PRESS RELEASE
(LAKELAND, FLORIDA – SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo – February 14, 2024) The 50th Anniversary SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo will play host to hundreds of restored vintage aircraft over the week-long event in Lakeland, Florida this April 9-14, 2024. Flying history on display in the air and on the ground during SUN ‘n FUN will include a rare example of the most iconic four-engine transports of the 20th century, the Lockheed VC-121A “MacArthur Bataan.” MacArthur Bataan, built in 1948, is one of only two of its type remaining airworthy in the world.
The VC-121A is more commonly recognized by its commercial aircraft name, Constellation, or simply Connie. With its graceful lines, distinctive tri-tail design, and extensive service with numerous airlines, the Connie is among the most recognized aircraft ever built.
MacArthur Bataan is a Connie with a long career of military and NASA service, was later nearly scrapped after years of outdoor display, and was recently extensively restored to airworthiness by the San Antonio, Texas-based Air Legends Foundation, which currently operates it.
This example of the VC-121 was among several used by the U.S. Air Force in 1949 to fly relief missions over the Atlantic during the Berlin Airlift. During the Korean War it served as the flying command post of General Douglas MacArthur, who named it “MacArthur Bataan” in honor of the Americans and Filipinos who perished during the infamous Bataan Death March of 1942.
Bataan later served to carry many top generals and officials including President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Relegated to the boneyard in 1966, NASA soon repurposed Bataan to serve as a flying test bed used to calibrate ground tracking stations during the Apollo Program.
When that program ended in 1970 it was acquired by the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama, for static outdoor display. In 1993, Ed Maloney, founder of the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California, acquired Bataan and returned it to airworthy status. Painted again in McArthur’s colors, it flew on the air show circuit for a year until Bataan was placed on static display at Planes of Fame’s Valle, Arizona museum location.In 2015, Rod Lewis, owner of Lewis Air Legends and the Air Legends Foundation, purchased Bataan and hired Steve Hinton’s Fighter Rebuilders, located at Chino, to undertake the aircraft’s complete restoration. On June 20, 2023, the Air Legends Foundation proudly saw Bataan’s return to the skies and a month later its air show debut at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Bataan is scheduled to arrive at Lakeland Linder International Airport on Tuesday, April 9th, during the SUN ‘n FUN airshow, and fly in the show again on Wednesday, April 10th. After static display on Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12, it will depart after its appearance in the air show on Saturday, April 13.
As a Navy radioman i worked the Connies that flew the D.E.W.between Midway and Alaska in the early 60’s. Stationed at Barbers Point I was fortunate to fly radio on the Connie on local flights around the islands. I have many fond memories of the Connie.
With 1502 FLMS (MATS) Hickam AFB Hawaii 57-61. 3 yrs did flight line maintenance on Connies. Over the wing refueling. engine maint.Mostly from Navy VR-7 Moffit Field Ca.Beautiful aircraft.
It’s a shame the USAF has so many static aircraft that will never be viewed by the American taxpayer! There should be a govt. Program equal too or greater than the Navy Blue Angel’s or Air Force Thunderbirds expenses in restoring these once great aircraft and bringing these restored aircraft to the viewing American public that paid for them!
Last year I was doing yard work at a house I own in Corona, California, when I heard the distinctive sound of multiple prop engines. Looking up, I was pleasantly surprised to see this same VC-121 flying overhead, likely on a test flight. After watching it for a couple of minutes, I learned online that it had been undergoing restoration at the Chino Airport a few miles away. It is a sleek, beautiful aircraft. My very first plastic model plane at the age of five was a Revell EC-121 kit, so I immediately recognized the familiar shape overhead.