C-54 "Spirit of Freedom" fresh look

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

C-54D 43-17228 "Spirit of Freedom" is now in proper airlift paint. The former Ardco tanker 9015Q, is also now registered N500EJ as was our pervious C-54E.

Special thanks to Akzo-Nobel for the donation of the paint and Crider Aircraft Paint of Mena Arkansas for doing the work.

Things are getting back to normal...

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:21 pm

Great looking ship!

What happened to the remains of the storm damaged aircraft?
Did the insurance company let you keep any parts/furnishings?

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:31 pm

I can't look at a C-54 (especially yours) without thinking about Helga Johnson. I loved how she called it "my airplane." I'm sure she is smiling right now, with Sven.

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sat Oct 23, 2021 8:45 am

The plane just looks great! Kudos to all involved in this project. :drink3:

K5DH · **Posted:** Sat Oct 23, 2021 9:03 am

BEAUTY!!!

Stoney · **Posted:** Sat Oct 23, 2021 9:56 am

got any cockpit shots?

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Sat Oct 23, 2021 4:24 pm

Does the NMUSAF have a DC-4 dressed up like Berlin Airlift aircraft would have looked? I dont recall seeing one there before but maybe its faded from my senior memory.

JohnB · **Posted:** Sat Oct 23, 2021 7:07 pm

I think the only C-54 at Dayton is FDR's plane

Mark Sampson · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:02 pm **Posts:** 301

Did the Airlift C-54s have the pointy radome nose? No matter, you have a beautiful airplane there. Congratulations!

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:00 pm

Looks wonderful; glad to see you guys back in action.

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

No, The USAF Museum only has FDR's C-54 on display.

I dont think so about the radar nose, but I feel like I have seen one in a clip, unsure if it was Berlin or Korea.

Forgotten Field, yes.. We miss Sven and Helga as well. They were a great couple. Helga always told great stories about her time as a girl in Berlin.

We kept the old plane. We are dismantling her for parts. Fortunately, the powerplants and propellers survived unscathed..

Thanks for all the nice compliments, we are glad to be back in action so soon as well.

I didnt take any cockpit shots uploaded, but its largely untouched since its days as N9015Q.

Stoney · **Posted:** Mon Oct 25, 2021 10:32 am

here's one i use to fly

Noha307 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:14 pm

Airlift48 wrote:

We kept the old plane. We are dismantling her for parts. Fortunately, the powerplants and propellers survived unscathed..

Long term, if the plans are to scrap 44-9144, would it be possible to guillotine the nose off and use it as a traveling sit-in exhibit? From the sound of things, the instruments are likely being removed, but if not it's a rare case of a fully equipped and ready to go cockpit that wouldn't need any restoration.

New paint looks great, by the way!

ffuries · **Posted:** Mon Oct 25, 2021 11:57 pm

I remember when a C-54 flew into Rhein Main AB Germany, don't know where it came from or who donated it. It was overhauled and set up for displayed next to the C-47 of the Berlin Airlift Memorial at Rhein Main. I got to help out with some of the clean up and prep work on her, when she first got there. But due to my duty hours I couldn't volunteer as much as I wanted.

We use to do retirement ceremonies in front of the memorial, made for some awesome pictures for those retiring.

Paul Stroud · **Posted:** Tue Oct 26, 2021 4:39 am

ffuries wrote:

I remember when a C-54 flew into Rhein Main AB Germany, don't know where it came from or who donated it. It was overhauled and set up for displayed next to the C-47 of the Berlin Airlift Memorial at Rhein Main. I got to help out with some of the clean up and prep work on her, when she first got there. But due to my duty hours I couldn't volunteer as much as I wanted.

We use to do retirement ceremonies in front of the memorial, made for some awesome pictures for those retiring.

It's 44-9063, some details here

https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/mon ... MemID=1589

You guys did a good job on her :supz:

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C-54 "Spirit of Freedom" fresh look

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