We should be the king's jet!

[masraum]

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/elvis-presleys-private-jet-is-going-up-for-auction-180981249/

When he bought it for $840,000 in 1976, Elvis Presley’s 1962 Lockheed 1329 JetStar was the cream of the crop, decked out with custom red velvet upholstery, gold-finish hardware, a microwave, a VCR player, a cassette player and other lavish amenities.

These days, however, after sitting at the Roswell Air Center in Roswell, New Mexico, for decades, the plane is a little worse for wear. Mecum Auctions hopes some devoted Elvis superfan will be willing to overlook the aircraft’s condition for a chance to own a piece of the storied singer’s legacy. The plane will be up for grabs during Mecum’s upcoming Kissimmee 2023 auction, scheduled for January 4–15.

Mecum hasn’t shared an estimated pre-auction price for the aircraft, but whoever submits the winning bid will get “a truly rare bird with immense appeal,” per the online listing.

“Elvis and his effect on the music industry are known the world over, and this opportunity for a new owner to acquire an extravagant piece of his aviation past is a momentous occasion with untold room for flights of rock ‘n’ roll fancy,” according to Mecum.

The plane was one of several private jets the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” owned throughout his musical career, including two that are currently on display at Graceland, the 200,000-square-foot museum complex located on the grounds of the late singer’s home in Memphis, Tennessee. It was one of just 202 JetStar airplanes Lockheed made, per Artnet’s Vittoria Benzine.

Faded red and silver paint covers the plane’s exterior. The inside features six plush, swiveling chairs that recline, a couch, a restroom, window shades and wood paneling.

The sale does not include engines or replacement parts, and mechanics have removed the plane’s engines and many of the cockpit components. As such, the JetStar’s new owner won’t be able to fly the plane home, but Mecum promises to help coordinate disassembly and shipping.

The winning bidder will also get a copy of the aircraft security agreement featuring Elvis’ signature, a copy of the bill of sale and the plane’s official Federal Aviation Administration documents.

Lockheed began producing the JetStar in September 1957 which, as Mecum notes, is the same month RCA Records released “Jailhouse Roc.” This executive jet model was popular among “A-listers, recognized dignitaries and star-studded celebrities,” according to Mecum. The planes had four engines and could reach speeds of up to 565 miles per hour.

Elvis bought the plane that’s now up for auction on December 22, 1976, adding it to his collection that already included a custom Convair 880 and another JetStar. The singer kept several pilots on retainer so he could fly around the country whenever he wanted. He used his planes to travel to concerts, venues and appearances, often accompanied by his band, backup groups, manager Tom Parker and members of the so-called Memphis Mafia, or the friends and family members who were always by his side.

Elvis died on August 16, 1977. A Saudi Arabian company purchased the JetStar later that year, per Mecum. From here, the details get a little murky, but Mecum notes that the plane has been stored at the airport in Roswell, New Mexico, for decades.

In recent years, several companies have offered up the plane at auction, including, most recently, GWS Auctions in August. According to that auction house’s listing, Elvis initially purchased the jet for his father, Vernon Presely. At that time, a “very loyal Elvis Presley fan who is over 80 years old” owned the plane and wanted to “see it restored for the world to enjoy,” per GWS Auctions.

GWS Auction had previously offered up the jet in May 2017, when it netted $430,000. The plane hit the auction block again in June 2018. As Collin Woodard writes for Jalopnik, with so many auctions over the last five years, the JetStar is a “plane that no one seems to want.”

[masraum]

Higgin's has got a 61tchin' set of tools. He can fix it. We'll be up and flyin' in chic style in no time.

It's interesting that the plane had previously been owned by the Morton Salt folks.

The first comment for the video on YT is

"Flew on this plane several times when it was owned by Morton Norwich. No purple interior at the time. Flew into a dirt strip at a salt operation in the Brazilian jungle as well as well as another plant on Grand Inagua in the Bahamas. Plane also flew into East Hampton Airport on Long Island. It was one of the first jets to fly into EH (1973-74) and the town lengthened the runway so it could take off with a full load of fuel and fly to Chicago without stopping at Suffolk Airforce base. "

[LWJ]

Pimp my Fly...

[Steve Carlton]

Ran when parked.

[edgemar]

I can't imagine how much it would cost to restore to flying condition.

Millions?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by edgemar

I can't imagine how much it would cost to restore to flying condition.

Millions?

Likely. It will need to be fully dissembled, and all the structure carefully checked and treated for corrosion. Every component will need to be replaced or refurbished. Mostly replace all the avionics, to bring it into modern standards. New engines, and all new interior.

It can be done, but unless some mega Elvis fan has some really deep pockets and like to waste money I don't see it happening.

Throw a paint job on it, clean up the interior, and maybe put it in a museum as a non functional tourist attraction. That will still cost a ton of money and make a 356 restoration seem cheap.

[aschen]

Thant plane will never fly again Im sure, maybe a cosmetic restoration for a museum or theme park, but honestly I cant imagine any reason why anybody should want it other than aluminum recyclers.

Elvis fanatics are reaching burial age, and I think a plane has less emotional connection to elvis as say a car that can be restored for 1 millionth the amount

[masraum]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

4$ engines alone ....goning to ruin most of a lot of millions
paint ?
Avionics?
labor
OHHhhh my
is going to be spendy

Which is why it's gone up for auction several times in the past and is still sitting there looking the way it does.

[Adrian Thompson]

In reality it's probably only suitable for a static display. While Wikipedia claims 'Most original JetStars have been retired, but many 731 JetStars and JetStar IIs are still flying in various roles, mainly as corporate and private jets.' Poking around on line I found this article on AVWeb from December 19 stating that 'Retirement came this week for what is believed to be the last flying Lockheed JetStar.' The original engines don't meet modern noise regulations, You can't just throw different engines in. The need to be correct and approved, an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate in General Aviation terms), I'm sure there's something similar for JetStars, but are 'correct' engines available? Other than for an uber fan who wants it flying just because it's Elvis's plane.

[stevej37]

Maybe Pepsi will buy and restore it for a disgruntled customer.

[Bill Douglas]

Someone mentioned on the other thread aluminium is 28 cents a pound...

I'd turn it into a cafe "Eat like a king."

[rattlsnak]

I sat/flew the only sim left for the JetStar a few years ago at FlightSafety in ATL.. it’s finally been put to rest.. it was insane crazy with just the fuel control levers alone!

[porsche tech]

Riding with the King…BB, that is…

I dreamed I had a good job and I got well paid.
I blew it all at the penny arcade.
A hundred dollars on a Kewpie doll.
No pretty chick is gonna make me crawl.

Get on a TWA to the promised land.
Every woman, child and man
Gets a Cadillac and a great big diamond ring.
Don't you know you're riding with the king?

He's on a mission of mercy to the new frontier,
He's gonna check us all on out of here.
Up to that mansion on a hill
Where you can get your prescription filled.

Get on a TWA to the promised land.
Everybody clap your hands.
And don't you just love the way that he sings?
Don't you know we're riding with the king?
Riding with the king.
Don't you know we're riding with the king?

A tuxedo and shiny 335.
You can see it in his face, the blue never lie.
Tonight everybody's getting their angel wings.
And don't you know we're riding with the king?

I stepped out of Mississippi when I was ten years old
With a suit cut sharp as a razor and a heart made of gold.
I had a guitar hanging just about waist high
And I'm gonna play this thing until the day I die.

Don't you know we're riding with the king?
Don't you know we're riding with the king?
Riding, you're riding with the king.
You're riding, you're riding with the king.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by porsche tech

Riding with the King…BB, that is…

Don't forget to give John Hiatt his due

Clapton and BB did a good cover but JH's is still my go-to.