TBM Avengers in New Brunswick 1958 to 2012

FPL owned a total of 30 TBM Avengers, but because of crashes offset by purchases, never had any more than a maximum of 25 (D. Henry and  C. Dixon of FPL).

A few facts:

  • First thoughts on using TBMs for aerial spray – 1957-58.
  • TBMs come from all over N. America – 1958-1970s.
  • No more US TBMs until 1981/1982 as there were enough in Canada.
  • FPL begins buying its own TBMs in 1974 as a long-term investment and projected use due to the budworm hazard to New Brunswick forests.
  • Several lost to crashes.
  • Fire bombing only after 1993; spray period does not conflict with fire season, and budworm infestation over.
  • Gradual replacement by AT802s; TBMs are high maintenance compared to AT802s.
  • FPL sold its last TBM in 2012.
TBM Avengers in New Brunswick 1958 to 2012, based on their Canadian and US registrations. Status is always subject to change.
* = duplicate tail numbers (601, 603, 607, D6).
BuNo Cdn. Reg’n. US Reg’n. Nose/Tail No. FPL No. Owners Status
FA/FB SERIES
53784 FAGL – 603* – Conair Crashed
86244 FAGN – 607* 607/7 Conair/FPL Crashed
53209 FAXS – 2/B17 – Norfolk Crashed
53829 FAYG – 5/B20 – Norfolk Airworthy
86091 FAYL – xx – Norfolk Crashed
53078 FBEF/FJJC N68683 110/A25 – Hillcrest/
Miramichi		 Crashed
85983 FBEG – 01/1 – Miramichi/
Hicks&Lawrence		 Airworthy
53914 FBQS – xx – Hicks&Lawrence Crashed/Restored/Museum
91171 FBQT – 21 – Hicks&Lawrence Stored
FIMX SERIES
53337 FIMI – 601* 601/1 Skyway/Conair/FPL Airworthy
85870 FIMJ – 600/601* – Skyway Crashed
85597 FIMK – 602 602/2 Skyway/Conair/FPL Museum
53507 FIML – 603* – Skyway Crashed
53241 FIMM – 604 – Skyway/Conair Crashed
53139 FIMN – 605 605/5 Skyway/Conair/FPL Airworthy
85833 FIMO – 508 – JD Irving Crashed
53558 FIMQ – 500 – Wheeler Crashed
53610 FIMR – 501 E25/23 Wheeler/Wheeler-Northland/
Evergreen/FPL		 Museum
53759 FIMS – 502 – Wheeler Crashed
69347 FIMT – 503 – Wheeler Crashed
69354 FIMU – 504 – Wheeler Junked
85665 FIMV – 505 26 Wheeler/Wheeler-Northland/
Evergreen/FPL		 Crashed
85928 FIMW – 506 – Wheeler/Wheeler-Northland/
Evergreen		 Crashed
86098 FIMX – 507 – Wheeler/Wheeler-Northland/
Evergreen		 Crashed
FJ/FK SERIES
86175 FJJB – xx – Richel Air Crashed
53554 FKCF – 614 – Skyway/Conair Crashed
69327 FKCG – 615 – Skyway/Conair Crashed/Restored/Museum
53072 FKCH – 606 – Skyway/Conair Crashed
53559 FKCJ – 607 – Skyway/Conair Crashed
53392 FKCK – 608 – Skyway/Conair Crashed
53638 FKCL – 609 609/9 Skyway/Conair/FPL Crashed/Restored/Museum
53420 FKCM – 616 616/16 Skyway/Conair/FPL Museum
53732 FKCN – 617 – Skyway/Conair Crashed
85652 FKYA – 701 – Airspray Crashed
FM/FX/FZ SERIES
53496 FMSX – 610 – Skyway Crashed
53496 FMSY – 611 – Skyway Crashed
86180 FMUD – 612 612/12 Skyway/Conair/FPL Museum
91426 FMUE – 618 618/18 Skyway/Conair/FPL Airworthy
53632 FMXN – 619 – Skyway/Conair Crashed
69325 FXOM – 900/18 – Maritime/Hicks&Lawrence Airworthy
85829 FXON – 911/17 – Maritime/Hicks&Lawrence Crashed
53488 FXOO – 922 – Maritime Crashed
53351 FZTA – 716 – Miramichi Crashed
53775a FZTR N4173A A18 – Hillcrest/Miramichi Crashed
53775b FZTS N7028C D7/A23 – Hillcrest/Miramichi Crashed
53607 FZYC – 20 – Hicks&Lawrence/ACAM Crashed/Restored/Museum
GFPx SERIES
86020 GFPL – – E22/22 FPL Crashed
53857 GFPM – – E21/21 FPL Airworthy
91289 GFPN N7833C E56/E74 74/17 HemetValley/Hillcrest/FPL Crashed
86064 GFPO N7161C E97/97 97/19 HemetValley/Hillcrest/
FPL		 Crashed
86090 GFPP N9434Z E52 52 HemetValley/Hillcrest/
FPL		 Crashed
53592 GFPQ N5168V E68/68 68/15 HemetValley/Hillcrest/
FPL		 Crashed
53858 GFPR N3357G E72/72 72/4 HemetValley/Hillcrest/
FPL		 Parked
85460 GFPS N7032C 112 E32/3 Richardson/Hillcrest/
FPL		 Airworthy
53787 GFPT N3969A A21 E30/10 Johnson/Hillcrest/
FPL		 Airworthy
GLDX/GLEx/GO SERIES
53768 GLDX – B18 – Norfolk Airworthy
85715 GLEF N1369N E27/27 E27/8 Sis-Q/FPL Airworthy
53334 GLEG N68663 E28/E25 E25 Sis-Q/FPL Crashed
53697 GLEH N9711Z E33 E33/20 Sis-Q/FPL Crashed
53307 GLEI N9078Z E26 E26 Sis-Q/FPL Crashed
69323 GLEJ N7961C E24 E24/24 Sis-Q/FPL Airworthy
85733 GLEK N6824C A12 A12/14 Johnson/FPL Crashed
53200 GLEL N9010C D6*/A13 A13/13 Johnson/FPL Museum
85499 GLEM N9597C D6*/A16 A6/6 Johnson/FPL Crashed
91159 GLEN N3249G A14 A14 Johnson/FPL Crashed
85836 GLEP N7014C A11 A11/11 Johnson/FPL Crashed
85854 GLEQ N7015C A7 A7 Johnson/FPL Crashed
85632 GOBJ N7002C B15 – Air Tankers/
Norfolk		 Airworthy
69531 GOBK – B19 – Norfolk Crashed
69361 GOEG – B16 – Norfolk Museum
USA SERIES
91398 – N3251G A15 – Johnson Crashed
53835 – N3967A xx – Stewart Airworthy?
91565 – N4168A D8/58 – Reeder Crashed
91521 – N4171A D11/11 – Reeder Museum
53575 – N6447C xx – Stewart Museum
85883 – N6825C E37 – Hemet Valley Crashed
91110 – N6827C xx – Stewart Airworthy
53484 – N7031C 111 – Airway Crashed
53785 – N7075C 55 – Reeder Museum/Airworthy
53726 – N7076C 56 – Reeder Museum
86195 – N7229C E71 – Hemet Valley Crashed
48032 – N7922A xx – Skyway Crashed
69459 – N8397H xx – Stewart Museum
91714 – N9429Z 57 – Reeder Airworthy
91586 – N9433Z xx – Stewart Museum

1974 – Purchases from Sis-Q and Johnson

FPL purchased its first 11 TBM-3 aircraft in late 1974 (from the 1975 Annual Report and from a file compiled by Carman Dixon of FPL) from Sis-Q Flying Service, Santa Rosa, California and Johnson Flying Service, Missoula, Montana.

1974 – TBM-3 aircraft purchased by FPL. All were registered in the GLEx series, which signifies aircraft originating in the US. Note: There is no record of an Avenger with the mark C-GLEO, the only one missing from the sequence.
Canadian Reg’n. Bureau Number FPL Number US Reg’n. US Number Purchase Price $CAN Purchase Date Seller
GLEF 85715 E27 / 8 N1369N E27 15,000 + 8,000 for engine Dec. 1974 Sis-Q
GLEG 53334 E25 N68663 E28, E25 13,000 + 2,000 for engine Dec. 1974 Sis-Q
GLEH 53697 E33 / 20 N9711Z E33 13,000 + 2,000 for engine Dec. 1974 Sis-Q
GLEI 53307 E26 N9078Z E26 15,000 + 6,000 for engine Dec. 1974 Sis-Q
GLEJ 69323 E24 / 24 N7961C E24 15,000 + 6,210 for spare engine Dec. 1974 Sis-Q
GLEK 85733 A12 / 14 N6824C A12 26,820 Nov. 1974 Johnson
GLEL 53200 A13 / 13 N9010C A13 26,820 Nov. 1974 Johnson
GLEM 85499 A6 / 6 N9597C D6, A16 26,820 Nov. 1974 Johnson
GLEN 91159 A14 N3249G A14 26,820 Nov. 1974 Johnson
GLEP 85836 A11 / 11 N7014C A11 26,820 Nov. 1974 Johnson
GLEQ 85854 A7 N7015C D7 26,820 Nov. 1974 Johnson

1975 – Purchases

FPL purchased another 2 TBM-3 aircraft in late 1975 (from the 1976 Annual Report and from a file compiled by Carman Dixon of FPL) from Central Air Services, Lewiston, Montana, and D.A. Goodman, Missoula, Montana.

1975 – TBM-3 aircraft purchased by FPL in late 1975 and registered in GFPx series.
Canadian Reg’n. Bureau Number FPL Number US Reg’n. US Number Purchase Price $CAN Purchase Date Seller
GFPL 86020 E22 / 22 N7157C 63 18,866 Dec. 1975 Goodman
GFPM 53957 E21 / 21 N7017C A27 25,413 Nov. 1975 Central

1976 – Purchases from Hillcrest and Evergreen

FPL purchased another 9 TBM-3 aircraft in 1976 from Evergreen Air Services, Montreal, Quebec, and Hillcrest Aircraft, Lewiston, Idaho (1976 Annual Report and from a file compiled by Carman Dixon of FPL), continuing the GFP- series.

1976 – TBM-3 aircraft purchased by FPL. All those purchased from the US were registered in GFPx series. The two Canadian-purchased aircraft retained their registration. (FIMR was renumbered as #E25 in 1976, the same number as GLEG, which had crashed in 1975.)
Canadian Reg’n. Bureau Number FPL Number US Reg’n. US No. Purchase Price $CAN Purchase Date Seller
FIMR 53610 E25 / 23 – 501 30,000 Nov. 1976 Evergreen
FIMV 85665 26 – 505 30,000 Nov. 1976 Evergreen
GFPN 91289 74 / 17 N7833C E74 35,520 average price Mar. 1976 Hillcrest
GFPO 86064 97 / 19 N7161C 97 35,520 average price Mar. 1976 Hillcrest
GFPP 86090 52 N9434Z E52 35,520 average price Mar. 1976 Hillcrest
GFPQ 53592 68 / 15 N5168V 68 35,520 average price Mar. 1976 Hillcrest
GFPR 53858 72 / 4 N3357G E72 35,520 average price Mar. 1976 Hillcrest
GFPS 85460 E32 / 3 N7032C 112 35,520 average price Mar. 1976 Hillcrest
GFPT 53787 E30 / 10 N3969A A21 35,520 average price Mar. 1976 Hillcrest

1977 – Purchases from Conair

FPL purchased 8 TBMs from Conair Aviation in August 1977 after they had finished spray operations for that year. Also included was a spare engine and Conair’s complete inventory of TBM parts. These TBMs were equipped with the large hopper doors suitable for dropping retardant or water.

1977 – TBM-3 aircraft purchased by FPL from Conair Aviation, Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Canadian Registration Bureau Number Conair Number FPL Number Purchase Date Purchase Price $CAN
FAGN 86244 607 607 / 7 Aug. 1977 $20,000
FIMI 53337 601 601 / 1 Aug. 1977 $20,000 –
FIMK 85597 602 602 / 2 Aug. 1977 $20,000 –
FIMN 53139 605 605 / 5 Aug. 1977 $20,000 –
FKCL 53638 609 609 / 9 Aug. 1977 $20,000 –
FKCM 53420 616 616 / 16 Aug. 1977 $20,000 –
FMUD 86180 612 612 / 12 Aug. 1977 $20,000 –
FMUE 91426 618 618 / 18 Aug. 1977 $20,000 –

1974 to 2012 – Crashes

Crashes that Occurred between 1974 and 2010.
Year Registration FPL Number Date Crashed Location Crashed
1974 No losses
1975 GLEG E25 4 July 1975 Near Dunphy Airstrip
GLEI E26 8 May 1975 Near Dunphy Airstrip
1976 No losses
1977 FIMV E26 9 June 1977 Blissville Airstrip
– GFPP E52 17 June 1977 South Nepisiguit River
GLEQ A7 23 June 1977 Near Dunphy Airstrip
1978 FKCL 609 29 May 1978 Oromocto Lake (recovered then stored; later sold)
GLEN A14 21 June 1978 Forty-four Mile Brook
1979 GLEM 6 28 May 1979 Salmon River near Chipman
1980 and 1981 No losses
1982 GFPQ 15 8 June 1982 North Branch Gounamitz River
1983 FAGN 7 7 June 1983 West of Campbellton
GFPO 19 22 May 1983 Near Sevogle Airstrip
1984 GLEP 11 10 June 1984 Southwest of McAdam
GLEH 20 18 May 1984 Brockway Airstrip (repaired)
1985 and 1986 No losses
1987 GLEH 20 6 June 1987 Boston Brook Airstrip
1988 to 1998 No losses
1999 GFPN 17 1 May 1999 Near Lawrence Station
2000 to 2009 No losses
2010 GFPL 22 23 April 2010 Miramichi Airport

1994 to 2012 – sales

1994-2012 – FPL Avengers sold (from FPL Equipment Inventory).
Year Registration BuNo FPL No. Purchaser
1994 FIMI 53337 1 Jeff Thomas/Vintage Wings, Seattle, WA
FIMK 85597 2 Jeff Thomas/Vintage Wings, Seattle, WA
FIMN 53139 5 Jeff Thomas/Vintage Wings, Seattle, WA
GLEF 85715 8 Jeff Thomas/Vintage Wings, Seattle, WA
FKCM 53420 16 Jeff Thomas/Vintage Wings, Seattle, WA
2001 FMUD 86180 12 US Naval Station Wildwood Aviation Museum, Cape May Airport, New Jersey
FMUE 91426 18 Commemorative Air Force, Midland, TX
GFPR 53858 4 Didier Chable/AMPAA, Melun-Villaroche, France then Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton, Ontario
2004 GFPS 85460 3 FEW TBMS LLC, Rio Grande, NJ
GFPM 53857 21 Steve Searle, Queensland, Australia
GLEJ 69323 24 Andrew Donohue, Argyle, TX
2008 GFPT 53787 10 Environmental Aviation Services Inc., Fernandina Beach, Florida
2011 GLEL 53200 13 Museum of Mountain Flying, Missoula, MT
2012 FIMR 53610 23 Shearwater Aviation Museum, Shearwater, NS

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