Sad News China Doll Out of Service

[JBrawner]

couple of issues ago there was a C-46 listed in "Trade a Plane". It was gorgeous. Polished metal, new paint and interior, new engines and everything. It was listed for sale in Chattanooga , Tn. but the photos had it with a Mexican registration. Has to be the nicest C-46 on the planet!

Any pictures?

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/clsfdspecs/836223 only one on trade a plane

[APG85]

WOW! Some money was put into that one...

[Todd Hackbarth]

See: http://propliners.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/ ... /754106963
http://www.aviacionboliviana.net/civil/LAC/ff973EN.htm
http://www.myaviation.net/search/search ... gnr=CP-973

I found these photos on Airliners.net:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Lineas-A ... 1562583/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Lineas-A ... 1126530/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Frigorif ... 1087270/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled ... 1603524/L/
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... 0179730/L/

Also, see the 15th photo on this link: http://www.michaelprophet.com/Bolivian_Photoalbum2.html
which contains the following history of this aircraft:

LINEAS AEREAS CANEDO LTDA = LAC CP-973 Curtiss C-46D-10-CU 32941 N32227 Delivered as 44-77545 to US Army AF December-1944. Transferred to the USAF in 1947. Bought by Part Inc and reregistered as N32227 March 1969. Sold to Aerovias Las Minas as CP-973 during March 1972. Bought by Transportes Aereos Bolivar 1982. Two year later she changed hands to Aerovias Las Minas again. During 1993 Frigorifico Santa Rita was the proud owner of the Commando. She was seen wfu & stored La Paz Dec 2000.

Todd

[Dan Newcomb]

Just FYI,

Our wing has made the decision to fly China Doll back to Midland and not park her on our ramp. We will try for the first part of March to make the trip. It will probably be her last flight. The CAF’s decision to hangar all aircraft forced our hand. I think it is best for the airplane. She will be missed.

Dan

[Mike]

What a shame, I'll certainly miss her around the SoCal airshows.