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Ben Whitfield
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barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 3:15 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hello All,

  

 I'm trying to trace the fates of a couple of  Commanders and find that both appear to have ended their  days with a Ben Whitfield, seemingly of Inyokern, California.

  

 560E-586, which was registered in Canada as  CF-LBD was sold to him circa 1978. Nothing further is known from then  on.

 At one point though, CF-LBD is known to  have flown down to the USA and back without the benefit of a  CofA.

 After that was settled in Court, a Ferry Permit,  from Canada to the USA, was issued.

  

 680E-757-42, N8111G, was purchased by  Thunderbird Aviation Inc., of Phoenix, Arizona on 25Mar77. On 13Jun85, they  advised the FAA of a sale to Ben Whitfield, but no Bill of Sale or Application  for Registration has ever been submitted and mail remains  unanswered.

  

 I have a gut feeling that he bought both of these  for parting out and also wonder whether he bought any others.

  

 Do any of our guys know the name and the nature  of his business?

  

 Any kind of leads or information will be most  welcome.

  

 Very Best Regards,

 Barry Collman

    [quote][b]

n395v

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 450

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 3:53 am Post subject: Re: Ben Whitfield

Barry,



There are a couple of RV pilos from Inyokern that hang out on either the Matronics RV chatlist or the www.vansairforce.net chatlist.



If the planes are outside they will have seen them. You might post a note asking to talk to pilots from Inyokern on  these lists.

_________________
Milt

barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 4:16 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hi Milt,



Grateful thanks - I might try that route if nothing else turns up.



Very Best Regards,

Barry



---

Skyhawkc-172

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 84

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Barry,

  

 I searched & found nothing, maybe someone else will have better luck.

  

 Regards,

  

 Brent

 N224HA 560E

  

 [quote]-------------- Original message -------------- 

From: "Barry Collman" <barry.collman(at)air-britain.co.uk> 

  (at)font-face { 	font-family: Cambria Math; } (at)font-face { 	font-family: Calibri; } (at)page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; } P.MsoNormal { 	FONT-SIZE: 11pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif" } LI.MsoNormal { 	FONT-SIZE: 11pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif" } DIV.MsoNormal { 	FONT-SIZE: 11pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif" } A:link { 	COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99 } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { 	COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99 } A:visited { 	COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99 } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { 	COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99 } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { 	COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-style-type: personal-compose } .MsoChpDefault { 	mso-style-type: export-only } DIV.Section1 { 	page: Section1 }   Hello All,

  

 I'm trying to trace the fates of a couple of Commanders and find that both appear to have ended their days with a Ben Whitfield, seemingly of Inyokern, California.

  

 560E-586, which was registered in Canada as CF-LBD was sold to him circa 1978. Nothing further is known from then on.

 At one point though, CF-LBD is known to have flown down to the USA and back without the benefit of a CofA.

 After that was settled in Court, a Ferry Permit, from Canada to the USA, was issued.

  

 680E-757-42, N8111G, was purchased by Thunderbird Aviation Inc., of Phoenix, Arizona on 25Mar77. On 13Jun85, they advised the FAA of a sale to Ben Whitfield, but no Bill of Sale or Application for Registration has ever been submitted and mail remains unanswered.

  

 I have a gut feeling that he bought both of these for parting out and also wonder whether he bought any others.

  

 Do any of our guys know the name and the nature of his business?

  

 Any kind of leads or information will be most welcome.

  

 Very Best Regards,

 Barry Collman

 	  Quote: 	
		  

	
[b]

barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:37 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hi Brent,

  

 I found nothing either, but thanks for  trying!

  

 Very Best Regards,

 Barry

 [quote]   ---

rlegg(at)austarnet.com.au
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 3:35 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hi Barry,

 

 Here is a long shot!

 

 If you go to Inyokem CA via Google satellite you will zoom down on runway 33...parked right out on the dirt close to the threshold is what looks like a bathtub Commander!! Looks like you had better contact the airport folks to find out about this airframe.

 

 Might just be a match!

 

 Cheers 

 

 Russell

 

 

 

 On 16/5/07 8:05 PM, "Barry Collman" <barry.collman(at)air-britain.co.uk> wrote:

 

 [quote]Hi Brent,

  

 I found nothing either, but thanks for trying!

  

 Very Best Regards,

 Barry

 [quote] 

 ---

n395v

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 450

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 4:02 am Post subject: Re: Ben Whitfield

Barry,



Received the following by e mail from an RV pilot out of Inyokern.



 	  Quote: 	
		  N4136B. No paint just unpolished alum. The guy does Angels flights if I am not mistaken.



N541M White with blue and red trim. Looks like it has not flown in a while. 



I don't know much more than that. Hope that helped your buddy out.

__________________

_________________
Milt

barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 4:24 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hi Russell,

  

 Thanks! I'll take a look later on, but it might  be one of those that Milt's guys sent details for, possibly the second  one.

  

 And, don't forget that the two I listed were  transactions from about 30 years ago!

  

 I really wanted to find out more about Ben  Whitfield and what the nature of his business was.

  

 Very Best Regards,

 Barry

  

 ---

barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 4:28 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hi Milt!



Grateful thanks. Neither of these is the ones I asked about, but I was looking 

back about 30 years!



But, I understood N541M, which is 680FL-1512-96, was being parted out by United 

Airparts. It had previously been purchased on 10Oct90 by AC Enterprises, of 

Payson, AZ, the partners being George A Armstrong & 'our' Jack Chappell.



Very Best Regards,

Barry



---

moe(at)rosspistons.com
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 7:11 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Barry,



Contact Jack Chappell.  He and I spoke about the Inyokern plane about a year

ago, however, I can't remember the details. Jack doesn't do email so if you

want I can call him.



Sorry that I didn't give you this info. earlier, but I have been so tied up

lately that I haven't been reading the Commander List.



Regards,



Moe Mills

N680RR

680F(p)



--

barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hi All,

  

 When I first posted this, I had a nagging feeling  that this name rang a bell rather more loudly.

  

 While looking at another Commander's history, I  stumbled across the names "Ben Widtfeld, dba: Atlas Aircraft", and then a  related search found "Ben Widtfeldt", both of them being at Long Beach,  California.

  

 At one time, "Widtfeld" was the owner of a  Model 680, s/n 446-117, registered in Colombia as HK-868P. It was seemingly  bought from, then sold back to, a Humberto Escobar Velez.

  

 "Widtfeldt" was also seemingly the owner of  680E-873-86, N799SB, whose history ends in unresolved paperwork.

  

 I'm also wondering if "Widtfeld" turned his  "dba" name into Atlas Aircraft Corp., who were also domiciled in Long Beach. I  can trace 29 transactions involving Commanders by them, between April  1974 & July 1981.

  

 I've got a gut feeling that Atlas Aircraft Corp.,  "Whitfield", "Widtfeld" & "Widtfeldt" are all connected, but is there  anybody 'out there' with some local knowledge. Is Inyokern anywhere near Long  Beach?

  

 Best Regards,

 Barry Collman

  

  

  

  

 ---

moe(at)rosspistons.com
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Barry,  

   

Inyokern is about 125 air miles north of Long Beach.  The closest thing to it is Edwards Air Force Base or Mohave, home of Burt Rutan, and the Mother or all big airline aircraft salvage yards.  

   

Moe  

         

  

From: owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Barry Collman

 Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 2:01 PM

 To: commander-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Ben Whitfield  

  

     

Hi All,  

    

   

    

When I first posted this, I had a nagging feeling that this name rang a bell rather more loudly.  

    

   

    

While looking at another Commander's history, I stumbled across the names "Ben Widtfeld, dba: Atlas Aircraft", and then a related search found "Ben Widtfeldt", both of them being at Long Beach, California.  

    

   

    

At one time, "Widtfeld" was the owner of a Model 680, s/n 446-117, registered in Colombia as HK-868P. It was seemingly bought from, then sold back to, a Humberto Escobar Velez.  

    

   

    

"Widtfeldt" was also seemingly the owner of 680E-873-86, N799SB, whose history ends in unresolved paperwork.  

    

   

    

I'm also wondering if "Widtfeld" turned his "dba" name into Atlas Aircraft Corp., who were also domiciled in Long Beach. I can trace 29 transactions involving Commanders by them, between April 1974 & July 1981.  

    

   

    

I've got a gut feeling that Atlas Aircraft Corp., "Whitfield", "Widtfeld" & "Widtfeldt" are all connected, but is there anybody 'out there' with some local knowledge. Is Inyokern anywhere near Long Beach?  

    

   

    

Best Regards,  

    

Barry Collman  

    

   

    

   

    

   

    

   

    

---

barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 2:50 pm Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Thanks Moe! Close enough to possibly confirm a  possible connection in my book. Over here, 125 miles is a long way, but it's  sort of at the bottom of your back yard over there, isn't it?

  

 Incidentally, I have now found another record on  my database that virtually confirms "Ben Widtfeldt" was indeed the president of  Atlas Aircraft Corp.

  

 Of the 25 Commanders I find them involved with (4  of them twice), let's just say for now that a good number (10) have definitely  been exported to Colombia, a further 5 possibly went there  too and most of the rest seem to have had a "chequered"  career.

  

 Amazingly, of the very few that have emerged with  a clean sheet, one is with our very own Buddy Plaster (560E-552, now N50BP) and  another is with our very own John Towner's Central Air (500B-1235-106, now  N662MW). Neither, of course, was bought from Atlas Aircraft Corp.

  

 Very Best Regards,

 Barry

 [quote]   ---

Budplaster(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Barry,

  

 You are very correct about my 560E and Atlas Aviation being connected in  the past. As you no doubt know I purchased the airplane from a person in  Compton, California, just 10 miles from Long Beach Airport. I made a great  deal on barely flyable junk with bullet holes. 

  

 While the airplane was being taken apart to see how bad off it was, we  found many items attesting to Atlas Aviation having had some roll in the  airplane's history----10 or 12 noise abatement violations that were ignored,  countless letters from the FAA, notices from the City of Compton to pay or  vacate the airport and a cutout behind the rear seat where a window air  conditioner for a house had been installed. In asking some old timers familiar  with the airplane about this I was told it worked very well but  it was a little too cold...No Joke!!!

  

 I could research my machine further, but I think I have picked on it  enough. It always starts, gets me where I'm going and allows me to return home  without problems. It may have had a questionable and a not so kind beginning ,  but it sure is living the good life now.

  

 Buddy 



See what's free at AOL.com. 

  [quote][b]

andrew.bridget(at)telus.n
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hello Barry,

  

 Atlas Aircraft Corp. got me thinking - is there a  connection Between this Atlas Aircraft Corp (US) to Atlas Aircraft Corp. in  South Africa? And if so, is that possibly where your Commanders ended up? Atlas  (SA) no longer exists - it was swallowed up by Armscor. Atlas used to  manufactured the Atlas Impala, which was basically an Aermacchi MB-326 made  under licence, the Atlas Cheetah (which was a complete rework of the Mirage  III), an armed version of the Aérospatiale Puma, the Bosbok (a spotter aircraft,  made under licence from Aermacchi, I think) and the Kudu, a light medivac piston  single of their own design. Nico, correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to recall  that the Kudu was also certified in the US. They also made the Rooivalk attack  helicopter, but I don't know if it progressed past the prototype stage. All  this, of course, means nothing if the two Atlas Aircraft Corps are not  connected. So, if it helps, good - if not, sorry  for clouding the issue.

  

 God bless,

 Andrew

 [quote]   ---

RnJThompson(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 11:29 pm Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Andrew,  

Atlas Aircraft was part of Armscor and then became part of Denel. Since the demise of the pale Africans the business has gone downhill. They attempted to sell the Rooivalk on the world market. One was tested here in Oz. The only people to buy a couple were the SANDF themselves

barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:30 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Hi Andrew,

  

 No, I don't think they are connected at all, but  thanks for mentioning the other Atlas as a possible link.

  

 Best Regards,

 Barry

 [quote]   ---

moe(at)rosspistons.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 5:52 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Buddy,  

   

By any chance your bird painted gun metal gray when you purchased it?  

   

Moe  

         

  

From: owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-commander-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Budplaster(at)aol.com

 Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 4:36 PM

 To: commander-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Ben Whitfield  

  

     

Barry,  

    

   

    

You are very correct about my 560E and Atlas Aviation being connected in the past. As you no doubt know I purchased the airplane from a person in Compton, California, just 10 miles from Long Beach Airport. I made a great deal on barely flyable junk with bullet holes.   

    

   

    

While the airplane was being taken apart to see how bad off it was, we found many items attesting to Atlas Aviation having had some roll in the airplane's history----10 or 12 noise abatement violations that were ignored, countless letters from the FAA, notices from the City of Compton to pay or vacate the airport and a cutout behind the rear seat where a window air conditioner for a house had been installed. In asking some old timers familiar with the airplane about this I was told it worked very well but it was a little too cold...No Joke!!!  

    

   

    

I could research my machine further, but I think I have picked on it enough. It always starts, gets me where I'm going and allows me to return home without problems. It may have had a questionable and a not so kind beginning , but it sure is living the good life now.  

    

   

    

Buddy   

  



 

         

  

See what's free at AOL.com.   

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barry.collman(at)air-brit
Guest

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 6:00 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Good question Moe - No doubt this will *trigger*  Buddy to now *rifle* through the aircraft's paperwork to check  

  

 [quote]   ---

Budplaster(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 7:33 am Post subject: Ben Whitfield

Moe,

  

 Yes, it was painted in the Oakland, Los Angeles, Oakland Raiders  colors......fuselage was gray with black trim ( very depressing for a  San Diego Chargers fan)

  

 While I am sending this with the knowledge that Barry reads all postings I  will say that I have all the log books for 50BP from it's beginning. If I am  ever needed to consult the logs for a specific bit of information all one  needs to do is ask. 

  

 Also, I would advise anyone to contact Jack Chappell for information (and  parts) about Commanders that have some Southern California history, as  well as elsewhere; especially, if they are of the older lineage. And, I have  been to Inyokern, Ca. and spent much time attempting to get information on the  Commander that appears now to have become a derelict. The first time I saw  the machine, probably 15-20 years ago, it was really a neat machine, but  had one engine that had leaked some oil. I was unable to get any  information about the airplane from the folks at Inyokern, which led me to  think it was because Inyokern is located within five hundreds miles of Area 51.  Truly, no one would act like there was even airplane parked in the  weeds on the south end of the airport.    

  

 Buddy 



See what's free at AOL.com. 

  [quote][b]

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