Navy O2s Houston TX

[general]

Does anyone know the whereabouts of the original
Two Navy O2s they were based at Polly Ranch near Houston? They flew at many air shows throughout Texas in the late 1980s and 90s. One of the owners was Frank Moody.

[hharney]

Serial Numbers?

[general]

Following the Vietnam War, the O-2 continued to operate with both U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard units well into the late 1980s. Six former USAF O-2A airframes were also transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1983 for use as “range controllers” with Attack Squadron 122 (VA-122), the Pacific Fleet Replacement Squadron for the A-7 Corsair II at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. These same aircraft were later transferred to Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), the F/A-18 Hornet FRS at NAS Lemoore, in 1986 for use in the same range control role.

The six Navy O-2A’s remained in this role until September 1990, when they were replaced by T-34C Turbo Mentor aircraft transferred from the Naval Air Training Command. Four of the Navy O-2A aircraft were retired and two of these became civil registered in October 1991. These two aircraft were flown in U.S. airshows performing a “Viet Nam Warbird COIN/FAC” routine during the 1990s. The routine debuted at the “Wings Over Houston” (Texas) airshow in October 1991

Of the six USN aircraft mentioned above, two were transferred to the U.S. Army in late 1990.[4] O-2As had originally entered the U.S. Army’s inventory in 1967 from USAF stocks and were augmented by the 1990 aircraft transfer from the U.S. Navy. Several disassembled USAF O-2s remain in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.[4] Two O-2As were used at Laguna Army Airfield, Arizona as part of testing programs carried out by the Yuma Proving Ground. These were retired in October 2010 and sent to a museum., I flew with these guys a lot and I have photographs of the actual aircraft numbers and they were on the front of trade-a-plane back about 1993 or 4. I would have to go through books of photographs to find them. Both aircraft were based at a flyin air community of Friendswood Texas called Polly Ranch 7XS0. In fact there were four skymaster based there at one time in the early to mid 90s

[skymstr02]

Originally Posted by hharney

Serial Numbers?

I knew those airplanes, I ferried one from NAS Pensacola to Polly Ranch for the owner who didn't have a multi-engine license..I also performed the conformity inspections to get certified by the Feds.

The tail numbers are N593S and N594X. Frank Mooney owns the 594X, and Ron Scott 593S, however he sold his airplane.

This photo was taken at a Wings Over Houston Airshow

[cessnadriver]

Hello. Not sure but one of those planes may have been for sale in Hazelton, Pennsylvania? I was looking to purchase it but never went out there. It had the same type of paint scheme. It was listed in the Barnstormers web site-I think. Hope this helps. Regards, BILLS

[chrisktx]

I see Frank Mooney often. Have his number if you need it. The plane is still at his house at Polly Ranch in the backyard. You can see it on Google Earth. It’s in rough shape. Polly got hit hard by Hurricane Harvey, most the houses on either end got flooded.

[general]

Good to hear that Frank is still around and has the O2.
I would appreciate his number I'm currently on a project in Africa. If you talk to him let him know that the General says hi, and I think about my time with those guys a lot at Polly Ranch, and at air shows. I'm surprised he's not on this forum.

[chrisktx]

general, I PM'd you with Frank Mooneys info.

[general]

Thanks for this number, my son lives on the gulf coast near Frank and I will be flying down there next month and will call Frank and msybe fly over the Pollyranch.