Registration Number NC5770
Where Did It Go?
This aircraft is a Thunderbird W-14, S/N 2811. The Thunderbird
Aircraft Co., Glendale, CA manufactured it in May 1928. It
was equipped with a 150 HP Hispano-Suiza engine, S/N 83363.
It was a three-place airplane.
NC5770 was sold on 5/31/28 to General Aircraft Company, Los
Angeles, CA, “For instruction flights”. General was
the Thunderbird distributor for the state of California and
operated the Thunderbird School of Aviation (“Wings
of the Wind”).
We find 5770 at Tucson Thursday September 27, 1928 flown by Jay Talbot. He carried two passengers R.L. Smith and Bill Robinson. They were southbound from Los Angeles, CA to Guadalajara, Mexico. No purpose was given for the trip.
The airplane was reported sold for cash in October 1928 to
R.L. Smith (our passenger during the landing in September) of Calexico, CA, however no bill of sale or transfer
papers, and no application for license or registration were
submitted. Official mail to Smith was returned “unknown”.
In November 1928, inspector Parkin in Los Angeles was unable
to locate the airplane and was told by the D.O.C. in May 1929
to ground it if found. A 5/21/29 letter to General Aircraft
Co. regarding this airplane was returned by the post office
as “unclaimed” and the registration was cancelled
as of 5/21. No further information. One possibility might be that Smith remained with it in Mexico, or sold it in Mexico without an export permit.
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Although it is not known if this airplane is still in existence, its sister ship, NC5830, s/n 2812, is and it has an interesting story. It was used by Roscoe Turner to test a whole airplane parachute and he rode it to the ground. It is now beautifully restored and flying, below. It still has the bent seat tube from the parachute episode.
Thunderbird NC5830 (Source: Web)
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Below, it sits on display at the Eagle Meres Museum in Pennsylvania. Thanks to a site visitor for sharing the link, which exhibits over 400 Golden Age craft, including a few images of NC5830.
Thunderbird NC5830 (Source: Web)
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UPLOADED: 6/27/05 REVISED: 12/3/08, 04/19/18
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