Peru days anti narcotics.
It was an LBJ plane.
The U.S. State Department used a specific Convair 580 (also designated as a VC-131H) for counterdrug and logistics operations in Peru, operating under the bureau of international narcotics affairs.
This aircraft, registered as N7146X (serial number 54-2815), was transferred to the Peruvian National Police in 1990, where it was registered as PNP-025.
Registered as N8448H before delivery to the USAF as C-131D 54-2815 in 1954.
Converted to a CV580/VC-131H in 1966 then to the US Navy in 1978.
To the Department of State Bureau of Narcotics as N7146X then to Policia Nacional del Peru as PNP-025 in 1990.
Returned as N7146X and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ in 1993.
Left in 1996. To the United States Marshal Service as N723ES then to the IFL Group in 1998.
Converted to a fire bomber for the Province of Saskatchewan as C-GSKQ in 2008. Still operational in 2025.
Original Airframe: The plane began its life as a U.S. Air Force C-131D.
Conversion: It was heavily modified into a turboprop CV-580 (VC-131H) configuration.
Original Airframe: The plane began its life as a U.S. Air Force C-131D.
Conversion: It was heavily modified into a turboprop CV-580 (VC-131H) configuration.
State Department Service: Operated under the Bureau of Narcotics (now the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs) in the Andean counterdrug theater, after which it transferred to Peruvian police operations.
Later Usage and Status
After being returned to the United States in the mid-1990s, the aircraft was subsequently used by the U.S. Marshal Service (registered as N723ES) and eventually underwent conversion to become an aerial firefighting tanker in Canada.
This one was certainly built sturdily. Interesting history.
ReplyDeleteI did maintenance on SKQ for 15 years, it goes by tanker number 475 in Saskatchewan. It did carry 1 US president as he used it as a back up airplane for 1 day to get into a smaller airport. When Sk bought them they were all refitted, rewired, new skins where required, zero inspection times, Chelton navigation (upgraded now to all Garmin now). We bought 5 total but 472 crashed with a fatality in our first few months of operating during trading. 471, 473, 474 and 475. Front air stair system was removed, interiors and pressurization gutted, retardant tanks fitted with average loads around the 1,800 to 1,900 gal.
ReplyDeletewow, thank you for the information!
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