Super Dc-3 in Benson, AZ

steve dickey · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:18 pm

Found this when I cruised by the Benson, Az airport yesterday. The guy running a fuel truck told me it was caught running drugs a number of years back and has sat here ever since and that it is for sale but I didn't ask how much, not interested anyway. Anybody know anything about Classic Air Transport
other than what the FAA website tells me?

Andy Marden · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:01 am

This C-117 is not what it seems. Serial number 43350 equates to BuNo 39070, which was stored in the Dross Metals yard by AMARG long after N34AH appeared.
N34AH is a former Colombian machine, FAC1632, but I guess its previous identity will never be known.
Andy

Pathfinder · **Joined:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 587

BuNo 39070 (original c/n 10020) as USAAF 42-24158 to US Navy as BuNo 39070 Aug 7, 1943. Rebuilt postwar as R4D-8 and given new c/n 43360

This photo purports to be taken in 1998. That is some rebuild!!

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/pvdac/4856599050/

ChrisK48 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:40 pm **Posts:** 131

According to Nevada corporation records, Classic Air Transport Inc. is Thomas K. Graziano. He has several small aircraft (Ercoupe, Forney F-1, Cessna 172) registered to a P.O. box in Benson.

steve dickey · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2015 10:27 pm

Thanks Chris.

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:26 am

Would be a good candidate for turbine conversion!

Andy Marden · **Posted:** Wed Jan 14, 2015 11:35 am

Pathfinder wrote:

BuNo 39070 (original c/n 10020) as USAAF 42-24158 to US Navy as BuNo 39070 Aug 7, 1943. Rebuilt postwar as R4D-8 and given new c/n 43360

This photo purports to be taken in 1998. That is some rebuild!!

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/pvdac/4856599050/

Sadly I made a typo in my first mail, c/n should read 43360.
However, my point still stands. The aircraft at Benson is NOT the same aircraft as the one in the Tucson yard.
We have two aircraft claiming the same identity.
Andy

Fearless Tower · **Joined:** Thu May 26, 2011 5:14 pm **Posts:** 365

Andy Marden wrote:

Pathfinder wrote:

BuNo 39070 (original c/n 10020) as USAAF 42-24158 to US Navy as BuNo 39070 Aug 7, 1943. Rebuilt postwar as R4D-8 and given new c/n 43360

This photo purports to be taken in 1998. That is some rebuild!!

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/pvdac/4856599050/

Sadly I made a typo in my first mail, c/n should read 43360.
However, my point still stands. The aircraft at Benson is NOT the same aircraft as the one in the Tucson yard.
We have two aircraft claiming the same identity.
Andy

Not suprised - that data plate looks way too new - likely a replacement/reproduction
Definitely some funny business.

Pathfinder · **Joined:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 587

I did not use your text for reference, I used the data plate reading 43360.

Both a/c claim the same pedigree. From birth to AAF to Navy to Civilian to current.

17 years between photos....anything is possible.

If access is possible to the newer plane they should read the original data plate on the post just behind the cp seat.

vernicator · **Joined:** Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:42 am **Posts:** 350

Fouga23 wrote:

Would be a good candidate for turbine conversion!

The turbine mods are only done to the conventional -3s. Jack Conroy put Rolls Royce Darts on a Super several years ago but that was the only one.

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Super Dc-3 in Benson, AZ

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