Owned by Air Tahoma at the time this picture was taken, this Convair later found a new home in Panama registered as HP-1614CTH to Cargo Three Panama.

Operated by the University of Washington.

US Air Force C-131A Smaratin 52-5783 was transferred to the US Coast Guard in 1976. When the Convairs were retired, 5783 was sold to Quo Vadis Incorporated who registered it as N2493F June 1984 - July 2013.

With HC-131A 5782 parked behind.

In 1987 this Convair was used by the NASA as a Space Shuttle Crew Escape System testbed. It was fitted with a CES (Crew Escape System) mockup on the left side of the rear fuselage. The aircraft was stored here at California City by 1993, and preserved by 1997, reportedly by a set-up called the California Museum of Air and Space.

As of Sep 1987 this Convair was used by the NASA as a Space Shuttle Crew Escape System testbed. This photo still shows the CES (Crew Escape System) mockup that was fitted to the left side of the rear fuselage. The CES was a candidate concept developed to provide crew egress capability during Space Shuttle controlled gliding flight. Actual tests of this system with this Convair began on 20 Nov 1987, whereby life-like dummies were pulled from the modified aircraft's side hatch mockup by tractor rockets. The aircraft had been stored here at California City by 1993, and preserved by 1997, reportedly by a set-up called the California Museum of Air and Space.

Operated by the University of Washington for atmospheric research. I thought the tail was a different colour but in fact its faded and discoloured. Obviously it got a paint job by the time Mark Piacentini photographed it. Also note that there is no observation dome on the fuselage in my photo.

Originally USAF C-131 52-5785 this Convair was transferred to the US Coast Guard in 1976. Pictured in the twilight of it's military service, the aircraft was sold as N27232 in May 1982.

Delivered to the USAF as C-131A 52-5792, this Convair was transferred to the Coast Guard in June 1976. Sold in 1984 as N5575A, it would get a rear cargo door and fly for Cargo Plus and Starship before sold in March 1995 in Mexico . Registered XA-SOG with Aero Internacional, the aircraft was written off in a landing accident at Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico January 24, 1997.

As is obvious, formerly 5794 with the US Coast Guard. It's still there to this day (year 2020) according to their website.

Ex USCG

Transferred from the USAF, where it was serialled 52-5787, Convair HC-131As were a short-term stop-gap for the USCG while awaiting deliveries of HU-25 Guardians.