Look What Flew In! Museum ‑ Worthy O.C. Airport Visits By: Orange County Communications Department, details regarding Silvaire Luscombe 8-F courtesy of Russ Roberts
The Orange County Airport has enjoyed visits by many unique aircraft over the years, but the last few weeks have taken this to ‘new heights.’ On May 1, a very unusual aircraft made a brief stop. It was the kind of aircraft many aviation fans only ever see in museums - an Autogyro Calidus - a distinctive aircraft known for its compact size and gyroplane design. The pilot stopped in Orange while traveling to Arkansas and paused to refuel before continuing the journey. The model, a 2018 Autogyro USA II Inc. Calidus, drew plenty of interest from those who happened to be at the airport that day. Autogyros are rarely spotted in regular operation.
This brief visit became a memorable moment for local aviation enthusiasts and airport staff.
Less than a month prior, just before our Friday Night Fly-In Movie night, Russ Roberts flew in with a beautiful and rare Silvaire Luscombe 8-F, registered N9900C. This particular aircraft’s story only adds to its unique nature. Assigned serial number S-1, it was the company’s prototype; only 80 model 8-Fs would be made. Purchased by Mr. Roberts’ father in 1960, the aircraft took the family on several excursions around their Alaska home. Unfortunately, a crash would lead to the aircraft disappearing from the Roberts’ lives. Fifty-eight years later, Mr. Roberts discovered the aircraft’s remnants in a Kapowsin, Washington hangar. He began a process of restoration in 2020, with the goal of restoring the plane to the original configuration and appearance it had when first flown in 1956. The labor of love was completed in the summer of 2025, and today he visits airports around the country sharing his story, but our airport was particularly special. “I grew up at the Orange Co. Airport when my folks ran the FBO in the early 70s,” said Roberts. “It was fitting for me to bring the airplane of my Alaska childhood back to the airport where I spent my teenage years and, more importantly, learned to fly,” he added.
Those interested can learn more about the aircraft and Mr. Roberts’ story in a recorded presentation he gave to the Orange County Historical Society in 2024. Residents are encouraged to visit the Orange County Airport, located near Booster Park. Beyond watching skydivers (which is always entertaining), it’s hard to say what might drop in ( note: link leads to an older issue of the Insight; some information may be out of date )!
20 23
OCI May 2026
Powered by FlippingBook