World War II C-60A 42-56050 flew for British West Indian Airways after 1947 registered VP-TAQ. To Canada as CF-TSS in 1953, the aircraft was later registered N5846N and N23M before it was converted to a Learstar I in January 1957. Acquired by 3M (Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing) in 1960, it was registered HB-AMM to operate for the company in Europe. Titles read 3M Company aft of entry door. Returning to the USA as N23M, it was sold as N1040E in 1966 with Sheffield Corp and later Bendix. Sold in 1971, it was registered N706G but crashed September 11, 1975 at Clarendon, Jamaica with a load of marijuana.

Delivered September 3, 1941, USAAF C-57 41-23166 was sold post war as N60200 to Gannett Co (owner of several US newspapers). The aircraft was converted to a Learstar before delivery to Lockport Felt Co (N711L) in 1957. Coming to Canada for Turnbull Elevator in 1962, it was registered CF-CEC. Flying for several other owners until stored at Montreal in 1971, the C of A expired in 1973. By 1988 the aircraft was donated to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, AB. Last moved to Trenton, ON for the National Air Force Museum of Canada where parts were used for the restoration of Hudson FK466.

Continues in dismantled storage at NAFMC having previously been kept at Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Beginning as L-18-14 NC60200, it was taken on by the USAAC as a C-57 41-23166. Reverting to N60200 and then N711L, it flew for Ontario Airways of Portville, NY before being sold to Computing Devices of Canada as CF-CEC in 1968.

Around-the-world tour with Air Challenger titles

US Army Air Force C-60A Lodestar 42-55899 was quickly sold after World War II via the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Variously registered NC17092, N8008 and N600L in 1957 after Westinghouse Electric bought the aircraft in 1956. It was converted to a Learstar II in 1958. Re-registered N608L when bought by The Lincoln National Life in 1964. Later with United Founders Life insurance company, a series of owners followed until it was impounded for drug smuggling in 1975. Pictured with Vintage Aircraft Sales, the registration was kept current until 2013, but the eventual fate is unknown.

author unknown

This aircraft has seen better days. It is being scrapped, the engines have been removed and the interior also

Crashed near Stanwood, Washington during parachuting operations. Control lost due to exceeding the aft CoG limit. Three parachutists struck the tailplane trying to exit the aircraft, one fatally. 10 others died including both crew members. It had been carrying 24 jumpers

Sold in the US as N577X in 1978.

It had been withdrawn from use since Jan 79. I have also seen an entry stating that it was converted to a Gulfstar I in 1959. Was the Learstar II a further conversion?

Overview of the museum's storage yard near the southeast end of the runway, about 1300 metres east of the museum main building. From right to left are DC-3 CF-JWP c/n 9089, B-25 RCAF 5237 c/n 108-47480, Learstar (L-18 Lodestar) CF-CEC c/n 18-2132 and finally hiding at the far left is Beech 18 CF-OME c/n AF-662. None of these aircraft remained in this yard by 2017, but except for the DC-3 their fates are unclear.

Ex USAAF 42-55936. Crashed on approach to Oneonta, NY on 16 March 1984 (as N77777), with 3,000 lbs of marijuana found in the wreckage.

Named "Air Challenger" for a flight around the world.

Named "Air Challenger" for an around the world flight in 1974, which was not completed. Delivered to the USAAF as model 18-56-23, C-60A-5-LO 42-56027. Cvtd to Learstar in 1956. Other regns include NC88744, N88744, N14M, N1414, N505S and CP-2046.