Douglas DC-3 (N56V)

N56V was manufactured in 1944 for the US Military as a C-53-DO with serial number 4900. It was later sold to Western Airlines and registered as NC18600. In January 1956 it was purchased by Piedmont Airlines and named the Potomac Pacemaker with the registration changed to N56V. It was removed from service in February 1963 and sold to Charlotte Aircraft to be used for spare parts and soon became a derelict. In 1978 it was purchased by the North Carolina Nature Museum in Durham, NC and with the assistance of Piedmont was partially restored and displayed outdoors at the museum on pylons. In 2004 it was purchased by the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC where it is now being restored by volunteers. Plans are to have it completed and ready for static display on Piedmont’s 70th anniversary in February 2018. Photo from the archives of the Piedmont Aviation Historical Society with permission of US Airways {American}.