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Kirby Grant starred as Skylar King on the 1950's adventure series "Sky King". As "America's Favorite Flying Cowboy", he flew over the Arizona landscape in his aircraft "Songbird". Assisting him were his niece Penny (Gloria Winters), local sheriff Mitch Hargrove (Ewing Mitchell), and in the earlier episodes, his nephew and co-pilot Clipper (Ron Hagerthy). In 1956, the original "Song Bird" was sold and was replaced with a 1956 Cessna 310B (N-number N5348A). The last aircraft used was a 1960 Cessna 310D (s/n 39117). Song Bird III's N-number was N6817T. This plane was only used for promos and not in the actually show. Originally sponsored by Peter Pan Peanut Butter (Derby Foods) and later by Nabisco, the Sky King radio program started on ABC as a 15-minute series in 1947. The show was such a success that the program was increased to a full half hour. The TV show began appearing in 1951 on NBC and by 1952 it was on ABC. But with over 130 episodes, there were enough for frequent reruns and boxed videotapes. |
