In May, the Canadian Air Force Gulf Coast Wing announced the acquisition of an AC-47 that had been stored in a hangar at Atlanta Motor Speedway Airport south of Atlanta since 2020. The aircraft was transported to the Commemorative Air Force Headquarters in Dallas for an initial evaluation and assessment of the required restoration work.
The Gulf Coast Wing decided to tell the story of the AC-47, and the unit’s search led them to an exciting discovery – a C-47 that had been partially configured as an AC-47, located near Atlanta, Georgia, and aptly named spookyThe aircraft was originally transferred to the Navy as R4D-6, serial number 50788, and retired in 1958, registered with the Federal Aviation Administration as N49, and later as N2006J and N235GB, under various owners. It was eventually acquired by the Lone Star Flight Museum in Texas, becoming part of Rick Sharp's Vietnam War Flight Museum collection. In July 2014, the Collins Foundation in Stow, Massachusetts, acquired the aircraft. spooky After overhaul, the aircraft completed its first flight after overhaul on March 29, 2020.
The Canadian Air Force Gulf Coast Wing maintenance team recently traveled to Dallas to officially begin the restoration of their newly acquired AC-47. Although the aircraft has a written and approved inspection procedure, the team plans to perform a very detailed inspection, more thorough than a standard inspection. Fortunately, Spooky's engine was recently overhauled, and no engine rebuild was required. In addition, the landing gear, wheels, and tires are all new or newly refurbished. The team will carefully inspect the flight controls and the entire fuselage, pulling up the floor, opening the panels, and inspecting every fastener, cable, and connection. Now is the ideal time to perform this meticulous work before painting or any interior modifications are made.
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the United States in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His love of aviation began with his uncle, who was an F-104 Starfighter crew chief, and his father, who was a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Linate Airport. In 1999, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue his commercial pilot's license, a move that became permanent. After living in the United States for 24 years, he now flies full time for a Part 91 business airline in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
