Before the Flying Boxcar came the Fairchild C-82 Packet, a bold twin-boom cargo plane that redefined what military airlift could be. Designed near the end of World War II, it featured rear-loading clamshell doors and a spacious fuselage that made loading heavy cargo faster and easier than ever before. Only 223 were built between 1944 and 1948, and despite its potential, the C-82 was underpowered and short-lived. Its challenges, however, led directly to the improved C-119 Flying Boxcar, one of the most successful transport aircraft of its era. MotoArt has preserved the story of one rare survivor, C-82A-10-FA serial number 44-22991, through authentic PlaneTags made from its original aluminum skin, a lasting tribute to the aircraft that bridged wartime innovation and the age of modern airlift.

Read more it on our blog: Fairchild C-82 Packet: The Forgotten Twin-Boom

OUR PLANE'S STORY

MotoArt’s Packet, serial number 44-22991, was built as a C-82A-10-FA and delivered in 1944. By 1950, it had been transferred to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in Ravenna, Ohio, where it served as one of 32 C-82s used for aerodynamic testing and research.

In 1962, aviation preservationist Walter Soplata purchased the aircraft and moved it to his famous property in Newbury, Ohio. For more than sixty years, it stood among the historic aircraft in his private collection, protected from scrapping and preserved for future generations.

Today, MotoArt honors both the aircraft and Walter’s legacy with the Fairchild C-82 Packet PlaneTags, continuing his dream of safeguarding aviation history.

C-82 Packet 44-22991

Characteristics:

• Manufacturer: Fairchild Aircraft
• Model: C-82A Packet
• Serial #: 44-22991
• Crew: 4 (Pilot, Co‑Pilot, Navigator, and Flight Engineer/Loadmaster) 
• Wing Span: 106 ft 5.5 in
• Length: 77 ft 1 in
• Height: 26 ft 4 in

Performance:

• Max Range: 3,875 mi 
• Max Speed: 248  mph
• Ceiling: 21,200 ft
• Empty Weight: 32,500 lb
• Max Takeoff: 54,000 lb
• Rate of Climb: 950 ft/min
• Engine: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R‑2800 Double Wasp radial piston 

From NACA to the Soplata Collection

MotoArt’s Packet, serial number 44-22991, was built as a C-82A-10-FA and delivered in 1944. By 1950, it had been transferred to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in Ravenna, Ohio, where it served as one of 32 C-82s used for aerodynamic testing and research.

In 1962, aviation preservationist Walter Soplata purchased the aircraft and moved it to his famous property in Newbury, Ohio. For more than sixty years, it stood among the historic aircraft in his private collection, protected from scrapping and preserved for future generations.

Today, MotoArt honors both the aircraft and Walter’s legacy with the Fairchild C-82 Packet PlaneTags, continuing his dream of safeguarding aviation history.

C-82 Packet PlaneTags Details

Fairchild C-82 Packet PlaneTags are handcrafted from the original aluminum skin of aircraft 44-22991. Each tag has been cleaned, cut, and finished by the MotoArt team in Torrance, California, ensuring that no two are exactly alike.

A Word from Dave Hall

“Walter Soplata dedicated his life to saving aircraft that others had given up on. We’re grateful for his vision and the care he took to preserve history for people like us to discover decades later. Every PlaneTag we create from his collection is a way of saying thank you for the legacy he left behind.”
— Dave Hall, MotoArt PlaneTags Founder

Own a Piece of Aviation History

This limited release honors one of the most overlooked yet influential aircraft of the postwar era, and the man who made sure it would never be forgotten. Add the Fairchild C-82 Packet PlaneTag to your collection today and celebrate a design that helped shape the evolution of cargo aviation.

Own a Piece of Aviation History

• Douglas C-124C Globemaster II (51-0119) – Nicknamed “Old Shaky,” this heavy-lift transport was destroyed by a tornado before Soplata saved it.
• Boeing KC-97F Stratofreighter (51-0253) – A Cold War tanker used for midair refueling of B-47 and B-52 bombers.
• Douglas DC-7 (N4889C) – Former American Airlines flagship preserved by Soplata and later acquired by MotoArt.
• Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune (BuNo 140436) – U.S. Navy patrol bomber that served during the Cold War era.
• Convair B-36 Peacemaker (42-13571) – One of the largest bombers ever built and centerpiece of Soplata’s collection.
• Sikorsky H-34 Seabat (USN 140121) – Naval helicopter used for anti-submarine and transport missions, later rescued by Soplata.

DISCLAIMER

Perfect Aviation Gift

PlaneTags are: 

• Authentic - made from actual retired aircraft fuselage, not merely stamped metal. 
• Unique -  each PlaneTag bears the color, thickness, and wear and tear from the portion of the fuselage from which it was cut and it is therefore rare to create two identical PlaneTags. 
• Collectible - each one is numbered in a limited edition and comes attached to a display card. 
  
• Versatile - comes with a durable metal ring, strong enough to attach to luggage or keys or display.

*Important Notice – Please Read Carefully

PlaneTags are made from actual retired aircraft fuselage, not merely stamped metal. Because PlaneTags are made from real fuselage, each PlaneTag bears the color, thickness, and wear and tear from the portion of the fuselage from which it was cut and it is therefore rare to create two identical PlaneTags. These variations and imperfections are not product flaws. They are part of the beauty of PlaneTags. As a result, you will not have an option to select the color of your PlaneTag. The images on this website are provided for reference only and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a particular PlaneTag.