Touring Tennessee May 2024 By Ian Gordon
Click here for photo's from the trip
‘I know, take me honky-tonking in Nashville’ came the response from my better half whilst discussing where to go on holiday. Tennessee and the varied music scenes, along with the prospect of sighting black bears whilst hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park seemed like a good enough reason to visit somewhere a little different in the States from previous road trips around California and the Yellowstone NP environs.
Road trip planning started in earnest. Gradually a counter clockwork journey around Tennessee emerged taking in Nashville, Memphis, Tupelo, then across to Atlanta in the direction of the Smokies, Chattanooga, Lynchburg (for the Jack Daniels distillery) and back to our starting point, as it turned out, some 1600 miles later.
Further research revealed the chance to visit 2 aircraft museums less frequently reported as we drove between destinations.
We secured BA reward flights from Newcastle direct to Nashville via Heathrow.
Our trip began on 11th May at Newcastle. Of interest were N96FX Glex, OK-PHM E.55P and an unidentified Gulf V. We flew on A319 G-EUPD landing on 09L at Heathrow.
After surviving a crowded T5 watching the arrivals on 09L, where all the usual suspects were noted, we departed for Nashville on B777 G-YMMO for an eight hour flight arriving at 1901 local time. Before landing I swapped sim cards in my phone and to my pleasant surprise (I’m not a techie!) was using Flightradar24 on the taxy in to identify on-stand aircraft.
Nashville (BNA) 11th May
N238NV, N254NV A320’s Allegiant Air, N380FR A320 Frontier
N117HQ, N522AE CRJ’s; N778XF A319, N900UW A321, N809NN B737 American Airlines,
N205WN, N431WN ,N781WN, N786SW, N8912Q, N8921Q B737’s Southwest;
N69888 B737 United
The airport authorities, as I understand from chatting to a local, are planning to build a new terminal as the airport is becoming busier as more and more people move to live in ‘desirable’ Nashville. Southwest appear to be the largest user at BNA however the other US airlines put in regular appearances along with a steady stream of biz movements.
Immigration formalities seemed to take a long time as only 2 of 6 desks were manned and one of those was for US citizens only until they were all cleared and then started accepting the rest of us. Thankfully our flight was the only international flight.
Whilst visiting the touristy places in and around Nashville it is noticeable how many aircraft are flying around. I particularly noticed quite a few biz in and out of Nashville’s second airport namely ‘Nashville John C Tune Airport’.
With that in mind, having visited Belle Meade antebellum mansion, the airport was on the way back to our accommodation. I made the short detour and called in.
There must be quite a number of residents judging by the large number of lock up hangers but most of them were indoors unfortunately. A small terminal appeared to be well used by the executive community and the ramp is easily seen from the adjacent car park.
Nashville John C Tune Airport 12th May
24 aircraft went into the logbook including:
N20MA RC690, N99GU Cirrus SF50, N136TE Eclipse EA500, N327RX F.2000LX,
N346HG Raytheon 400, N425WT C.425, N530BD CL604, N569CC C.550,
N673UP Raytheon 400, N694PB TBM900, N754QS BD350, N850UP B350,
N7555F PA-42 and N9233 C.510
Leaving Nashville we eventually arrived at Graceland in Memphis where Elvis Presley’s aircraft are on display and open to visitors.
N777EP Jetstar and N880EP CV.880
Spoiler alert…one story about Elvis and his daughter, Lisa Marie, and a flight onboard the CV880 caught my attention. Allegedly while Elvis was at Graceland watching the news on TV an article about heavy snow in Denver appeared. He realised his daughter hadn’t seen snow yet in her short life. He immediately got his team to ready the jet and he flew her to Denver where they de-planed, had a snowball fight at the side of the ramp, re-boarded and flew back to Memphis! As the saying goes…”it’s only Rock and Roll”.
Graceland is close to Memphis airport and movements can be seen from various points around the tourist site although I didn’t visit as time was moving on and we wanted to experience Beale Street in downtown before our journey onward to Tupelo.
As planning progressed for this, mainly non-spotting holiday, I quickly realised a bucket list item, namely the Renaissance Concourse Hotel at Atlanta airport was on our route to the Smokies. We wanted to visit the city anyway in order to see the Civil Rights Movement historic sights relating to Martin Luther King. I secured one night at this well know spotting hotel.
I can’t add anything extra to Matt Falcus’ excellent trip report last year from ATL except to say it certainly lived up to expectations.
After basing ourselves in Gatlinburg for walking and black bear spotting (8 seen) in the Smokies I visited the Tennessee Museum of Aviation at Gatlinburg Sevierville airport also known as Pigeon Forge airport not far from Dollywood (no, we didn’t go!) on our way to Chattanooga.
A quiet airfield with 5 aircraft on the ramp by the small terminal/control tower.
Gatlinburg Sevierville Airport 23rd May
N61WF Learjet, N104EG R.44, N409VP C.525, N606SF TBM 700 and N711KR SR.22
A short drive around the airfield took me to the museum located in a hanger with adjacent buildings housing their stored items. Once inside the entrance the ticket desk is located within a shop selling their merchandise and, importantly, a door onto the ramp in front of the hanger affording views.
I noticed through the door a USN A-7A, in a sorry state, sat on one corner of the ramp. I politely asked if it was possible to go and take a photograph. With permission granted I was told not to go too close as a large bees nest had taken up residence within the aircraft.
Adjacent to the ramp was a dismantled USN T-28C.
Tennessee Museum of Aviation 23rd May
Outside were:
140611 T-28C
152669 A-7A
Inside are:
56+67/N5667 Do.27B wings (the rest of the aircraft is in the storage hangers)
138129/N32257 T-28B Trojan
139665 A-1H Skyraider
140136 UH-34G Seabat
1706 WSK Lim-5 (Mig-17F) Polish AF colours
1728 WSK Lim-5R (Mig-17) Polish AF colours
4007 Mig-21US North Vietnam AF colours
44-13318/N357FG P-51D Mustang
44-35505/N4815E RB-26C nose
52-7902 OH-13G Sioux (this helicopter had no markings so I took photos of some plates on the cockpit console and sent them to the excellent website www.rotorspot.nl who kindly identified the frame for me)
490438/NX647D P-47D Thunderbolt
N3FS O-1A Bird Dog
N145J UC-45J
N440RM Jetstar engine nacelle pods
N8457 T-34B Mentor
N10714 O-1A Bird Dog,
N12320 OV-10D Bronco
N29853 SA-16A Albatross (flyable and in immaculate condition)
There are a number of aircraft sections around the museum and I have emailed them to see if they have any ID’s but, at time of writing, haven’t had a reply.
A Seebee stripped to bare metal undergoing restoration
A-4 Skyhawk front section and the cockpit is open for you to sit in. Very cramped!
B-25 cockpit
Cockpit sections of a Beech Bonanza and a Cessna 401
A cockpit/fuselage section, stripped to metal, of an aircraft I couldn’t identify
Their website is www.tnairmuseum.com
I had planned our road trip from Chattanooga to Lynchburg using ‘the back roads of America’ and see the real, rural, Tennessee and we weren’t disappointed. However, my cover was blown and my wife grew highly suspicious of this plan as we suddenly appeared at a junction almost opposite Gate No1 of Arnold AFB and it’s 3 gate guardians! A few miles along the road of this enormous, non-flying, base is Gate No2 with another 3 gate guardians.
Arnold AFB Gate No1 25th May Pictures
62-4328 F-105D Thunderchief (painted as 62-0328)
77-0068 F-15A Eagle
163893 F-14D Tomcat
Arnold AFB Gate No2 25th May
63-7644 F-4C Phantom (painted as 63-644)
162838 F-18A Hornet
79-0407 F-16A Fighting Falcon
Before reaching Lynchburg and being a Beechcraft fan I had to visit Tullahoma Airport and the immaculate Beechcraft Heritage Museum.
When planning a visit be aware it is closed on Sunday and Monday and closes all other days at 1600. This is a must for all Beechcraft fans and among the inmates is the very first aircraft produced by the company in 1932 namely N499N a Model 17 Staggerwing and is resplendent in a beautiful red colour scheme.
I arrived with a few hours to go before closing to an almost empty car park and only saw 2 other visitors so basically had the place to myself. The aircraft are presented within 3 main display areas and 2 exhibits are in the reception area upon entry. A large purpose built, hanger like, building houses the bulk of the younger aircraft types from the Beechcraft stable. Entry is $12 oh, and plus tax.
The aircraft are parked in lines and well-spaced for ease of photography. Every displayed aircraft has a story board detailing the types’ specifications/dimensions etc. and individual history of the exhibit including its construction number.
Aside from the aircraft there are, as you would expect, lots of very interesting exhibits detailing the history of Beechcraft and various influential people connected with the company. My 2 hours weren’t really enough to take it all in.
Beechcraft Heritage Museum Tullahoma 25th May
Entry Area
NC80418 Bonanza B35 c/n D-18
NC80308 G17S Staggerwing c/n B-7
Cianchette Hanger
N20003/44580 UC-45J cockpit trainer and open to sit in, c/n 8142
CF-BKO B.18D c/n A-187
NC20798 F17D Staggerwing c/n 333
N44G G17S Staggerwing c/n B-3
N20753 D17S Staggerwing c/n 395
N4477 B.18S c/n A-935
N712JS E.18S c/n BA-453
Walter Beech Hanger
N241 Travelair No1 c/n 1
NC367M Travelair 4000 c/n 1295
N614K Travelair Type R c/n R-2001 (marked as R614K and is a replica)
NC962W C17B Staggerwing c/n 100
NC14409 B17L Staggerwing c/n 21
NC499N B17R Staggerwing c/n 1 (having been delivered in 1932 it crashed during December 1934, it’s remains were located and reconstruction began in 1984)
Bost Hanger
N80409 Be.35 Bonanza c/n D-9
N545H H.35 Bonanza c/n D-4982
N4091S F.33A Bonanza c/n CE-556
N7710R A.36 Bonanza c/n E-103
N14VU D50E Twin Bonanza c/n DH-326
N9695R B.95 Baron c/n TC-1
N985CC Griffon Lionheart c/n 003
XA-TQF B.2000A Starship c/n NC-49
N3124AV Super V Bonanza c/n SV-109D
N410G B60 Duke c/n 596 (last one built and the registration, which never changed throughout its life, commemorates the owners wedding date 10th of April)
N9526Y B95A Travelair c/n TD-500
N6826Q S35 Bonanza c/n D-7450
N9675R A36 Bonanza c/n E-2503
N5522T B58 Baron c/n TK-79
NC19467 B17B Staggerwing c/n 231
N4668M A36 Bonanza c/n E-1252
N7916A C-45H/AT-11 c/n 3628
N300JR B56 Baron c/n TG-70
N7000B/18000 U-21A Ute c/n LM-1
N241FS Beechcraft Baylescraft c/n RB-01
KF-0083 B100A Target Drone c/n KF-83
160646 T-34C Turbo Mentor c/n N43
N6671C/41-27516 AT-11 Kansan c/n 1361 (marked as 127516)
N2303Z B23 Musketeer c/n M-6
N3735B V35B Bonanza c/n 10403
N17083 F17D Staggerwing c/n 138 (framework, no skin)
After a thoroughly enjoyable visit I drove around to the main side of Tullahoma airport but there wasn’t one aircraft parked outside the numerous lock up hangers.
The next day was our departure day so after visiting the Jack Daniels distillery we headed north back towards Nashville, once again via the back roads. I hadn’t intended visiting any more airfields but when a DC-3 suddenly appeared I realised we were passing Shelbyville airport. By this time the car had learnt to take the exit, clever these satnavs!
Shelbyville 26th May
NC17334 DC-3 c/n 1920 painted in American Airlines colours
N900EY TBM 900 c/n 1101
Our return to Nashville airport was an altogether different experience to our arrival and the car rental return, check in and security was a very straight forward and speedy affair.
The departures area for the BA flight affords expansive views across the airfield through floor to ceiling windows. The Southwest and some of the American gates can’t be seen but all aircraft taxying out for the runway being used for departures, 20C, came into view and it was a busy few hours.
On the far side of the airfield 3 Fedex B767F’s and one of their B757F’s went begging due to the heat haze.
Nashville (BNA) 26th May
C-FKIW B737 WestJet
C-GITR A319 Rouge
C-GJKK B737MAX WestJet/Swoosh colours
N101JJ Bell 429
N103HQ EMB-175LR American Eagle
N104DU A220 Delta Air Lines (a welcome surprise as not one was seen at ATL earlier)
N108UW A321 American Airlines
N118US A321 American Airlines
N122SY EMB-175LR United Express
N153UW A321 American Airlines
N168SY EMB-175LR United Express
N176UW A321 American Airlines
N209WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N216WR B737 Southwest Airlines
N238NV A320 Allegiant Air
N247JJ BD3500 Challenger
N254NN B737 American Airlines
N269WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N260NV A320 Allegiant Air
N281WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N311BP Falcon 50EX
N343PN B737 American Airlines
N359NW A320 Delta Air Lines
N385DN B737 Delta Air Lines
N404WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N409WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N423WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N446WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N596AS B737 Alaska Airlines
N607NN CRJ900 American Eagle
N619NK A320 Spirit Airlines
N631NN CRJ900 American Eagle
N643NK A320 Spirit Airlines
N708SK CRJ700 American Eagle
N793SA B737 Southwest Airlines
N828AW A319 American Airlines
N850NN B737 American Airlines
N851DN B737 Delta Air Lines
N892DN B737 Delta Air Lines
N899UA A319 United Airlines
N945WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N966WN B737 Southwest Airlines
N7824A B737 Southwest Airlines
N7844A B737 Southwest Airlines
N7847A B737 Southwest Airlines
N7848A B737 Southwest Airlines
N8310C B737 Southwest Airlines
N8329B B737 Southwest Airlines
N8501V B737 Southwest Airlines
N8513F B737 Southwest Airlines
N8569Z B737 Southwest Airlines
N8619F B737 Southwest Airlines
N8629A B737 Southwest Airlines
N8641B B737 Southwest Airlines
N8728Q B737MAX Southwest Airlines
N8732S B737MAX Southwest Airlines
N8737L B737MAX Southwest Airlines
N8762Q B737MAX Southwest Airlines
N8849Q B737MAX Southwest Airlines
N8896L B737MAX Southwest Airlines
N8921Q B737MAX Southwest Airlines
N16511 EMB-135ER Contour Aviation
N37313 B737MAX United Airlines
N68817 B737 United Airlines
N86312 EMB-175LR United Express
We departed for Heathrow onboard B777 G-YMMK using 20L and after an uneventful 7.45 hour flight landed on 9L. Having started this flight only a couple of years ago and being the only European carrier flying into Nashville BA have upgraded the flight from a B787 and both our flights were full.
A shorter connection time revealed no surprises in the usual LHR traffic and our flight back up to Newcastle, onboard A320 G-EUYL, took off using the same northern runway but now in the opposite direction using 27R.
Upon arrival at NCL on the 27th May, F-HGYM EMB-145 and G-CPTZ AW169 were read off but a smartly coloured Learjet remained a mystery.
What started essentially as a non-spotting holiday morphed into quite an unexpected healthy return of 740 registrations going into the database and some totally different spotting experiences.
The full on logging at ATL to the calm of the immaculate Beechcraft Heritage Museum with a road trip around a beautiful state with some great and varied places to visit along with fabulous music made it a trip to remember.