Republic Airlines - McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32CF

N59T / Hybrid Southern-Republic livery worn in 1979-1980 shortly after the SO/NC merger which created Republic. Also more messing around with custom dirt effects and whatnot, based on this image. Not too shabby, I'd say.

Built in 1967, this particular airframe had a varied service life, seeing the colors of 4 different passenger airlines over 17 years (ONA, Air Canada, Southern, and two different Republic liveries - actually quite surprised I was able to find images of the plane in every single livery). In '84 it was sold to the US Navy and converted into a C-9B Skytrain II, serving until 2003 when it was finally retired. Supposedly it's still in use by the USN for ground instruction training more than 50 years after it was first built. I do love me some old birds!