Welcome to Rolling Boxcar, Inc.
Rolling history to the Vets that helped make it
--- OUR MISSION ---
To celebrate the contributions of military personnel by honoring and supporting them using a highway-adapted vintage C-119 “Flying Boxcar” fuselage repurposed as a traveling Alaska military museum , performance venue and mobile classroom.
--- THE PLAN ---
We have acquired this Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft in Battle Mountain, Nevada. We removed the wings, tails, engines, and landing gear and have relocated it to the rebuild site in McArthur, California. We will soon be mounting the fuselage onto an International AmTran school bus chassis with a diesel engine and auto transmission. The cockpit will remain intact. Once it is mobile, and has been renovated with such upgrades as a new paint scheme, polished aluminum, and nose art, we will drive it to venues like schools, air shows, air races, fairs, VFWs, AMVETS, American Legions, VA hospitals and Veterans Day Parades as a traveling coffee bar, sound stage, museum and mobile classroom complete with instructor and video interpretation. We will be donating to other nonprofits that promote Alaska veterans and their service to our country.
Open and shut case
Open and shut case
Open and shut case
The 60-foot fuselage will be refitted and mounted onto a forty foot school bus chassis. Additional axles will be fitted for stability. Engine and transmission will live in the nose gear well.
The Fuselage
Open and shut case
Open and shut case
The usable parts of the wings, tails, engines, props, and landing gear will be sold, recycled, or repurposed to help fund the project. No scrap aluminum will be sent to recyclers but will be smelted by us.
The Rolling Boxcar
Open and shut case
The Rolling Boxcar
When finished, it will have DOT-approved steering and highway-safe controls. The controls will be engineered for removal, so while on display, veterans can take a trip down memory lane and visitors can experience the plane as it was.
--- THE GOAL ---
Promote the military and a piece of USAF history by telling the story of the C-119s and this particular aircraft, both in its Air Force days and its civilian life, and to honor all veterans who have served our country,
Promote local artists, Alaskan ingenuity, the entrepreneurial spirit, re-purpose, recycle, and sell parts to help fund the project. All aluminum not used to build the Rolling Boxcar (i.e. wings, tails, and tail booms), will be smelted down into aluminum ingots and made into jewelry. This way, people can purchase an actual piece of the aircraft (a far better fate than becoming beer cans). Some parts will even be used to make another C-119 fly again.
Film the entire re-build phase of the project as a documentary to show the efforts that went into the plane’s resurrection. The film will highlight all who have assisted in this ambitious venture. We have contacted film companies with enthusiastic responses.
--- THE VISION ---
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
RIDE ALONG WITH US
RIDE ALONG WITH US
We hope to finish the project by spring of 2021. We foresee our maiden voyage as a trial run in the great state of Alaska, visiting supporters, schools, veteran organizations, and military bases before venturing down the highway to tour the lower 48 states.
RIDE ALONG WITH US
RIDE ALONG WITH US
RIDE ALONG WITH US
A special "guest navigator" opportunity will be made available to a select number of donors who are also capable of helping send updates from the field to help us keep our Facebook page and website current with real time updates as to where the Rolling Boxcar is and where it is headed. After a two or three day leg of a journey, these guest navigators will be responsible for their own trip home.
THE ART GALLERY
RIDE ALONG WITH US
THE ART GALLERY
Inside visitors can view interpretive panels and artwork from local artists, they can buy Alaska roasted coffee at the coffee bar and smelted jewelry from the gift shop. We are even in the middle of designing a sound stage between the two open clam shell doors to have bands play when desired. This deck section will be stow-able when not in use.
AT THE HELM
ON TO THE NEXT SHOW
THE ART GALLERY
Veterans that flew in these aircraft can be photographed in the pilot’s seat, as the cockpit will look as it did in its flying days. Their stories can be shared and documented on the spot for future visitors.
As we travel to schools on the roadside, our mobile classroom will be complete with instructor and a "plane full" of visual aids to help students learn about Alaska military history.
AT THE SHOW
ON TO THE NEXT SHOW
ON TO THE NEXT SHOW
A typical “gig” will consist of showing up at an event like an air show, veterans' BBQ, or other events. The cockpit will have all of its “rolling down the road” equipment removed (by quick disconnect) to restore it into an airplane's cockpit. We will reconfigure the fuselage and open the clamshell doors at the rear to let people inside.
ON TO THE NEXT SHOW
ON TO THE NEXT SHOW
ON TO THE NEXT SHOW
At the end of each event, the cockpit will be reconfigured with steering wheel and all the other controls to make the Rolling Boxcar roadworthy. Artwork will be stowed and our next guest navigator welcomed aboard. Within an hour we can be rolling toward our next event.
Sad but true
Only 1,100 C-119s were built, and those remaining deserve our respect. Most have been shot down, crashed, abandoned, or are on static display at various air museums, Air Force bases, and even cemeteries for war dead. Without resurrection or re-purposing, these planes are destined for the scrap heap.
Too many Boxcars have been lost to time, and finding one suitable for our purposes became more difficult by the day. But we are firm in our belief that N5216R, our Fairchild C-119, represents the highest and best use of this permanently grounded, derelict airframe.
Kaladi Brothers Coffee
The official coffee for Rolling Boxcar...
'Boxcar Betty'
--SOME OF OUR GREAT DONORS--!
All safety equipment donated by:
First aid kits, safety vests and amber warning lights
Sound/insulation material donated by:
Material for the interior quilted panels
GoodTimes Pizza in Palo Cedro, CA
Raven Electric
Your Trusted Electrical Team Since 1978
Honored Bound
Honored Bound is a truly incredible group of folks! RBC is proud to support them.
Chinook Printing Co.
They're a good Anchorage company and they do a great job on our brochures.
AMVETS Post 49
AMVETS Post 49
AMVETS Post 49
AMVETS Post 49
AMVETS Post 49
AMVETS Post 49
Thank you for visiting our site
Rolling Boxcar, Inc is a 501(c)3 Non-profit corporation and not affiliated with any other non-profit corporation.
All donations are tax-deductible
Tax ID Number: 82-3958388