by Dave Weiman
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue
We often hear of small, classic and vintage aircraft being restored, as well as warbird aircraft, but seldom corporate jets. But when names like “Elvis Presley” and “Bill Lear” are associated with the aircraft, exceptions are made.
The 1962 Lockheed L-1329 JetStar (N440RM) once owned by Elvis Presley, and recently sold at auction at Mecum Kissimmee 2023.
Photo Courtesy of Mecum Auctions (www.MECUM.com).
The King of Rock ‘n Roll owned three jet aircraft towards the end of his career. Most notable are the 1958 Convair 880 (N880EP) Elvis purchased in April 1975 and named it after his daughter, “Lisa Marie,” and a 1960 Lockheed L-1329 JetStar (N777EP) Elvis also purchased in 1975 and nicknamed “Hound Dog II.” Both aircraft are now on permanent display at “Graceland” in Memphis, Tennessee.
“Hound Dog” is a twelve-bar blues song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Recorded originally by Big Mama Thornton on August 13, 1952, the best-known version is the July 1956 recording by Elvis Presley, which sold 10 million copies worldwide. This was his best-selling song and is listed as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.”
Elvis reportedly spent more than $800,000 having the Convair remodeled. It featured a living room, conference room, sitting room, and private bedroom, as well as gold-plated seat belts, suede chairs, leather covered tables, 24-karat gold-flecked sinks and more. Elvis also had the Jet Star remodeled with a yellow and green interior. This aircraft was primarily used for flying Elvis’ manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and his staff from city to city during concert tours.
According to an article in People magazine, Elvis’ third aircraft, a 1962 Lockheed L-1329 JetStar (N440RM), which had been parked at the airport in Roswell, New Mexico for the past 40 years, sold at auction for $234,000 on January 8, 2023, which would have been Elvis Presley’s 88th birthday. Presley bought the jet on December 22, 1976, for $840,000. The new owner is James Webb of “Jimmy’s World,” who plans to transform the aircraft into an RV to tour the country and raise funds for charities, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. I think Elvis, being the charitable person he was, would have approved.
Lear 23-003 (N200Y)
Photo Courtesy of Classic Learjet Foundation
Meanwhile, the world’s oldest Lear Jet returned home to Wichita, Kansas where it will be restored to flying condition by “Classic Lear Jet Foundation.”
Lear Jet 23-003 was the third aircraft built by Bill Lear’s fledgling company and the first one to be delivered. The group tackling the restoration has deep ties to the plane and the history it represents. Classic Lear Jet Foundation is made up of current, retired, and former employees of Lear who have admiration and affection for the airplane, the man, the company and its employees, the business jet industry, and the city where it all started in 1962.
Classic Lear Jet Foundation is a non-profit IRS 501(c)(3) corporation. Donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170. For more information see
https://ClassicLear.org or contact Rick Rowe at rick.rowe@classiclear.org/ 316-305-5046.
True, both Elvis’ and Lear’s aircraft are factory-built, conventional aircraft, but they were aircraft used by two people who caught our imaginations…who we admired for their talent and uniqueness…and who made contributions to the world. A fan of both people, I am looking forward to seeing the aircraft once they are fully restored.
