The thread on the Bald Eagle Airfield got me thinking again about another of our local Florida airfields I've always thought would make for a great MSFS scenery. Shell Creek airpark (F13) sits a few miles east of Punta Gorda Airport (KPGD). If you look at it from the air many of the aerials I've looked at over the years make it appear to be a disorganized mess, but it has a very cool hidden agenda.
Over the years I've run into articles about famous DC-3/C-47 restorations and many of those tie back to Shell Creek, including a local favorite from years back "Animal Crackers". Can't miss her in the photos of the airport in the link below. If I remember the story right, she was used for a TV show years ago and fell into disrepair. The restoration was going well, but she was sitting over at KPGD when Hurricane Charley hit and didn't do her any favors. One local news article said that the current owner/restorer at the time traced her back to being one of the C-47s that took part in Operation Market Garden. After the hurricane damage, she was trucked over to Shell Creek. Not sure what happened to her after that.
One of the airport resident DC-3s for a while was N133D, which I've read is or was the oldest surviving DC-3 airframe.
silverplate1945.smugmug.com
The famous C-47 Night Fright passed through Shell Creek at some point.
www.night-fright.com
As well as the Flying Dutchman DC-3 that now sits at the Madurodam Airport in the Netherlands.
www.madurodam.nl
Anyway, just a scenery subject I think about time to time, and the Bald Eagle thread got me thinking about it again.
Forest
Over the years I've run into articles about famous DC-3/C-47 restorations and many of those tie back to Shell Creek, including a local favorite from years back "Animal Crackers". Can't miss her in the photos of the airport in the link below. If I remember the story right, she was used for a TV show years ago and fell into disrepair. The restoration was going well, but she was sitting over at KPGD when Hurricane Charley hit and didn't do her any favors. One local news article said that the current owner/restorer at the time traced her back to being one of the C-47s that took part in Operation Market Garden. After the hurricane damage, she was trucked over to Shell Creek. Not sure what happened to her after that.
One of the airport resident DC-3s for a while was N133D, which I've read is or was the oldest surviving DC-3 airframe.
SHELL CREEK AIRPORT - SILVERPLATE1945
Audrey and I visited the Shell Creek Airport on April 25, 2008 while traveling to Tampa. I have always observed DC3 aircraft while using Google Earth to check out the airport. Shell Creek is located about 6 miles northeast of the Port Charlotte Airport (Punta Gorda, FL). Using my Garmin and...
silverplate1945.smugmug.com
The famous C-47 Night Fright passed through Shell Creek at some point.
Night Fright - C-47 Restoration Project
elcome to the restoration of C-47 Skytrain 42-100521 formerly of the 79th Troop Carrier Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group that flew with the USAAF from Membury airfield (Station 466) during WW2. The aircraft christened “Night Fright” took part in all the Airborne missions in Europe during the war.
www.night-fright.com
As well as the Flying Dutchman DC-3 that now sits at the Madurodam Airport in the Netherlands.
Read all about The Flying Dutchman | Madurodam
Are you a real flying fanatic? Or do you just want to know everything about our attraction the Flying Dutchman? Then read on!
Anyway, just a scenery subject I think about time to time, and the Bald Eagle thread got me thinking about it again.
Forest