorable journey was under way.
One of the Merlins viewed from an upper window in the cabin
63
After taking off behind a Peruvian Air Force Lockheed
Electra, we headed north towards Sarasota. Less than one
hour later we were on final approach, gliding in over the
main road encircling the airfield to the customary gentle
touchdown.
Sitting forlornly in the airfield's far corner, where we
parked 'UXA, was a derelict Argonaut, one-time RCAF
17516 and now wearing CF-VLZ. The aircraft also belongs
to Turks Air and used to be a Merlin test-bed, but now
sits unused, gradually falling to pieces. The only other
aircraft of any interest, other than a dozen DC-3s, was
a derelict Martin 404. While I was there 'UXA's brakes and
engines were given a thorough going-over, the aircraft
was scrubbed clean and a few of the wooden overlays on
the metal floor were replaced.
I spent a wonderful week in Sarasota inspecting every
rivet and corner of the aircraft, but all too soon it was
,time to depart on what was to be my last flight in the
Argonaut. Starting up the engines, we taxied towards the
other side of the airfield. Last-minute take-off checks were
made and with an almighty roar we shot down the runway
and lifted off one-third of the way down. My dream had
come true, but now it was nearly over.
Within 30min we were preparing to land again at
Miami. Five or ten minutes before our arrival we flew
low over Opa Locka Airport, where, sitting in the corner,
can be seen the vast Lockheed Constitution. Minutes later
Miami's runway came into sight and our undercarriage
went down. Then we were over the threshold . . . and down
for the last time. Bud and George parked the aircraft
beside an Aerocosta DC-6, an Inair Panamanian DC-6 and
a Dominican DC-6, cut the two inboards and "put the
aircraft to bed."
Next day I was to catch the British Airways 7 p.m.
flight back to London. The Argonaut, as every week, was
due to depart for the Islands at midday. So I accompanied
Bud and George to the airport, where we said our farewells.
Then they boarded their aircraft, this time without me,
and disappeared behind the closing doors. Within minutes
the aircraft had left the freight area and disappeared
behind a handful of TriStars to join the long queue for
take-off.
Standing by the freight shed, I waited to watch the
Argonaut depart for the last time. Any number of 727s
and TriStars took off and then that distinctive growl, with
which I had become so familiar in the past weeks,
grew louder. The aircraft started rolling and soon
thundered past me and, as she banked, the sun glinted
briefly on her white wings. The Argonaut had flown away.
CF-UXA has as little as 22,000hr on the airframe but
Bud McNair feels that she might have to go late this year—
to be converted perhaps into a monumental hot-dog stand
at South Caicos? It will be a sad day for Bud and George
when the Argonaut is finally retired, but let's hope that
her white wings will continue to shine in the West Indies
for some time to come.