The Lockheed C-141 #66-0177, the "Hanoi Taxi"

     During the brief history of aviation a large number of aircraft types have been particularly "famous." The B-25, B-29, P-51, X-15, C-47, Mitsubishi Zero, MiG (in several flavors), U-2, the Piper Cub, and many others come readily to mind. 
     However, there have been relatively few specific airframes of any particular type that have been famous. Most of the production run of any aircraft type goes into service in near anonymity. They do what they are built to do, whether that means being used to train new pilots, fly passengers or cargo, or fight
wars.
     Even if an aircraft has been part (or the center) of a major event it is highly unlikely you know the tail numbers. Think of the 9-11 crashes. How about TWA Flight 800? The collision of two 747s on Tenerife Island in 1977? Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie? Nixon in China? Do you know the tail numbers? Not likely. Can you remember the tail number of the last airliner you rode on? Even more unlikely. 
     Think of specific aircraft of any type you can remember. The list will likely be fairly short: The Wright Flyer. "The Spirit of St. Louis." "Memphis Belle." "Enola Gay." "Glamorous Glennis." "Friendship 7." The Space Shuttle "Columbia." All of these have two things in common: They were all involved in important "Ëœfirsts,’ and all were referred to by a name, not a tail number. With famous aircraft like these it is the event that you remember more than the specific aircraft, and if you remember anything about the aircraft, it’s more likely you remember the name than the tail
number.
     On May 6, 2006, another famous airframe made its last flight. At the same time it was the last flight for the type. The Lockheed C-141, tail number 66-0177. After 38 years, and almost 40,000 flying hours carrying military. . . . .