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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Lockheed L-49/L-649/L-749/L-1049/L-1649/C-69 Constellation / C-121 Super Constellation / WV Warning Star / Starliner
    Latest Model:EC-121T Super Constellation
    Last Military Serial:53-0554 USAF
    Construction Number:4369
    Compressed ID:Lockheed EC-121T sn 53-0554 USAF cn...
    Latest Owner or Location:Pima Air and Space Museum, Davis-Monthan AFB (South Side), Tucson, Arizona

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a RC-121D.

    October 1955

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 53-0554.

    September 1963

    Redesignated as EC-121D.

    March 1968

    Became the first USAF EC-121 to reach 20,000 hours.

    September 1970

    Redesignated as EC-121T.
    Redesignated, but the upper radome was not removed.

    15 August 1973


    Photographer: Phillip Dawe
    Notes: 53-0554 - Lockheed EC-121T Warning Star - 552 Airborne Warning and Control Wing - NAS Keflavik -Delivered in October 1955 as an RC-121D. Redesignated EC-121D in September 1963 and became first EC-121 to reach 20,000 flight hours in 1968.

    October 1974

    Transferred to USAF Reserves, Homestead AFB.

    Markings Applied: U.S. AIR FORCE, 30554

    February 1976

    Ferry flight. Delivered to Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ.
    Retired and moved to Davis Monthan for storage.

    26 February 1976

    Transferred to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposal Center (MASDC) with inventory number CK0197.

    1981

    To Pima Air and Space Museum, Davis-Monthan AFB (South Side), Tucson, AZ.
    View the Location Dossier

    March 1990


    Photographer: Tom Tessier
    Notes: At Pima Air Museum, AZ

    11 August 1991


    Photographer: Robert Nichols

    Circa 1996


    Photographer: Ken Videan
    Notes: At the Pima Museum, Arizona.

    9 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    9 September 2011


    Photographer: Mike Henniger

    12 November 2012


    Photographer: Chris Kennedy
    Notes: This is parked in the restoration compound now. Its reportedly going to get re-painted eventually.

    13 March 2017


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Notes: in the Restoration Facility Hanger, Pima Air Museum

    13 March 2017


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Notes: ventral radar (in Restoration Facility Hanger)

    17 October 2019


    Photographer: Richard Talley

    17 October 2019


    Photographer: Richard Talley


    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden

    Internet Sources
    Pima Air and Space Museum
    Ralph M. Pettersens Constellation Survivors Website by Ralph M. Pettersen
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher

    Individual Contributors
    Johnny Comstedt
    Mike Henniger

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    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=17771

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