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Description
| Notes: LOW-WING utility aircraft with reversing propellers and retractable tricycle landing gear. For command/control and utility missions in combat zones (2 CREW, 10 PASSENGERS) . | ||
| Manufacturer: | Beechcraft | |
| Base model: | U-21 | |
| Designation: | U-21 | |
| Version: | A | |
| Nickname: | Ute | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1952-Present | |
| Basic role: | Utility | |
Specifications
| Not Yet Available |
Known serial numbers
Recent comments by our visitors
| Ruben Moreno , TX | I served in Command Airplane Company 1970-71. I was SIP in the U21. That was a great airplane and an outstanding group of people flew them. After retiring from the Army in 1980 I worked for Raytheon, SimuFlite, FlexJet, and FlightSafety where I was Corporate Director of Standards until hanging it all up in 2001. Retirement is great and I am not bored, really. 08/18/2008 @ 12:12 [ref: 22486] |
| Rob Tommasone Tucson, AZ | I was a pilot and Weapons Officer with CAC during the period that the unit moved from Long Thanh North to Tan Son Nhut. I helped coordinate the move and was present when the swimming pool at LTN was sold to the 1st Air Cav unit moving into our area. The proceeds were used to buy equipment for the Officers' Club in our new compound at Tan Son Nhut, which was built and formerly occupied by the Navy Seabees.
The remains of the CAC HQ compound are still visible today in satellite photos available on Google Earth and WikiMapia. Just pan a bit North and slightly East of the approach end of runway 25R and you'll see the compound complete with the remains of a SAM battery built by the new occupants after we pulled out. Also visible is the shiny metal roof on the remaining officers' hooches. You can also see the old 8th Aerial Port building and the former CAC maintenance hangars and flight line in the same photos due West of the current domestic terminal building and ramp area. While you're on Goggle Earth or WikiMapia, check out Long Thanh North. The remains of the runways are quite visible at these sites as well, along with foundation outlines of many buildings though no wartime structures appear to have survived. Until recently, I managed an avionics business in Manassas, Virginia. One of our clients bought up all of the surplus U-21 series aircraft and spare parts from Uncle Sam and now operates many of them. It was neat having the opportunity to see several former CAC machines, including two that I personally flew,now with executive interiors and other mods enabling aerial spraying, photo mapping and even pathfinder ops for leading fire bomber aircraft into fire zones. These wonderful old aircraft and their PT6A-20 engines continue to soldier on in many roles across the country and internationally. 08/09/2008 @ 14:25 [ref: 22403] |
| wally osborne , CA | I was a avionics mech. with cac 70 to 72 yeah i got the the year book. had a good time lots of good people i liked the u-21 got allittle stick time, does anyone remember a sp5 bill curtis, jerry duval, jim haycraft, capt. jenson. 07/19/2008 @ 08:16 [ref: 22177] |
| Jim Wellner Fort Myers, FL | I was crew chief 0n a U-21 in 67&68 with First Field Force and the 201st avn co.in Nha Trang Vietnam we had 3 of them they were great to work on and could take a beating.The numbers that we had were 66-18019 and 66-18042,I don't recall the other numbers.I know 019 had bad landing in April or may 68 when the rudder came off in fligt. 04/20/2008 @ 16:50 [ref: 20633] |
| Larry Duppstadt , MD | I was a pilot and the administrative officer for Command Airplane Company in RVN from July-May 1971-72. I saw the note from Gary Sneary and I agree with him that it was a wonderful assignment with great people, great maintenance and great airplanes to fly. It was my 2nd tour in RVN and I really enjoyed the people and the flying. I retired in 1987 after 22 years of flying for the military. I was a Captain in RVN and retired as a CW4. Larry Duppstadt (Ret) 04/20/2008 @ 04:10 [ref: 20627] |
| Bob Derrick , GA | I was stationed in Hawaii with the 367th Avn Det. The tail numbers I remember were 180098,180099, 180100,and 180101.Those aircraft to the best of my memory arrived in Hawaii in late 1968 02/07/2008 @ 17:56 [ref: 19603] |
| Bob Derrick , GA | I was a 67G20 in the Army. I worked on U-8D,G,and F aircraft. I worked on U-21A in the 55th Avn Co in Korea 1972-1973. Later at Ft.Knox, Ky. I was a instuctor at Ft. Eustis, Va and co-wrote the first SQT for 67G. I was later a 67W3H. I was also assigned to the 3rd Army Flight Det, there I worked on U-21,U-8,C-47,T-42, T-41. 02/07/2008 @ 17:52 [ref: 19601] |
| gary sneary Madison, MS | I was the Beech Tech Rep in Vietnam from April 1971 until October 1972 and was stationed with Command Aircraft Company at Long Thanh North. CAC moved to Tan Son Nhut in 1972. LTC Robert Bayne was the CAC Commander and at that time was the only Army Aviatior with over 13,000 hours flight time. CAC had 24 each of the U-21A's and carried approximately 6500 pax's per month. During this time they had the highest availibility of ready to fly aircraft in the U. S. Army. This statistic is documented in the Command Aircraft 1971 - 1972 yearbook which I still have a copy. I recently retired after 36 years working with Beech military aircraft and would like to say CAC had the finest group of pilots I have ever been associated with. I fondly remember working daily with one of the finest officers in the U. S. Army - that being the maintenance officer Captain Tim Horton. 01/25/2008 @ 08:58 [ref: 19424] |
| Rick Holt , MD | I was a radio relay operator on the U21's of 2nd Signal Group Aviation Detachment (later 1st Signal Brigade) out of Long Thanh North in 1971. Lots of pics of the u21'S and their radio on my website at rickholt.net. I flew in 000, 013, 038 and 027 as I recall. Many notations about the various flights and pilots, etc. in my "Letters Home" on my website. 01/11/2008 @ 06:26 [ref: 19228] |
| Larry V. Green Coldspring, TX | I was a wobbly one assigned to the Command Aircraft Compamy in Dec. 70 and flew the U-21 till Dec. 71. I enjoyed most of my tour there and made CWO 2 before returning to the states. I had just made aircraft commander before having the first engine failure in country in the U-21. We had to shut down the #1 engine late one night returning from LZ English. Landed at Long Thanh out of a GCA approach. Would enjoy hearing from anyone of the old group or just anyone that loved the old U-21. E-mail tumbleweed@eastex.net 11/16/2007 @ 11:46 [ref: 18563] |
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