Jet owned by Elvis to be auctioned after sitting 30 years

The Eagle ^ | May 22, 2017 | AP

[deport]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A private jet once owned by Elvis Presley is set to be auctioned
after sitting on a runway in New Mexico for 30 years.

Elvis designed the interior that has gold-ton woodwork, red velvet seats and red shag carpet.
But the red 1962 Lockheed Jetstar has no engine and needs a restoration of its cockpit.

Liveauctioneers.com says the 1962 red Lockheed JetStar was owned by Elvis and his father,
Vernon Presley.

end snip

[onedoug]

Pussy Galore flew one.

[lurk]

The seats were taken from a 1975 Ford Econoline conversion van.

[Cementjungle]

Every now and then someone spots Elvis visiting the plane, proving that as has long been suspected, he is indeed still alive.

[Oil Object Insp]

The bidding has already past $125M and that doesn’t include the 23% bidding premium. I hope someone has put a sharp pencil to what they are doing. It’s going to cost a fair bit to disassemble, move, reassemble, add the cost of hangering, cant really expect to use it as a a money maker outside. restoration perhaps a heavy Buff to leave the original paint. Same goes for sourcing just the engine nacelle pods, let alone the engines (x4). would have to charge alot for tours. Perhaps set it up so people could use it as an exclusive hotel room, “sleep where Elvis slept” someone is either going to loose the farm or make bank

[central_va]

IT could be re-engined

The General Electric CJ610 is a non-afterburning turbojet engine derived from the military J85, and is used on a number of civilian business jets. The model has logged over 16.5 million hours of operation. Civilian versions have powered business jets such as the Learjet 23 and the Hamburger Flugzeugbau HFB-320 Hansa Jet. The engines are also used in the flyable Messerschmitt Me 262 reproductions built by the Me 262 Project in the United States.

[Pontiac]

The bidding has already past $125M and that doesn’t include the 23% bidding premium.

I just checked the latest bid is $126K.

When I first checked it was $10K, so it is climbing fairly quickly. But I would not expect it to go much higher for the reasons you suggested.

[smokingfrog]

https://youtu.be/K21WZK3Zck0

With a starting bid of $10K it must be in rough shape.
I think they have a Jetstar on display at the Texas LBJ ranch.

[wita]

I would say the cockpit pales in comparison to engine issues. I wonder if anyone is doing a 2 engine fan conversion to a jetstar to replace the gas guzzling four original engines? If it is to fly again it will cost a bundle.

[exit82]

It ain’t nothing but a hound dog of a plane.

[Oil Object Insp]

AAI did a twin GE CTE43 conversation (it ruined the look and didn't really increase the real range much),it finally got certified in '86, just in time to be priced right out of the market. Doing another would​ require an ultra rare project friendly DER, not certain what the point would be,. If a person for afford the conversion, they could just pay the fuel bill of the second iteration of the jetstar. I'm with wita, put the money in making the panel new enough someone would trust the thing. I would be ok with the original stuff, YMMV. Weighing in @ #44M, she's really just a ever so slightly wider, though taller (more headroom), and heavier version of a​ Saberliner. Both have solid airframes designed, from a bygone era. A wealthy eccentric collector would be the talk on the ramp, but for that kind of money there are lots of other options. There is a converted and pressurized Lockheed PV-2 that a guy uses as his corporate airplane flying around the Continental US and Caribbean. Nothing turns the heads on the ground or even the air like something classic. I guess if your REALLY​ wealthy you could fly like the guy with red bull, he flys a nearly perfectly restored/maintained Connie. In style. But these kinda stunts are serious money projects. Both of these examples cost lots just to maintain and service. They both have dedicated staff doing so. Nothing makes more thousandaires out of millionaires than a big, heavy, older airplane used for personal transportation. Beats flying public.

[wita]

I’m seeing the light. I think it is the same as lots of Lear jets sitting as silent monuments to jet engine cost, fuel, and maintenance. A lot easier and less costly to rehab an older recip.

[ops33]

USAF flew this aircraft as a C-140. Several were used for Flight Check and navaid calibration. Also did evaluations of air traffic controllers. Call Sign Waxy.

[wardaddy]

Maybe the biggest gas guzzling least efficient private jet ever

I did rock promotion in college late 70s

All those who were on the cusp of real stardom or on the way back down leased these from some outfit in Oklahoma City

Roomy but expensive to run

[lowbridge]

Lets take it for a little spin to Vegas. No engine? No problem. You push, I’ll steer. :-)

[Pontiac]

Nothing makes more thousandaires out of millionaires than a big, heavy, older airplane used for personal transportation. Beats flying public.

Which is why it is all the rage right now to own a share of a private jet.

[Pontiac]

Lets take it for a little spin to Vegas. No engine? No problem. You push, I’ll steer. :-)

Okay

But we have to take turns.

I’ll push downhill you push uphill. ;)