Photo: Palle Nørby Christensen

Photo: Palle Nørby Christensen

Photo: Palle Nørby Christensen

This C-54 was once owned by Central Air Service and operated as fire fighter in the 1970s. Code 102 and the fire retardant drop tank located on the underside of the belly are a remainder of that time. This drop tank however was later removed but the aircraft remained stored at the Dempsay farm airstrip.

Missing engines and parts and looking a bit forlorn parked in the high grass.

This former fire fighter was parked in the high grass in a corner of Dempsay farm airstrip, Rantoul (KS)

If you look closely you can just make out the faded registration on the rear fuselage of this Lockheed Lodestar. This perticular aircraft was built in 1940 and is owned by D&D Aero since 1976 and based out of this airstrip ever since.

26 Mar 1956: TOS USAF; assigned to 308th Bombardment Wing, Hunter AFB, GA. Unknown date: 98th BW, Lincoln AFB, NE, from which it made its last flight on 7 Dec 1965. It landed at Wichita Airport and turned over to the Mayor. 12/69: Mounted on concrete pole on the west side of town. 16 Mar 1988:Transferred to McConnell AFB, KS, in the charge of the 184th BW. They did some basic restoration and mounted the plane on short pedestals on the base. 7/99: Removed from the pedestals and taken to a hangar for a thorough restoration. 10/99: Moved to a new position in the McConnell Air Park on Rock Road.