Cessna Plane in Perch

[Divedoggie]

But who put it there?

Yeah, it is very cool that someone took the initiative to place the plane in Perch.
What is amazing is that no one took it back out of there, like he did with the Venus Statue at Blue Hole. Yep, still lamenting the missing statue.
The plane makes diving at Perch worth diving at Perch!

 

[reddiver970]

According to Scuba Diving magazine the plane is a Beechcraft B-18S. It was sunk by retired PADI instuctor Morys "Peaches" Hines.
I have dove Blue Hole and Rock Lake but not Perch, something to look foward to I guess.

 

[Tjack]

Thanks for the info Reddiver, did the article say when it was planted?

Anyone know Morys "Peaches" Hines ? Which shop he was with?

Perch Lake is a great dive thanks to "Peaches"

 

[reddiver970]

No, it didn't say when it was put down. I don't think it says where "Peaches" was from either.

 

[RonFrank]

Well next time we are all down we will have to drink a toast to 'Peaches'. So now we just have to figure out who put the rest of the junk down....

I had forgotten about Venues, we were very close to having it locked up. If we ever do anything like that again we need to make sure it gets locked up. I bet the guy who stole it the first time took it. I know him by face..... no way to prove it other than going to his home.

Stella may know.

 

[ABQdiver]

Don't know Peaches, however I, like all of you can appreciate his efforts.

I don't know who took the Venus statue, but I'm planning another deposit of similar nature soon. Need to find the best location for the new addition and find a way to secure it as permanently as possible so not other buttheads remove it.

stay tune......

 

[RonFrank]

A 12 foot stake with a massive eye bolt on the end securing a titanium chain that is welded....... Actually I can think of all sorts of things topside, throw in 80' of water and I don't have much. I look forward to your solution Kevin.

I can tell you that a 250lbs lift bag is not needed! :balloons:

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I think part of the issue was the statue was made with air-injected cement. Its a common technique for low cost statuary as its weighs less and is easier to move. Too easy underwater.

There are multiple types of epoxies that cure underwater. It might be possible to glue it to a rock or a even series of 18x18 patio blocks stacked. Once cured, it would be rather difficult to remove.

 

[PeachesH]

I am Peaches, the one who put the plane in Perch Lake Santa Rosa, NM. I had a SCUBA store in Albuquerque, NM for 28 years named Watersports, Inc. I am retired now and do not dive anymore. I have 9000 hours underwater and gained this through SCUBA travel, instruction and diving as a Instructor, consultant and diver for the New Mexico State Police Search and Recovery Diving team. I was a PADI Instructor Trainer, IE Coordinator and Examiner. Also a NAUI, SSI and CMAS instructor. I retired in 1998. PADI gave me a great send off at PADI Headquarters for a week. My number at PADI is CD3604. The plane in Perch is as follows: Beech D-18, Horsepower: 450.00, Gross weight:8750, Top Speed: 200, Cruise Speed: 183, Fuel Capacity: 206 The story. In 1987 I was called by a diver I trained who owned Wings of Yesterday in Santa Fe, NM (SF). He called and asked if I would like to buy a plane. Of course I said. He came to ABQ in his plane and flew me to SF to look at it. The plane was in four sections and it was going to scrap. Back in ABQ I contacted some friends who owned a pool company and asked to borrow a couple of their large trailers. With that I went to SF and loaded the pieces and headed back to ABQ. Not knowing what to do with it yet I placed the plane in storage at a friends lot. I did start cleaning it out with the help of several divers for the environment. About a year later, 1988, I called the mayors office in Santa Rosa,NM (SR) and asked permission to place the plane in Perch Lake. It was granted. I might mention prior to this I also built the pier, with the help of divers, that is on the lake. So with the help of others we transported the plane to SR. We placed the sections on the west side close to the lake. I had asked a local tow truck company if they would offer a truck to pick the parts off the trailer. Also I asked another station who had a Semi tow truck for its use. Putting the pieces together was done on Memorial Day Weekend. I had set up a "diving plan" to assemble the plane and launch it into Perch. With the help of two sheet metal journeyman (husband and wife) plus 20 plus divers we started. On the third day we had it all together. I place two 500lb pillow bags on the wings, one on the tail and a 2000lb pillow bag inside. Also two 500lb lift bags on the wings. On the east side of Perch we had the Semi tow truck. On the plane I had a large nylon strap attached to the plane. I also sold inflatables so I had my 14 ft demo at the lake. I went to the tow truck and had the operator extend the cable and holding onto it we boated out to the center of Perch. Divers brought out a heavy line from the plane. I had trouble holding the cable because of the weight - 3/4 dia. I finally hooked up. The tow truck started cranking. The plane did not move. So I asked several divers to sit on the tail. All of a sudden it launched out into the lake as if it was catapulted off a carrier. Of course a loud cheer came from all including spectators. The bags were holding the plane well. I had some divers deflate the inside pillow bag and the plane settled into the smaller bags. The weather was deteriorating and the wind was blowing from the west. With the momentum of the launch and the wind the plane drifted just to the east of the pier. Wow!! I thought. When it arrived to the spot I wanted it sunk - at a whistle I had some divers deflate all of the bags and the plane started to its final landing. One diver was a sky diver and stood in the door as it descended. The nose was down about 20 degrees as it sunk. It settled at 40 feet. Within four hours snails were crawling on it and bass were finding a new home. The purpose was to place an artificial reef in the lake. It was not a toy by any means as stated by one of you. All of the advanced divers were given certification as Artificial Reef Specialist. I donated the plane to SR. So if you wish ask Stella about Peaches. As State Police we put in the grate. And we were instrumental in developing a better entry and exit at Blue Hole. FYI. Blue Hole opened up to divers in 1972. It was a Federal Fish Hatchery. I have on display in my home the landing lights off the plane. I knew that some Colorado Divers had played salvage with the plane tipping it on its back. Who ever was doing that did not know what they were doing. Eventually they got it back on its belly and placed it where it is today unless someone else has screwed it up. Within a week of sinking the plane the antennas were gone. Someone bravely took a knife and cut a long slit in the side. So I hope that all who have dived Perch Lake can enjoy something else besides looking at underwater grass and some fish. By the way thanks for the kudos. You can read more on Peaches Pit Stop Home Page. Cheers Peaches

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Thanks!