Lockheed EC-121K Warning Star - AMC, McClellan, CA - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

Built by Lockheed Aircraft, it was derived from the Lockheed L-1049 'Super Constellation' commercial airliner for use as an airborne picket plane carrying special electronic gear. First developed by the US Navy, a similar variant was produced for the USAF early warning airborne operations. The 552nd AEW and Control Wing began operations with the 'Warning Star' in October 1953. Patrols off the US west coast were flown from McClellan AFB, CA. During the Vietnam War, aircraft from the 552nd operated from airfields in South Vietnam providing early warning and control for aircraft flying missions over North Vietnam during Project 'College Eye'.

This aircraft is a Navy WV-2, BuNo 141309, built by Lockheed Aircraft, Burbank, CA, and delivered to the Navy in August 1956. It served with VW-13, VW-15, and VW-2 at NAS Patuxent River, MD, and in November 1961 was sent to the Pacific Missile Range, NAS Pt Mugu, CA. It was retired to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, in March 1978, and was flown to the museum in April 1983. The museum gave the 'Warning Star' USAF s/n 53-0552 in honor of the 552nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, which was stationed at McClellan AFB 1953-1977.

Specifications:
Crew: 22
Power Plant: 4× 3,250 hp Wright R-3350-35 18-cylinder turbo-compound engines
Dimensions:
- Span: 126' 2"
- Length: 116' 2"
- Height: 27' 0"
Weight:
- Empty: 80,611 lb
- Maximum: 143,600 lb
Performance:
- Speed:
- - Max: 321 mph @ 20,000 ft
- - Cruise:255 mph
- Range: 4,600 miles
- Ceiling: 20,600 ft

Source: aircraft placard
For more info: (visit link)

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Lockheed EC-121K Warning Star Displayed as EC-121D Tail Number: (S/N): BuNo 141309 Displayed as 53-0552 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located at Aerospace Museum of California, McClellan, CA inside / outside: outside Other Information:: Aerospace Museum of California 3200 Freedom Park Drive McClellan, CA 95652 Phone: 916.643.3192 Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. $8.00 Adults $6.00 Senior (65+) $6.00 Youth/Student (13-17) $5.00 Child (6-12) Free Active Military w/ID Free Child 5 & under Free Museum Members Access restrictions: None

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Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
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Date Logged Log User Rating   02/25/2015 FolsomNatural wrote comment for it