Delivered to the US Navy as R6D-1 Bu131611 in 1953. Redesignated as a C-118B in 1962. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB in 1977. Sold and moved to the Allied Aircraft Sales yard in 1988. Registered as N821CS in 1989 then HK-3644X in 1991 and N680AF in 2004. Stored at Bucaramanga, Colombia by 2007. Moved to near Curití, Santander, Colombia by 2015 and preserved as the Aero Hotel.

Photographer Paolo Rollino

The aircraft arrived at Davis-Monthan for storage in June 1977 its last active duty station having been NAS Keflavik, hence the truncated marking AVIK on the fin. It was civilianised as N821CS in 1989 and in 1991 went to Columbia as HK-3644X, serving with Aeronorte and Lineas Aereas Suramericanas. It returned to the US register as N680AG in 2004 but lapsed into dereliction at Lebrija -Palonegro Airport, Colombia, until resurrected as the Aero Hotel at an off-airfield site at Curití, Santander, Colombia. (See photos on this web site).

Firing up and ready to go !! As USAF 53-3255, this aircraft flew Sgt Elvis Presley home from Germany for his discharge, with a refuelling stop at Prestwick on 3 March 1960, his only time on British soil.