Experimental Aircraft at Tiger Field

[RNO Gary Schenauer]

Caught an experimental S-38B aircraft at Fernley's Tiger Field in May of last year. Registered to a Las Vegas firm, this Born Again Restorations S-38B (N28V, ser. #414-20) was built in 2001. It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-985 series engines. I'll post a pic of it in the Gallery.

[Mike Evans]

I think this a/c was used in a movie about Howard Hughes.

Nice catch Gary!:coolthumb:

[Mike Evans]

I think the movie is called "The Aviator."

[RNO Gary Schenauer]

Mike, I can't believe it, but you're right! I just Googled the movie The Aviator and when I followed a few of the links that came up, sure enough, there it is! There is even a story about that aircraft in Forbes Magazine. And then I found an entire website about that Sikorsky plane; it is one of only two in the world, and this is the one that was used in the movie. (There are pics of it, too.) And I never even made the connection! I am flat out stunned; I never recognized it that day. :eek::aaargh::jawdrop:

[Mike Evans]

Cool!

You caught a RARE bird indeed then!

[Ryan]

I really like that paint scheme, nice catch Gary:coolthumb:

[Mike Evans]

Me too. That paint job would look good on a Cessna! :happy:

[Andre Urruty]

That S-38 paint scheme has a bit of history, too. You'll notice the name on the nose - "Asa's Ark." "Asa" was Asa Johnson, of Johnson's Wax fame. He had an S-38 produced for him by the Sikorsky factory as a private venture, and he had planned to do some exploring in Africa, the Amazon, and other remote areas - sort of a real-life "Tails of the Gold Monkey," (an obscure TV show patterned after Indiana Jones, old guys like me may remember). I don't know all the history of Johnson's S-38 off the top of my head, but it can be found on the Web and Gary may have found it already. The paint scheme is historically correct, for the most part. I've seen that aircraft on static display at the Air Races and it is indeed a beautiful reproduction of an amazing aircraft.

Andre

[Andre Urruty]

Oops - sorry guys - the name of the S-38 was "Osa's Ark," not "Asa's."

Andre