Ted Smith (Butler)  Aerostar 601   N1222Z          (c/n  61-0070-129)

                             
    
                                 In 1968 Ted Smith sold his Van Nuys, California based production company to American Cement
                                 Corporation.  Obviously the manufacture of aircraft did not exactly fit in a cement producing com-
                                 pany's portfolio (what WERE they thinking of?) and hence it was quickly sold off to Butler Aviation
                                 (at the time, owners of Mooney) and renamed Aerostar Aircraft Corp. with the intent that prod-
                                 uction would be continued at Mooney's plant in Kerrville, Texas.  In the event this didn't happen
                                 and in 1972 Ted Smith re-acquired the whole kit and caboodle.   When Ted Smith died in 1976
                                 the company was taken over by Piper Aircrsaft Corp, and later sold off yet again to a reincarnation
                                 of Aerostar Aircraft Corporation.  .   Just where this Butler Aerostar was produced, I am not sure.
                                 I have no idea.  It is, however, a straight 601 and is presumably the non pressurized model.
                                 My shot above was at Camarillo, California  in 2000.  I remember attempting to minimize the
                                 protruding tails from the aircraft behind, but clearly i didn't do a very good job!
                                  .