The weekend before last, our family took a day trip up to the Grand Canyon. When we decided to leave in the afternoon, we took Hwy. 64 through the South gate toward Williams, AZ. As we drove through the little town of Valle, we saw something that we had never paid attention to before.
We decided to stop in. I must admit that I really didn’t expect much, but I was certainly surprised. Since this post is about the Constellation, I will concentrate on that particular airplane. However, if you would like to find out more about the museum, please click here.
This particular airplane is one of the 10 Constellations ordered by the U.S. Air Force in 1948. They were designated C-121As. Shortly after delivery, 8 of the C-121As (including this one) were involved in the Berlin Airlift. {Lesson plans about the Berlin Airlift from the Truman Library here} The 8 C-121As flew over 5 million miles during the Airlift.
After the Airlift had concluded the C-121As were removed from service and converted to VIP transport. As part of this conversion process, extra windows were added, and weather radar was fitted into the nose. The C-121A was the first type of U.S. Air Force aircraft to be fitted with weather radar.
After the conversion was completed, the aircraft were assigned to various VIPs. The plane that we got to tour was assigned to General Douglas MacArthur and was used by him during his time as the Supreme Commander Allied Powers during the Korean War. He named the aircraft, Bataan, for the peninsula in the Philippines that was the last stronghold of General MacArthur’s troops in defending the islands against the Japanese in 1942.
So, let’s start the tour in the cockpit. I was amazed to hear that the controls are all original, except for one blue dial. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you can see the faint blue dial near the point of light on the left side of the front control panel. That dial is the artificial horizon that the FAA required the museum to install before flying the plane to Valle. Yes, you read correctly… This plane can still fly. I was told that a maintenance crew from their sister facility in Chino, CA comes in to service the engine and start it up occasionally.
Going towards the back from the cockpit is the navigation area. It is also the only seat that we were allowed to sit in.
This is still in the navigation area and just behind the picture with DS8. The kids were allowed to look through the equipment that looked out beneath the plane. That piece of equipment is in the bottom half of the above picture (just above the “e” of Pixie). The kids said that they could see out into the parking lot.
Just towards the back from the navigation area is the galley. It sure looks advanced for the time.
Beyond the galley is the seating for the non-VIPs who might fly with the General. On the other side of the bulkhead that you see near the back of this picture is…
the chair where General MacArthur sat. A large picture was displayed…
showing General MacArthur viewing the battle areas from his chair.
At the back of the plane is a VIP private room that contained a toilet on the left with the sink on the right.
After General MacArthur’s career ended, the Bataan was assigned to the ranking Army General in the Pacific and was based in Hawaii. Another interesting note about this aircraft is that it served as Air Force One twice. Our tour guide told us that it was Air Force One 3 days for President Eisenhower and 1 day for President Nixon.
The Bataan was retired in 1966 and sent to Tucson, AZ for storage, but she was eventually assigned to NASA for use with the Apollo space program. When the Apollo program was cancelled in 1970, this aircraft was sent to a museum in Alabama for display. After sitting outside on display for over 20 years, The Air Museum Planes of Fame gained possession of the aircraft and restored her to flying condition and refurbished her with an exact reproduction of the original VIP interior.
If you ever head up to the Grand Canyon and would like to see a lot of aircraft history (much more than is listed here), don’t forget to stop at The Air Museum Planes of Fame in Valle. The original Planes of Fame Air Museum is located at Chino, CA and also has a wide variety of aircraft.
NOTE: The information for this article was taken from the tour, as well as, a flyer obtained from the museum.
Ann says
Very interesting! Thank you for including so much detail about the Constellation. I had never heard of the plane before reading your post. Sounds like it was a fun and educational visit to the museum.
Naomi says
You’re welcome, Ann! This time around, I am trying to include a lesson of sorts. Not sure if it will happen for each letter, though.
Head Ant says
I really my kids were old enough for things like this; they would learn so much. All in time!
Naomi says
We started taking our kids to museums like this when they were very young, and now, they like to stop at just about every one that we pass.
Heidi says
That sounds like a wonderful experience… I have fond memories of visiting aviation museums with my father. I’ve seen more train museums with my own kids. Transportation is fascinating history!
Naomi says
It sure is nice to have those memories of visiting places with our parents, doesn’t it! We have taken a few train trips but haven’t had the opportunity to visit a true train museum. Sure would like to someday! Transportation history is just amazing, considering that there are still people alive who really only knew horses, trains, and boats.
Martha says
That sounds like a fascinating trip/tour. I have never been out west, but would like to go someday.
A couple years ago we had the opportunity to go to the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, OH. One of the planes we saw there was the Air Force One on which Kennedy was flown back to Washington from Texas and Johnson was inaugurated.
I have participated in ABC’s before and was going to write a post and link tonight, too.
Martha
Naomi says
Wow! That would be neat to see the plane that Kennedy was flown back in!
Both of our kids love history, so we tend to try to incorporate museums into our travel plans when we are able to.
I’m sure that Dawn would love it if you joined back up with the ABCs!