4X-ALC     Curtiss C-46                                                          (c/n 30202)

                                

                                    Originally registered 4X-ACT, this C-46 was another of the aircraft acquired somewhat
                                    clandestinely in 1950 in defiance of the sanctions performed by the British government. 
                                    Like the others it came from Latin America:-:  Mexico (XB-JED) and Panama (RX-138)
                                    before arriving in Israel in 1949 for a company named Al Sam Ltd.      It was almost
                                    immediately transferred to Arkia, the "second" airline of Israel and used on flights to
                                    Eilat on the Gulf of Aqaba.  When acquired by El Al in 1952 it was reregistered -ALC.
                                    Like most of these Israeli C-46s, it was sold to AAXICO  in the 1950s.  The above
                                    shot was taken by my very good friend, the indubitable Peter R. Keating at, I believe,
                                    the old Lod Airport at Tel Aviv, circa 1955.    With AAXICO it was N5141B and then
                                    went to Nicaragua for a while as AN-AIR, and then back to the US as N4198A.
                                    It was withdrawn from use in 1959.