Many T-29's were converted to VIP transports in the 1960's. I was a radio operator on ferry crews for VT-29B from Land Air Corp., Cheyenne, Wyoming to Weisbaden AB, Germany in 1963. These planes went to the various American embassies in Europe.
I was the radio operator on VT-29D #25816 in Rio de Janeiro (JBUSMC) 1972-1974 as well.(it replaced our C-54G)

ANY SUGGESTIONS WHERE I CAN BUY A WOODEN PUT TOGETHER KIT OF THIS WONDERFUL AIRCRAFT? I FIRST MET IT AS A CARGO HANDLER FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES AT OHARE IN LATE 1955 AND HAD A MODEL OF IT THAT HAS LONG SINCE BEEN MISPLACED. LATER I WAS AN OPERATIONS GUY THAT DID THE WEIGHT AND BAL.

As honest an airplane you would want to fly. Flew T 29s, c 131s in various configurations and enjoyed all of it.

The U.S. DOD also flew the 131Fs,Gs and Hs(turboprops) with some carrying up to 60 passengers depending upon configuration. Another feature in these aircraft was the cargo door on the port side aft.

As I remember there were several 'upgrades or modifications' to the original airframe/powerplants. Seems that the last 'factory' model was the 580 (?). The major difference was the upgraded power plants, from radial to constant speed engines/props. A later modification comes out of Canada and is listed as the 5800. They've stretched the body by about a dozen feet, upgraded the engines and now produce three versions--all passenger, half passenger, half freight, or all frieght. Last I heard, you could buy one of these truly 'rivet up' re-manufactured birds for about $7 million--in today's market as good a bargain as I've seen lately! Dick

the engine sub-designation was CB-16.