Warbird Information Exchange

Where can I search for an aircraft's history with an obsolete n-number?

You might be able to find some info here. If you do an N number search they should list any current or past aircraft registered under a certain number.


http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/acmain.htm

If it's a really old N#, you may find some success here..tho not a complete
list.. www.aerofiles.com/regs-home.html

_________________
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DBF

I am searching for the history of a c-131 samaritan here in Tulsa. The n number that was last registered is N63280. It was one that the Air Force transfered to the US Navy. It appears to have a large F on the tail as well. All the Navy markings have been painted over.

This link has some info on the plane:

http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php ... &orderby=1

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

The 1998 book "The Convairliners Story" by J.M. Gradidge gives the following information concerning this aircraft:
Given manufacturer's serial number 482, it was ordered for the USAF as C-131E 57-2552 (Convair model 440-71). It was completed on 14 Nov 1957. This aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Representative - Maintenance & Support - San Diego, CA as R4Y-2 BuNo 145963 on 20 Dec 1957. To NAS Anacostia, DC 08 Jan 1958. To Naples, Italy 01 Oct 1958. To Anacostia 04 March 1959. To Andrews AFB, MD 28 Feb 1962. Redesignated as a C-131G 18 Sept 1962. To Washington 05 Aug 1967. To Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment Glenview, IL 21 July 1972. To Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment New Orleans 27 June 1974. To NAS New Orleans 31 Oct 1978. To Naval Air Reserve Unit Norfolk, VA 27 Sept 1979. To Pensacola, FL 24 March 1981. To Memphis, TN 18 April 1984. To MASDC (Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center), Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ 30 Nov 1984. Stricken 02 Feb 1988. Registered to David A. King doing business as Southwest Aircraft, Tucson, AZ July 1991. Purchased by Aviation Consultants, Inc. Albuquerque, NM 23 April 1992. Reregistered as N63280 18 May 1993. Purchased by U.S. Customs Service as N42883 10 December 1996. To Tulsa County Area Vocational School District No. 18 doing business as Tulsa Technology Center.

See August, 1994 issue of Air Classics magazine for a photo of this plane. The caption states: "C-131 N42883 looks a bit worse for wear at Avra Valley Airport, Arizona, during March of this year but actually, the aircraft was fitted with the latest of avionics and used by the DEA for hauling drug loads to court cases."

I personally photographed this plane as N42883 at the Avra Valley Airport (Tucson), AZ in November of 1994.

See http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0009717/M/ for a photo as N63280 taken 20 July 1998 at Tulsa.

Hope this helps!

Todd