02/15/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: This was the 859th DC-6/DC-7 built and was delivered to Western Air Lines of Los Angeles, California, USA, as a DC-6B on August 24, 1957. It was sold to Douglas Aircraft on July 22, 1965 and converted to a freighter in December 1965 by the installation of cargo doors and reinforced floors and unofficially redesignated DC-6AB. In February 1966, it was sold to the Chilean AF and assigned s/n 986. In February 1982, it was purchased by a US broker and reregistered N863TA; it was then sold to the Canadian Conair Aviation Group in April 1982 and converted to an aerial tanker; the Canadian registration is still valid as of this date."