UNITED STATES OWNERS & REGISTRATIONS

     
Although there were a relatively large number of US based C-82 operators, the majority
only had a very few of the aircraft and only for a limited time before getting rid of them.
Steward-Davis Inc. had the largest amount acquired for their Jet-Packet program, followed
by Bankers Life & Casualty Co. who held many it seems for re-sale. Although there were
quite a number of Packets on the civil market only a handful had lasting and eventful careers.
Namely these were TWA's N9701F and Steward-Davis' N6887C, N5102B and N8009E.
Some had short careers as sprayers while most, even though they were registered, just
seemed to languish in storage until eventually scrapped.
George B. Alder Chattanooga, Tennessee
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4834V 45-57733 / 10103 1959-1965. Leased to various operators in Honduras.
Crashed 29 July 1965 near Lermer, Campeche, Mexico.
     
Aviation Facilities Miami, Florida
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N5113B 44-23050 / 10094 -
N5118B 44-23034 / 10078 -
N5119B 44-23025 / 10069 -
N5120B 45-57793 / 10163 -
     
Bankers Life & Casualty Co. Chicago, Illinois
A US insurance company specialising in health and medical care insurance.
Why they were involved with the aviation industry and C-82s is a mystery?
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N5100B 45-57789 / 10159 Presumed scrapped.
N5101B 45-57788 / 10158 To Colombia as HK-583.
N5102B 45-57782 / 10152 1955-1960. Later to New Frontier Airlift Corp.
N5103B 45-57778 / 10148 Presumed scrapped.
N5104B 45-57776 / 10146 Presumed scrapped.
N5105B 45-57775 / 10145 Presumed scrapped.
N5106B 45-57773 / 10143 Presumed scrapped.
N5107B 45-57770 / 10140 Presumed scrapped.
N5108B 45-57765 / 10135 Presumed scrapped.
N5109B 45-57755 / 10125 Presumed scrapped.
N5110B 45-57741 / 10111 Presumed scrapped.
N5111B 44-23053 / 10097 Presumed scrapped.
N5118B 44-23034 / 10078 To Guatemala TG-AXA.
N5119B 44-23025 / 10069 To Guatemala TG-AZA.
N5120B 45-57793 / 10163 To Ohio Oil Co. as TG-OOC-5.
N5121B 45-57794 / 10164 To Mecom Oil Co. as N128E.
N5122B 45-57795 / 10165 To Ohio Oil Co. as TG-OOC-4.
N5123B 45-57808 / 10178 Presumed scrapped.
N5124B 45-57817 / 10187 Presumed scrapped.
N5125B 45-57825 / 10195 Presumed scrapped.
N5126B 45-57800 / 10170 Presumed scrapped.
N5127B 45-57803 / 10173 Presumed scrapped.
N5128B 45-57804 / 10174 Presumed scrapped.
     
Peter Bercut San Francisco, California
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N56582 45-57806 / 10176 1966.
N6243C 44-23030 / 10074 1963-1969.
N6245C 44-23011 / 10055 1963-1969.
N6246C 44-23018 / 10061 1963-1969.
N7850B 44-23054 / 10098 1963-1972.
N7851B 44-23038 / 10082 1963-1972.
     
Big Piney Aviation Inc. Big Piney, Wyoming
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4830V 45-57763 / 10133 1961-1964. Aerial sprayer conversion.
     
Boothe Leasing Corp. San Francisco, California
No details at present but they appear to have close ties
with United Heckathorn Corp.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4829V 44-23029 / 10073 1956-1959.
N4832V 44-23026 / 10070 1956. Crashed 8 August 1956 at Boca Raton, Florida.
     
Francis L. Duncan Miami, Florida
Appears to be the Miami-based US agent for Brazilian operator
Cruzeiro do Sul and their C-82 purchases.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
unknown 45-57745 / 10115 1958 to Brazil as PP-CEH.
unknown 45-57774 / 10144 1958 to Brazil as PP-CEE.
unknown 45-57786 / 10156 1958 to Brazil as PP-CEJ.
unknown 45-57810 / 10180 1958 to Brazil as PP-CEM.
N6247C 45-57830 / 10200 1957 to Brazil as PP-CEF.
N7853B 45-57771 / 10141 1958 to Brazil as PP-CEG.
N7854B 45-57815 / 10185 1958 to Brazil as PP-CEI.
N7855B 45-57783 / 10153 1959 to Brazil as PP-CEL.
N7857B 45-57812 / 10182 1959 to Brazil as PP-CFF.
     
Florida Aircraft Leasing Corp. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N8009E 44-23027 / 10071 1968-1980.
     
Hawkins & Powers Aviation Inc. Greybull, Wyoming
Very well known (1969 founded), company amongst the aviation community
for flying older piston-engined aircraft in a mainly fire-bombing role. They
have the distinction of being the last company in the world to own and
operate the last flyable C-82, TWA's N9701F. When H&P closed it's doors
in 2005 all three C-82 aircraft went to the Hagerstown Aviation Museum in
Maryland.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N5102B 45-57782 / 10152 1995-2005. Derelict only.
N8009E 44-23027 / 10071 1995-2005. Derelict only.
N9701F 45-57814 / 10184 1992-2005. Last flying C-82 Packet in the world.
     
Interior Airways Inc. Fairbanks, Alaska
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N208M 45-57793 / 10163 1963-1965. Crashed 16 January 1965 on the Yukon Flats, Alaska.
N209M 45-57795 / 10165 1963. Withdrawn from use around 1973, scrapped after 1979.
N5102B 45-57782 / 10152 1965-1973.
     

C-82A N208M taken at Fairbanks Intl. Airport in July, 1964.
Photo: Art Goddard.

Interior Airways used Packets to haul outsized cargoes to remote regions
of Alaska. Seen here is N209M at Fairbanks in October, 1968.
Photo: John P. Stewart.
     
L.B. Smith Aircraft Corp. Miami, Florida
Founded in 1947 at Miami Intl. Airport by company president L.B. Smith, it quickly
became one of the foremost aircraft conversion, overhaul and modification centers
in the United States. They did executive aircraft interiors for many types from the
Douglas DC-3 to the Lockheed Jetstar. Their most famous conversions were the
ex-military Douglas A-26 Invaders as the Smith Tempo I / II executive transports
and the Curtiss C-46 Commando which became the Smith "Super 46". Many C-82
Packets were briefly acquired by L.B. Smith in 1955 where they were de-militarised
for civilian service in Latin America. L.B. Smith was closely associated with a similar
company called Aerodex Inc., who were a CAA approved aircraft repair station.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N2047A 45-57814 / 10184 1955. Later to TWA N9701F.
N2054A 45-57832 / 10202 -
N2055A 44-23023 / 10067 -
N2059A 44-23058 / 10102 -
N2060A 45-57734 / 10104 -
N2063A 48-575 / 10210 1955-1956. Exported to Colombia as HK-913X.
N2065A 45-57802 / 10172 -
N5117B 44-23039 / 10083 -
     
LEBCA International Inc. Miami, Florida
A US-based Bolivian company known as Lineas Expresa Bolivar Cia Anonima
(LEBAC) acquired three aircraft from 1955 for export to Latin America.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N6233C 45-57827 / 10197 For Venezuela as YV-C-LBA, not delivered.
N6234C 45-57828 / 10198 1957 to Peru as OB-WAG-458.
N6235C 45-57829 / 10199 1956 to Colombia as HK-426.
     
Leeward Aeronautical Service Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Owned and operated by Albert J. Leeward, the company later became
Leeward Aeronautical Sales Inc., Miami, Florida.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N6244C 44-22981 / 10025 1955-1957. Exported to Honduran Air Force as FAH-793.
N6247C 45-57830 / 10200 -
N7849B 44-23040 / 10084 1955-1959.
N7852B 44-23013 / 10057 1955-1958. To Lawa Gouldvelden N.V.
N7853B 45-57771 / 10141 -
N7854B 45-57815 / 10185 -
N7855B 45-57783 / 10153 -
N7856B 45-57777 / 10147 -
N7857B 45-57812 / 10182 -
     
M&F Inc. Fairbanks, Alaska
Run by Al and Jean Mosley, this air-freight company has also traded
as Mosley & Freericks and Far North Flying Service. They had a
number of C-82 aircraft before going out of business in 1967.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4829V 44-23029 / 10073 1962-1964. Converted to Jet-Packet 3400A.
Crashed 3 August 1964 in the Granite Mountains, Arkansas.
N7849B 44-23040 / 10084 1959-1967.
N8009E 44-23027 / 10071 1961-1967.
     
M&W Aircraft Leasing Council Bluffs, Iowa
A company run by Ben W. Widtfeldt and Harry S. McCandless where
they appear to have purchased surplus C-82 aircraft directly from the
military for conversion to aerial spraying. United Heckathorn's Sky-
Spray was the main customer. The company appears to have been
originally named as the Whitney-Ben Trading Co. of Calexico, CA.
All aircraft were initially purchased under the company owners names.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4829V 44-23029 / 10073 1955-1956. To United Heckathorn Corp. - SkySpray Inc.
N4830V 45-57763 / 10133 1955. Later to Big Piney Aviation Inc.
N4832V 44-23026 / 10070 1955-1956. To United Heckathorn Corp. - SkySpray Inc.
N4833V 44-23031 / 10075 1955-1960. Lease to SkySpray Inc.
N4834V 45-47733 / 10103 1955-1959. Lease to SkySpray Inc. Sold to George B. Alder.
N4835V 45-57736 / 10106 1955-1956. Lease to SkySpray Inc. Exported to Mexico XB-ZUZ.
N6233C 45-57827 / 10197 1955.
N6235C 45-57829 / 10199 1955.
     
Master Equipment Co. Cheyenne, Wyoming
Founded in 1945 by Ralph Johnson specialising in aircraft agricultural
conversions. Both C-82 aircraft were converted with cargo hold spray
tanks and associated plumbing for aerial spraying of crops etc. Both
were later sold to New Frontier Airlift Corp. in 1961.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4828V 44-23041 / 10085 1956-1961. Aerial sprayer conversion.
N53228 44-23036 / 10080 1957-1961. Aerial sprayer conversion.
     
Mecom Oil Co. Houston, Texas
Founded by John W. Mecom, this company flew several C-82 Packets
in the Middle East in the 1960s in support of oil operations. N127E and
N128E were painted in a light blue livery with orange bands on the nose
and rear booms. N136E was intended for service in Arabia but never left
Long Beach Airport, California.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N127E 45-57780 / 10150 1963-1974. De-registered in 1972.
N128E 45-57794 / 10164 1963-1964. Shot down 19 December 1964 by MiG fighters
near Alexandria, Egypt.
N136E 44-22981 / 10025 1963. Not delivered, scrapped in 1972.
     

Mecom Oil C-82A N127E at RAF Khormaksar, Yemen in 1964.
Photo: Ray Deacon.

Ill-fated Mecom Oil C-82A N128E at RAF Khormaksar, Yemen in 1963.
Photo: Ray Deacon.
     
Montgomery Construction Co. Grove City, Pennsylvania
Acquired one C-82 in 1955 for transporting construction equipment into
remote areas not accessible by road.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4962V 45-57767 / 10137 Exported to Peru in 1957.
     
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) Washington D.C.
Founded in 1915 for the purpose of aviation research, their C-82 was
acquired in 1947 for test and support duties. The NACA became NASA
(National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in 1958 and the C-82
was retired in 1961.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
107 44-23056 / 10100 Carried NASA logos on forward fuselage.
     
New Frontier Airlift Corp. Phoenix, Arizona
See under: Steward-Davis Inc.
     
Northern Air Cargo Inc. Anchorage, Alaska
Alaskan cargo company which used three C-82 aircraft for
specialised cargo duties. All went to aviation personality
Darryl G. Greenamyer in 1988 as grounded airframes.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4752C 48-581 / 10216 1970-1988.
N4753C 48-574 / 10209 1970-1988.
N5102B 45-57782 / 10152 1981-1988.
     

Northern Air Cargo C-82A N4753C at Anchorage, AK. in 1982.
Photo: Andre van Loon Collection.
     
Northern Pacific Transport Inc. Anchorage, Alaska
Originally named as Ball Bros. Inc., they were a commercial fishing company
based in Alaska. One of the partners Albert W. Ball Jr., was also a pilot who
flew the C-82A they had purchased. The aircraft became quite rundown during
it's ownership with Northern Pacific and suffered a series of mishaps one even
saw both booms snapped off in a hard landing! Thankfully the aircraft was
repaired and put back in service.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N9701F 45-57814 / 10184 1978-1987.
     
Harry R. Playford St. Petersburg, Florida
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N2057A 44-23047 / 10091 -
N2060A 45-57734 / 10104 1955-1957.
N2065A 45-57802 / 10172 1955-1957.
     
Royal International Corp. Miami, Florida
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N2060A 45-57734 / 10104 1957-1959. Later to Ohio Oil Co.
N2065A 45-57802 / 10172 1957-1959. Later to Ohio Oil Co.
     
Samuel C. Rudolph Los Angeles, California
A Los Angeles businessman who purchased military surplus C-82 Packets
in 1955. Some purchases were made under S. C. Rudolph Lumber Corp.
Most went to Steward-Davis Inc. & New Frontier Airlift Corp. in 1962.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N5095V 44-23027 / 10071 1956, 1959-1961. Later to N8009E.
N6244C 44-22981 / 10025 1955. To Leeward Aeronautical Service.
N6985C 44-23046 / 10090 1956-1962.
N6989C 44-23015 / 10059 1956-1958. Later to N6887C.
N6990C 44-23001 / 10045 1956-1958.
N6996C 44-23005 / 10049 1956-1962.
N6997C 44-23006 / 10050 1956-1962.
N6998C 44-23009 / 10053 1956-1962.
N6999C 44-23033 / 10077 1956-1962.
N7849B 44-23040 / 10084 1955. To Leeward Aeronautical Service.
N7852B 44-23013 / 10057 1955. To Leeward Aeronautical Service.
     
Robert G. Sholton Anchorage, Alaska
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4752C 48-581 / 10216 1955-1970.
N4753C 48-574 / 10209 1955-1970.
N7849B 44-23040 / 10084 1967-1971.
N8009E 44-23027 / 10071 1967-1968.
     
Donald B. Sittman Miami, Florida
No details at present.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N2054A 45-57832 / 10202 Later to Latin American operators.
     
Smock & Jenner Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio
No details on this company at present other than all their aircraft were purchased straight
out of USAF stocks and all were on sold to Ben Epstein & associates, who were later
known as the Aeronautical Cargo Co.  In 1961 all aircraft ended up with New Frontier
Airlift Corp. stored either in Florida or Arizona.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N74038 44-23017 / 10061 1955-1961.
N74039 45-57764 / 10134 1955-1961.
N74041 44-23032 / 10076 1955-1961.
N74042 44-23037 / 10081 1955-1961.
N74043 44-23043 / 10087 1955-1961.
N74044 45-57792 / 10162 1955-1961.
N74046 44-23008 / 10052 1955-1961.
N74047 44-23012 / 10056 1955-1961.
N74048 44-23052 / 10096 1955-1961.
     
Steward-Davis Inc. Long Beach, California &
New Frontier Airlift Corp. Phoenix, Arizona
Founded in 1946, this company more than any other is the most important and
prominent in the civil service of the C-82 Packet. Initially at Gardena, they moved
to Long Beach in 1962 and began marketing Jet-Packet conversions of the C-82
which involved the addition of a Westinghouse jet engine on the fuselage spine.
Steward-Davis also held the C-82 Type Certificate and owned all C-82 spare parts
which gave them exclusive access to the US and Latin American C-82 markets.
New Frontier Airlift Corp. was created in 1961 in Phoenix, Arizona as a holding
company for the large numbers of aircraft Steward-Davis were buying up. By the
end of the 1960s however, the Jet-Packet scheme had failed to achieve much
success and New Frontier filed for bankruptcy in 1971 with most C-82 aircraft
subsequently scrapped. Steward-Davis continued on in the aviation business
for two more decades on smaller projects in support of larger companies. For
more details see: Steward-Davis Jet-Packet in the side menu.
Registration s/n / msn Jet-Packet conversions & remarks
N1799 45-57756 / 10126 1967-1972. Ex-Mexicana Airlines XA-LOK.
N4828V 44-23041 / 10085 Converted to Skypallet prototype, never flew.
N4833V 44-23031 / 10075 Not converted, to Fairchild-Hiller Corp. N6850A [ntu].
N5095V 44-23027 / 10071 Converted to Jet-Packet 3200 prototype, to N8009E.
N5102B 45-57782 / 10152 Converted to Jet-Packet 1600 then Jet-Packet 1600A.
N53228 44-23036 / 10080 Not converted.
N6985C 44-23046 / 10090 Converted to Jet-Packet 3400.
N6989C 44-23015 / 10059 To N6887C, converted to Jet-Packet 1600 then Jet-Packet 1600A.
N6990C 44-23001 / 10045 Converted to Jet-Packet 1600.
N6996C 44-23005 / 10049 Not converted.
N6997C 44-23006 / 10050 Not converted.
N6998C 44-23009 / 10053 Not converted.
N6999C 44-23033 / 10077 Not converted.
N74038 44-23017 / 10061 Not converted, to Fairchild-Hiller Corp. N6862A [ntu].
N74039 45-57764 / 10134 Not converted, to Fairchild-Hiller Corp. N6781A [ntu].
N74041 44-23032 / 10076 Not converted, to Fairchild-Hiller Corp. N6857A [ntu].
N74042 44-23037 / 10081 Not converted.
N74043 44-23043 / 10087 Not converted, to Fairchild-Hiller Corp. N6769A [ntu].
N74044 45-57792 / 10162 Not converted, to Fairchild-Hiller Corp. N6845A [ntu].
N74046 44-23008 / 10052 Not converted, to Fairchild-Hiller Corp. N6782A [ntu].
N74047 44-23012 / 10056 Not converted, to Fairchild-Hiller Corp. N6856A [ntu].
N74048 44-23052 / 10096 Not converted.
N74127 45-57807 / 10177 1962-1964. Ex-Mexicana Airlines XA-MAW, converted to Skytruck Mk. I
prototype. Crashed 7 November 1964 at Vera Cruz, Mexico.
N7852B 44-23013 / 10057 Not converted.
N93068 45-57766 / 10136 1962-1972. Ex-Mexicana Airlines XA-LOL.
N9701F 45-57814 / 10184 1973. Converted to Jet-Packet 3400A then Jet-Packet 3400B.
unregistered 45-57740 / 10110 1962-1972. Ex-Mexicana Airlines XA-LOJ.
     
Trans World Airlines (TWA) Kansas City, Kansas
The famous American airline operated what is probably the most recognised C-82 Packet
(in TWA livery), from 1956 to 1973 as a "flying repair station" on it's European airline
routes. The C-82 would fly to stranded aircraft with spare parts, replacement engines or
anything else required to get one of TWA's fleet airborne again. N9701F was a very
successful venture from all accounts, reinforced by it's 17 year service to TWA.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N9701F 45-57814 / 10184 TWA fleet number 5551.
     
United Heckathorn Corp. Richmond, California
Founded in 1947, this company had built a reputation as a first class agricultural chemical
supplier. They had assembled a sizeable fleet of 25 aircraft for aerial spraying using the name
SkySpray Inc., a subsidiary company, which included two C-82 Packets. They also leased
N4833V (44-23031), N4834V (45-57733) and N4835V (45-57736) for a period in 1956.
Registration s/n / msn Remarks
N4829V 44-23029 / 10073 1956-1962. Later to M&F Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska.
N4832V 44-23026 / 10070 1956.
     

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