This aircraft has been in these white markings for about 30 years (since the first half of the 1990s), and is now in need of a repaint. The serial on the tail has completely faded away on both sides.

Previously painted with a blue trim and fake registration N6000V. Was repainted in its original US Army markings in 2011.

Meet SOFIA, NASA's Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy.

This aircraft is widely quoted as XB-DUZ, but it was in fact XB-QUZ (see this photo). When this Conestoga arrived at Pima in 1984, the reg had faded considerably, with the tail of the 'Q' almost entirely gone. Also the 'Q' was very square in shape, making the reg appear as XB-DUZ. In this photo traces of the registration are still visible on the rear fuselage. Delivered to the US Navy as Bu39307 on 19 Oct 1944, but not operated by them. Sold to National Skyway Freight / Flying Tiger Line as NC33308 In Jul 1945, then to Aerovías Azteca as XB-QUZ in 1948. Impounded in the mid 1960s and stored at Bisbee-Douglas, AZ until sold to Ned Robinson on 23 Aug 1972. He donated it to the Pima Air Museum in Jul 1978, delivered in Mar 1984.

Delivered to the US Navy as J4F-2 Bu32976 on 21 Sep 1943. Transferred to Edo Aircraft Corp in Jan 1947 for hull development work. Went through several hull designs, of which this was the last one. The converted Widgeon was nicknamed "Petulant Porpoise" in early 1948, and loaned to NACA (later NASA) from 28 Feb 1950 until 8 Jun 1953. Effective 15 Dec 1952 the US Navy consistently used the non-standard type designation E-175 for this aircraft. Struck off charge 8 Feb 1956 (total time 975 hours) and stored at Norfolk NAS, VA. Delivered to the National Air Museum (Smithsonian) on 15 Sep 1960, but kept in storage. To the Fighter Aircraft Museum on 14 Feb 1977, and again kept in storage. Loaned to the Pima Air Museum in 1987.

It was nice to see this airframe again, 36 years (almost to the day) after I first saw it. It looks quite different now, and time hasn't been very kind to it. In between, this Super DC-3 spent about 15 years with the Colombian AF as FAC1632, from early 1990 until early 2005, when it was acquired by Tom Graziano and parked here at Benson a few months later. The aircraft was sold to another owner in May 2018, but all in all it appears that it has not flown at all since arriving at Benson almost 20 years ago. The faded "Super DC-3" and "Douglas" titles are still visible, but its former red Douglas-style trim has now completely faded away.