Douglas A-26C Invader

Here is a Douglas A-26C invader project that can be either returned to flight or made into a museum exhibit.



Constructed as an A-26C-50-DT by Douglas at Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA and given the USAF serial of 44-35898, it served with the US air force into the 1950s before being bought by Lear inc the maker of the Lear jet business aircraft.



In 1968-1969 it was flown by John Lear, the famous CIA pilot and son of Bill Lear in the unlimited category of the Reno air races as #76 where it placed 5th at 290.55 mph on a closed circuit race with a gross weight of over 21,000lbs.


Shortly after it was sold to Airspray inc and used for many years as a fire bomber in the United states and Canada with the name and art work of "Holy Smoke".

After retirement in 2004 it was sold to a private operator and flown to Australia where it was to be refurbished for the airshow circuit.



After this work commenced it was found that the retardant tank installed by Airspray years earlier which was placed over the rear main carry through spar that ran through the fuselage, had caused corrosion to the rear main carry through spar web and this section needed to be replaced.



Though some restoration work was completed it was later stopped to focus on another project and the aircraft was sold to a private collector who stored the aircraft on his property.

There is corrosion around the hopper tank filler that will need to be repaired and some corrosion in the lower rear fuselage and some minor hangar rash but it is otherwise a very solid project for an 81 year old aircraft.

This aircraft is now for sale again as a complete aircraft, minus the propellers, complete with log books, the air frame is currently disassembled and would need a full restoration to fly again.



Two engines with TTR but out of calendar time. the R-2800 engines were last run in 2014, drained and inhibited.

Two sets of paddle type propellers can be made available but they would need to be re-profiled for use on the A-26.

Currently the fuselage sits on a trailer, the wings and engines would need to be moved on a low leader and the remaining parts are in a container.



Located in Australia, can be shipped anywhere in the world at buyers expense.

Asking $68,000 USD.