Home

Peru needs your help to rebuild the only NA50 left in the world!

In November 2018 the Peruvian Air Force ("FAP") contacted Stephen Tucker in California request ing an on-site inspection to see if the NA50 could be restored? Together with Peter Friedman, a restoration specialist in California, Tucker and Friedman traveled to Lima, inspected the aircraft, and determined that it could, in fact, be restored! Stephen Tucker and Peter Friedman removed the NA50 from its pedestal on December 15, 2018, and relocated it to Hangar One. (See pictures below) It was a glorious day and everyone was inspired to begin the restoration. Tucker and Friedman returned to California awaiting the go-ahead.

The FAP would supply the facilities, equipment, and manpower, and the EAA Chapter in Peru agreed to supply the funding. A contract was created and all required signatures were obtained. Tucker and Friedman returned to Peru.

The disassembly finally started on April 11, 2019, and in the next few days the engine and prop were removed, and the wings, tail, and landing gear. The Team was well on the way to full disassembly so Tucker and Friedman returned to California expecting to return to Peru shortly. Tucker was then advised by the EAA in Peru that there were no more funds to continue the restoration, and the entire project was stopped !

The last time Tucker viewed the NA50 was July 17, 2019 and no further restoration has been accomplished due to lack of funding. The NA50 sits in a warehouse today in pieces. (See the picture at the right)

The spirit of Jose Quinones must be heartbroken!

WE NEED FINANCIAL HELP TO COMPLETE THE RESTORATION!
Please click to contact Stephen Tucker

THE NA50 EVENT

THE STORY AND LEGACY OF JOSE QUINONES - HERO OF PERU!

Jose Quinones was a pilot in the Peruvian Air Force. Ecuador attempted to invade Peru in July 1941. Jose Quinones and his fellow pilots flew their NA50 fighter aircraft to the Northern border of Peru to try to stop the invasion. After Quinones' fellow pilots were shot down, Quinones sacrificed his life by flying his crippled aircraft into the Ecuadorian anti-aircraft battery destroying it. His sacrifice so inspired Ecuador that they decided to stop their invasion. In fact, Ecuador recovered the remains of Jose Quinones and respectfully returned them to Peru. The last NA50 aircraft of the original seven produced is in the process of being restored in Peru. It is the only NA50 left in the world. It has been on a pedestal next to the tomb of Jose Quinones at Las Palmas Air Force Base in Lima for nearly sixty years.

It is a National Treasure of Peru as is Jose Quinones.

Peru lives in a state of denial about its abilities. As a society Peru has struggled with a cultural problem that has contributed in slowing their industrial and economic development.

In the last two decades two things have emerged as a source of pride and recognition for the Peruvian people. The first is Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Inca, and one of the most famous architectural examples from this great civilization. Surrounded by lush jungles, the ruins are thought to have been built in the mid-15th century. But it wasn’t until 1911 that American explorer Hiram Bingham discovered the ruins on an expedition sponsored by Yale University and the National Geographic Society, making Machu Picchu a prized destination point for world travelers.

The second is the food. Peruvian food has awakened the taste buds of those same world travelers to new experiences in tantalizing spices, zesty and colorfully decorated plates, and amazing aromas. It’s no wonder people come from all over the world to experience food like Sanguche de Chicharron, Lomo Saltado, Ceviche, Aji de Gallina and many more traditional Peruvian dishes.

Yet in spite of all this Peruvians still struggle to develop their economy. Also hindered by natural disasters like the major earthquake on May 31, 1970 in northern Peru, which killed between 70,000 and 80,000 people, left 140,00 injured, and more than 500,000 homeless, and caused millions of dollars of damage which jeopardized their financial stability.

But let’s look back at some of their Achievements.

Achievements of Peru

In 1908 Peruvian engineer Juan Alberto Grieve designed and built the first car in South America and was praised for its performance and relatively low cost at that time.
Having developed a product absolutely able to compete in the international market, Mr. Grieve sought the sponsorship of the Peruvian Government to build more cars, and talked with President Augusto B. Leguía. Support for his project was immediately denied.
In 1902 Peruvian engineer Pedro Paulet designed his “Torpedo plane”, an aircraft with liquid fuel rocket propulsion.
Almost unknown to most Peruvians Paulet was recognized by NASA’s Werner von Braun as the pioneer for modern day rocketry.

A New Hope

Over 100 years ago

An article was published in the newspaper on August 8, 1915. It talks about developing a Peruvian airplane building industry from the ground up. “Airplane building is not something impossible or very hard to do, as is generally believed in Peru.” Hopefully our government will be convinced that airplanes will be of vital importance in the future. We have to persevere.”

JOSE ABELARDO QUINONES GONZALES - HERO OF PERU!

Jose Abelardo Quinones Gonzales was born on April 22, 1914 in the Pimental district of the city of Chiclayo in Northern Peru, one of three brothers. Jose came from a long line of Spanish and Peruvian aristocracy. He had originally grown up on a farm. He was very bright and adventurous. He grew up in a Catholic family and was well-loved. He loved education and excelled in his studies. While a teenager he assisted a professor with the assembly of gliders. This is where his love of flying began.

By 1933 he had completed his studies with a love of history, science, chemistry, and physics. He even learned English. It was during this time that Jose developed his character and the admiration of his fellow students and teachers. He was virtuous, self-confident, with a continuing desire for self-improvement. Familiarizing himself with many Peruvian aviation pioneers, he saw this future for himself.

JOSE ABELARDO QUINONES GONZALES - PILOT TRAINING

He entered the flight academy in 1935. He soloed after only 4 hours and 40 minutes! He flew every aircraft Peru had, and performed aerobatics in most of them. He graduated as a fighter pilot on January 21, 1939, placing first in the "fighter specialty" earning the "Golden Wing" award. As the graduation ceremony ended the newly-minted flight officers climbed into aircraft for a flight demonstration in front of the President of Peru. When the demonstration ended a single Caproni Ca.113 bi-plane appeared. It was Jose Quinones! He flew down the runway inverted right in front of the reviewing stand at less than two meters! (This is depicted on the reverse of the 10 Sole note below).

He was now 25. His mastery of aviation and aerobatics took him to the aerobatic exhibition in 1940 memorializing the flying feat of his hero Jorge Chavez who had flown across the Alps in 1910 in a Bleriot. (There is a memorial to Chavez at Las Palmas with a replica of the Bleriot.) This was the first exhibition of its kind in Latin America. On January 28, 1941 Quinones was promoted to 1st Lieutenant placing first on the pilot's honor role. He was assigned to the 21st ("XXI") fighter wing, squadron 41.

Between July 5th, when the war started with Ecuador, and July 23rd, when Quinones sacrificed his life, he flew numerous successful missions to intercept Ecuadorian aircraft.

Historical Context of Quinones

The NA50 was specifically built by North American Aviation for the then called Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú (Aeronautical Corps of Peru) in 1939. Only 7 airplanes were built. The NA50 squadron participated in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War of 1941. It is during this war that José Abelardo Quiñones Gonzáles, having the chance to save himself after his aircraft was hit, sacrificed his life in order to save the lives of his fellow pilots by flying his NA50 into the Ecuadorian anti-aircraft battery.

For his heroism, José Quiñones not only appears on the 10 Sole note, but has had numerous streets, squares, and museums named after him all over Peru. In 1974, to commemorate the 1941 sacrifice of Jose Quinones, a special silver coin was created. These have become scarce and are prized by collectors around the world. The original 10 Sole note (seen on the right) is also scarce and difficult to find. The modern 10 Sole note continues with Quinones on the front, but Machu Picchu now on the back. The original issued note (seen on the right) has Quinones flying the Italian Caproni trainer upside down during his 1939 graduation from the flight academy to the sheer delight and surprise of everyone. His classmates had dared him to do it!

HISTORY OF THE NA50 AIRCRAFT IN PERU - "TORITO" THE LITTLE BULL!

The NA50 was the creation of North American Aviation company located in Inglewood, California. Prior to World War 2 many South American countries became interested in small mono-wing fighter aircraft. Most aircraft had been bi-planes left over from World War 1. In fact, one of the training aircraft in Peru for the FAP was the Italian Caproni bi-plane. It was this very aircraft that Quinones flew upside down in his graduation ceremony from flight school, which appears on the reverse of the 10 Sole bank note. (See above)

Seeing this marketing possibility, North American Aviation decided to create a single seat fighter aircraft specifically for export. This became the NA50, and was a derivative of North American's popular 2-seat trainer. They added retractable gear, a much larger engine, four bomb hardpoints, and two .30-caliber machine guns mounted on top of the engine cowl. The plane was rated at approximately 4300 pounds gross weight with the engine producing nearly 875 horsepower.

Peru ordered seven of these aircraft in 1937 with delivery beginning in 1938. Peruvian pilots flew three of them from California to Peru with the remaining four shipped by boat. They formed the "XXI" squadron located at the Northern base at Chiclayo near the Ecuadorian border.

THE NA50 AND THE ECUADOR-PERU WAR OF 1941

On July 5, 1941 Ecuador decided to invade Peru. Peru initially attempted to stop the invasion using outdated aircraft like the Caproni bi-plane, but did little good. Quinones wrote to the Minister of War and pleaded with him to send the XXI squadron against the Ecuadorians. The Minister agreed and authorized Quinones and his fellow pilots to proceed. The battle occurred a few weeks later near the border. The first two NA50s were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire, and Quinones' aircraft was hit. Without any reservation to save himself, thinking only of his fellow pilots, Quinones dove his crippled NA50 straight down into the Ecuadorian battery completely destroying it. The rest is history!

On December 7, 1941, six months after the battle in which Quinones sacrificed his life, America was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. North American had great plans for the NA50. They had fabricated another six for Thailand, but were stopped from shipping and transferred to the US Army Air Corps to be used as combat trainers. They were redesignated NA64. Now that America was in World War 2, she needed modern training aircraft. North American took the basic design of the NA50 and transformed it into the T6/SNJ trainer. They produced thousands during the war and the T6/SNJ trained the pilots who ultimately helped to win World War 2.

THE NA50 EVENT

Peru's NA50 is the only one remaining in the world!

Of the seven NA50 "Torito" aircraft ordered by Peru, three were destroyed in July 1941. Three were decommissioned around 1950 and scrapped. The seventh one has been on the pedestal overlooking the tomb of Jose Quinones for over fifty years at Las Palmas FAP base in Lima, Peru. It is time that this NA50, the last in the world, should be restored to flying status as the best memorial to Jose Quinones!

It is a valuable piece of World Aviation History. In a leap of faith, Stephen Tucker from the United States convinced the Air Force to take it down and put it in a hangar so that the airplane may be restored and fly again. With the technical support, expertise, and mentoring of fellow experts such as Peter Friedman from the United States, we are confident that we can complete this task and make the plane fly once again.

The NA50 Comes Alive!

In order to start the restoration, on December 15, 2018 the NA 50 was removed from it’s pedestal. There was a flourish of activity, then the moment of truth. Could the NA50 be safely removed from its pedestal after nearly 60 years of resting there? The lines were in place and the crane was ready…. and then the NA50 seemed to almost fly off its pedestal as though Jose Quinones had flown it off!

What is the NA50 project all about?

It is an integral Project that revolves around the NA50 restoration in a way that affects the future economy of Peru and the lives of the Peruvian people.
It is a NATIONAL project that integrates multiple entities and aims to fulfill various objectives. Among the most important objectives are to raise awareness among the general public about Peru’s aeronautical legacy and promote the creation of STEM based industries to support GA operations.
It seeks to increase the influence and impact on the Peruvian people. As we see it, this is not a mere aviation project, but something that could change the lives of many people in the country.
The project aims to generate effective and efficient cooperation mechanisms between the State, Private Companies, Universities, and Technical colleges.
It seeks to generate bonds between the Peruvian aviation community and the community in the US.
Many people in Peru involved in the aviation industry were completely sure this Project was impossible to realize. Now a lot of them are starting to believe.
We seek to generate knowledge and experience in Peruvian professionals and students in the design and analysis of aircraft restoration.
The Project seeks to inspire the next generation to not accede to the “it’s not possible” mentality that affects a large portion of Peruvian society

THE NA50 EVENT

From left to right, Gen. Carlos Chavez, Friedman and Tucker get the cockpit open after 57 years! The first person to sit in the cockpit is Gen. Carlos Chavez.

From left to right, the second person into the cockpit was Peter Friedman, and then Stephen Tucker.

Take a Look at Our Restoration Progress

The initial process was to remove the NA50 from the pedestal. We needed to deploy the landing gear first. It dropped just like it was 1941 after 50+ years on the pedestal!

The bolts holding the NA50 to the pedestal are removed. The straps from the crane are set around the prop and fuselage...and away we go! The NA50 settles into a cradle.

The NA50 is transported carefully to Hangar #1 and placed into a more stable cradle.

Start of the Disassembly for Restoration April 2019

Starting on April 10, 2019 the restoration begins by removing various platings and cowling to gain access to the interior.

With cowlings off and associated plating removed, the engine and propeller are removed.

After the engine is removed, the wings are removed along with the main gear, pilot seat, cockpit canopy, etc., exposing the interior of the center section .