One Of Only Seven Airworthy Examples Of The Airplane Known To Exist

Under a cloud of bankruptcy, airplanes at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, OR are being sold one-by-one. So far, a Ford Trimotor that flew the first transcontinental passenger route between New York and San Diego has been sold, and now, a 1945 P-38L Lightning airplane has been placed on the block with a price tag of $6.75 million.

Oregonlive.com reports that the Trimotor went to an undisclosed buyer two weeks ago. The asking price was $1.75 million, but the actual sales price was not revealed. Nor was the creditor who will receive the money.

The P-38 is being listed by Platinum Fighter Sales of Redondo Beach, CA. Broker Simon Brown said it is a "shame" that the airplanes have to be sold, and that the company has already had several inquiries about the aircraft. Brown said the Lightning is one of only seven in airworthy condition known to exist, and "it'll go sooner rather than later."

One of the museum's signature pieces, the famed Spruce Goose, will likely not be sold, according to Robert Lyon, an attorney representing the Aero Club of Southern California which holds title to the massive flying boat. He said the Aero Club is still owed more than $50,000, but at this time could not afford to repossess the aircraft. Its eventual fate is still being negotiated.

(P-38 pictured in file photo. Not aircraft for sale)

FMI: http://evergreenmuseum.org/