VC-9C – Air Mobility Command Museum (2024)

Great to see that all 3 of the old VC9Cs are being taken care of. I was a reservest at Scott AFB during their phase out and I spent many of hours on all 3 of these planes 81 82 and 83 as an E4 crew chief that came off another old work horse the C130.

Dave Shaver, Asst Crew Chief at Andrews 85-89, FM/FE 89-2001 89 OMS, 99th AS, Whisper Jet was Awsome, great ground and air crews all around. 73-1681 was my baby, lots of time wax on wax off!

I had the pleasure to tour this magnificent aircraft in 1994, upon Vice President Al Gore’s visit to Greenville, Mississippi, (GLH). That visit is memorialized at the Greenville Air Base Museum inside the terminal of the Mid-Delta Regional Airport at Greenville. I am also pleased that VC-9 1682 has a good home at the Air Mobility Command Museum.

I flew many memorable missions on 31682 from June 1979 to March 1987, as an Aircraft Security NCO. The earliest flights had all four ASNCO’s seated just behind the co*ckpit & front galley. After the Radio Operator mod was completed, two of the Security Team remained in the front section and two sat at the rear of the aircraft. I was lucky enough to fly with Vice-Presidents Walter Mondale and George H.W. Bush, both great guys to fly with. Finished up my tour with the 89th MAW with my final Bush mission to my hometown in Nashua, New Hampshire. I was told it was the first time a DC-9 had ever landed at Gore Field, very short runway with narrow taxiways. I remember riding by the Field on my bike as a kid. Aircraft 31682 was a beautiful aircraft, inside and out and never let us down. Glad to see it’s being well maintained for all to enjoy.

Glad to see the Radio Operator position included in the photo gallery. I was a radio operator in 1st MAS from 1980 to 1985 on 1682 and C-135B aircraft.

You have done such a wonderful job of researching the utilization of this special aircraft and making it available to us here. Well done! Where did you find such good info for 1682? Would the same kind of information be available for 1683 here at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in Oregon? Appreciate any help and/or dierection you could give. Thank you…Donn W. Anderson, Docent.

Thanks so much for the update on 1681 and 1683!! Glad they are being treated in an appropriate fashion befitting their history.

Such a beautiful aircraft. I hate that it’s so far from my home, as I’d love to have my granddaughter see it up close. Over approximately 15 years I served as Mechanic, Crew Lead, Supervisor, and finally Department Manager over the 3 aircraft fleet of VC-9C’s during Heavy Maintenance at Lockheed Martin in Greenville, S.C. It was a sad day for me when they retired them. Definitely 3 of the most beautiful aircraft to ever come out of a McDonnell Douglas manufacturing plant. Very low hours on all 3. Still in beautiful condition from the looks of 1682. I wonder where 1681, and 1683 wound up? I know that one of them was auctioned off a couple years ago. I would’ve loved to buy it, and use it for charter flights. Thanks for keeping 1682 out of the bone yard. Too many of the Navy C-9B’s, and Air Force C-9A’s headed that way. Davis-Monthan I assume. Oh well, I miss the good old days.