From Larry Shapiro for #TBT:
Here are a few more American LaFrance Aero Chief units from my collection, in addition to the Zion unit that was featured earlier. These vehicles represent a fascinating part of fire apparatus history and I'm always excited to share them.
Reg.# 12-1-1314
1969 ALF 900 Series Aero Chief 90 from Elgin, IL. Larry Shapiro photo
Reg.# 8-1-429
1967 ALF 900 Series Aero Chief 90 from LaGrange, IL
Originally delivered as a quint, this Aero Chief had its pump and tank removed. A large equipment compartment replaced the pump. Larry Shapiro photo
Reg.# 14-1-2331
1971 ALF 1000 Series Aero Chief 90 Quint from Libertyville, IL. Larry Shapiro photo
Larry Shapiro photo
Reg.# 14-1-2131
1970 ALF 1000 Series Aero Chief 90 Quint from Rolling Meadows, IL. Larry Shapiro photo
Data and narrative for these photos is from The American LaFrance Aero Chief Project, an incredible effort to preserve the legacy of one of the most iconic fire trucks ever built.
This website is the result of a twelve-year project to document the production and history of the American LaFrance Aero Chief. Introduced in 1962, the Aero Chief remained in production until 1974. A total of 171 platforms were built, available in three lengths: 70', 80', and 90'. Most were built on custom American LaFrance chassis, though several were constructed on commercial chassis as well. Many of them featured pumps, and even more had tandem rear axles.
The photos on this site come from a variety of sources. I have photographed 65 of them, but the rest come from many other photographers, including Glenn Vincent, Mike Martinelli, Scott Berringer, Kevin McKeon, Garry Kadzielawski, Bill Friedrich, Don Feipel, Bill Hattersley, Paul Barrett, Scott Mattson, John Floyd, Al Whitlock, Don Loeb, Dan Decher, Ralph Decker, Jon Umbdenstock, Ron Bogardus, Wayne Sorensen, Chuck Madderom, Richard Bartlett, Dave Stewardson, Ken Wible, John Langley, Todd Lincoln, Dan Jasina, Tom Shepherd, Mark Rzepnicki, Andrew Henry, Mike Bakunis, and many others whose names I may have forgotten. If you've sent me photos and your name isn't listed, please reach out and I'll correct it right away.
Additional photos came from fire departments that once owned these iconic units. To all of these contributors, I owe a huge debt of gratitude. The information on this site will continue to be updated as new details emerge. If you have any more information or photos, I'd love to hear from you. You can contact me via the link at the bottom of the page. Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoy exploring the history of the American LaFrance Aero Chief!
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