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OLD PHOTO c1929 – US ARMY ATLANTIC-FOKKER C-2A AIRPLANE
Interesting old black & white 8 x 10” photo of an aircraft which can be identified as a US Army Atlantic-Fokker C-2A, by its serial # which is just readable under magnification back by the tail of the airplane: US Army – Atlantic C2A – AC-28-124. According to the rules of display of serial numbers on military aircraft, the AC in the last line stands for (Army) Air Corps and this was the 124th plane ordered in fiscal year 1928. After 1926, the words "U.S. Army" were added to the fuselage number (as in this photo), and in 1928 the manufacturer's name and the Army designation was added to the display. The manufacturer is in this case was Atlantic Fokker Tri-motor and the Army designation for the aircraft was the C-2A. About 8 such aircraft were built/converted as an improvement on the C-2.

The Army used the second Fokker C-2A built (not the plane pictured, but rather the AC-28-120) for a long duration test flight in 1929. That aircraft was named "Question Mark" and stayed airborne for 150 hours with numerous air-to-air refuelings. The Question Mark took off from Metropolitan Airport at Van Nuys, CA on Jan. 1, 1929, circled over southern California while being refueled 42 times (9 at night), and landed on Jan. 7 when one of its engines failed. Because of their unreliability at this early period, no radios were installed in the Question Mark or the two refueling Douglas C-1s. Communications were maintained by notes dropped to the ground and by hand signals, flashlight signals, ground panels, and messages written on blackboards carried in the planes. Since it was not practical to transfer oil for the engines by hose, cans of oil were lowered to the Question Mark by rope, as were food, water, and other supplies.

This flight was of great value to the Air Corps. It thoroughly tested the reliability of the plane, its engines, and its accessories, and the effects of continuous flight upon its crewmembers.

In this original old photograph, there are several building to the left, along with several old cars and another airplane parked in the distance. The land is quite flat (this photo came with others that were identified as being at Kelly Field, Texas). The photo is a little soiled and has some wear and small tears around the edges (see scan) but is otherwise in good condition.

Price= $45.00

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