Another collection of H-34s!

I am in the Dallas area visiting my old buddy James B. Barr, LtCol. USMC Retired. We
flew together in Vietnam in squadrons HMM-161 and HMM-363 for 10 months. One day he had and engine failure and I was able to fly down and rescue him and his crew. He says we were under attack, taking heavy fire and could have been shot down after I rescued him. I have to disagree. I recall it being a quiet and routine

pick up. Too bad our memories do allow not us instant replay. I will post that story soon.

At the Lost in 50's old car chow last week-end, I was approcahed by a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hampton. They told me of another helicopter company in Payse, Texas that operates H-34's. The Hamptons gave me the phone number of 5 State Helicopter Company.
I am in the Dallas area for the annual Air Amierica reuinion, so yesterday James and I drove over to Payse and paid a visit to 5 State. Here is what we found:

http://www.5state.com/

also known as California Helicopter International L.P.
President/CEO Brad Ladue runs a very clean operation and does rebuild work for other helicopter companies.

We were heartily and amicably greeted by Brad and given the VIP tour of their facility. They have three of the most beautiful S-58T models. (S-58s are the civilian version of the H-34, with the old 9 cylinder piston engine replaced by a twin-pac of small turbines. This not only gives the helicopter turbine reliability, but lightens the engine package by about 1,000 pounds, making the machine more capable of lifting heavier loads.) He showed us videos of himself taking steel beams up to the top of a huge football stadium. They also had three helicopter being rebuilt in an adjacent hangar, and Brad reports they have one each on station in Australia, Korea and California. Nine H-34s/S-58s in total. YEA!

I am very pleased to see these old machine continue to be in service.

Before we left, Brad presented us with baseball caps, lanyards and S-58T pins to put on our caps. We really enjoyed his hospitality and seeing the beautiful helicopter.

Here are James and I in front of the blue one.

As he was showing us through his spare parts hangar, Brad came to a big pile of neatly stacked H-34 tail rotor blades. he looked at one in the top of the pile and said, "This is a dash-14. We can't use is in civilian aircraft, would you like to have one?" We immediately responded with an enthusiastic, "YES!" So we now each have genuine, never-used H-34 tail rotor blade. Mine will be attached to H-34 Charlie very soon.
James plans to hang his on his wall somewhere for a conversation piece.

Brad also told me that he does repair work for the helicopter company that I found last fall (see previous post about "A Secret Nest of H-34s!) in north in Washington state that does the cherry drying. Brad also used to own the same H-34, N79AR that I found in Washington, the one that I flew in Alaska in 1983. He showed us a picture album of his using it. The Helicopter world is pretty small.

I will post about that adventure in Alaska some day.

I must announce that I have completed my epic adventure book about flying the H-34 in Vietnam. Twenty four years in the writing, it should be finished with the final production and layout soon. We are planning a release before the 1st of July. I will post. Watch for "The ADVENTURES OF A HELCIOPTER PILOT," Flying the H-34 in Vietnam for the United States Marine Corps. It will be on Amazon.