Convair CV-990 – Galileo I
12 April 1973, Collision with a P-3 on finals.
There was a dedication to those on Galileo I on a notice just inside the entranceway on Galileo II, written by the Director of Ames Research Center.
More information here.
Convair CV-990-30A-5 Coronado – Galileo II
In 1985 Galileo II had been in Australia and on the way to New Zealand smoke came out of one of the electronics racks, issuing from it as they flew out of Melbourne and caused a few to stand beside fire-extinguishers until it stopped. A nut had fallen into the unit concerned and destroyed a dozen components. I was asked to service this air sampling instrumentation while it was in Christchurch. The first attempt still left it faulty. I got a flight down to 70 degrees south on a sampling flight and then did some further work. One rather odd IC needed to be changed and knowing the late Clive Rowe had been working on an odd project, contacted him and yes, he had a spare. Once fitted the device now worked for the flight back to the USA.
The instrument to be fixed, with knobs just visible above the seat back
One interesting though obviously a bit late operation was, after first re-installing the instrument for testing, one of the crew who’s job it was, inspected the rack closely with a mirror and torch. A bit late as the offending nut had already fallen and done the damage.
Somewhere on the way south, maybe 60 degrees south
17 (Wed) July 1985, the aircraft was destroyed, no fatalities. Contributing to the severity of the accident was an intense fire fed by leakage from the puncture of a right-wing fuel tank forward of the right main gear. The puncture occurred during the intentional extended roll-out of the aircraft.
Sea Land Air 