[ARC5] OTR

[mstangelo at comcast.net]

Bob,

Fascinating!
 
Would you know at which ranch or airport Sky King was filmed?

Mike N2MS

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Nickels <ranickel at comcast.net>
To: Discussion of AN/ARC-5 military radio equipment. <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:24:50 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: [ARC5] OTR

On 11/3/2010 11:36 AM, Lloyd Godsey wrote:
> No but he flew a Cessna T-50 "bamboo bomber", later I believe he had a
> Cessna 310
>
A couple of 'em,. Lloyd, but few know that the Song Bird was Kirby 
Grants own plane!  A bit off-topic but I figure this group will 
appreciate the "rest of the story":

Sky King owned an aircraft called the "Song Bird." The episodes were 
always full of excitement and adventure. Earl Nightingale had been the 
"Sky King" of radio but like many radio actors, was just not suited for 
the role in television.

Grant's agent approached Kirby with the part and set up a screen test. 
Several weeks later he was notified the he had been selected for the 
part and went to the studio to meet his TV niece, Penny (Gloria Winters) 
and nephew (Ron Hagerthy.) They were to live on the Flying Crown Ranch 
near the town of Grover, Arizona (a fictitious name) and fly around in 
the Song Bird. Grant had earlier purchased a 1946 Cessna T-50 Bobcat, 
which became the first "Song Bird." The N-number was N67832, (which 
incidentally is still on a T-50 today.) After only 18 episodes of the 
series, the "Sky King" project was canceled due to a parting of the ways 
between Derby Foods and its ad agency. Kirby Grant left Universal to 
join Wilding Studios in Chicago as a writer-director.

In early 1955, Kirby was approached by Nabisco. The company wanted to 
pick up the series if he would agree to return to the starry role. He 
agreed and in the next six months, a year's worth of episodes was produced.

In 1956, the original "Song Bird" was sold to a rancher friend for a 
dollar as it had dry rot in its main spar and his friend wanted a 
rebuild project. Grant replaced it with a new "Song Bird" purchased for 
$72,000. It was a 1956 Cessna 310B (s/n 35548). Its N-number was N5348A. 
(This N-number is on a Cessna 320 at present.) The last aircraft used 
was a 1960 Cessna 310 (s/n 39117). Song Bird III's N-number was N6817T.

73, Bob W9RAN
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