Summary

• Elvis Presley, one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century, owned multiple private jets.
• The Convair 880, named "Lisa Marie" after his daughter, was purchased in 1975 and underwent extensive customization.
• Two Lockheed JetStars were added to Elvis's fleet in 1975 and 1976 before they were retired after the star's death.

It is no secret that a career in the entertainment industry can earn you millions of dollars every year. This is often reflected by the mansions, cars, and luxury items purchased by artists, actors, and other celebrities. Many have gone on to purchase their own private jets for more comfort and convenience when traveling around the world.

The King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, was no different. He enjoyed an illustrious career that saw him gain recognition as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Like many other celebrities, Elvis loved traveling in style. From the start of his music career in the 1950s until his death in 1977, the singer and actor owned three private jets. One of them, a Convair 880, is a popular attraction in the United States.

Elvis Presley's first private jet

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935. At age 13, Presley and his family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where his musical career took off. In January 1956, RCA Records released Heartbreak Hotel, which immediately became number one on the charts. Television success followed, and Presley made his first movie, "Love Me Tender."

In 1958, Presley became eligible for the military draft, serving on a US Army base in Friedberg, Germany. After his military service, Presley picked up his music and film career where he had left off. Elvis starred in 33 successful films and sold over one billion records worldwide, making him the best-selling solo artist, according to the Guinness World Records. He also received 14 Grammy Award nominations and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1971 at the age of 36.

Four years after receiving the special merit, Elvis Presley purchased his first private jet, a Convair 880. The aircraft was 15 years old at the time, and he reportedly purchased it for $250,000. It was first delivered to Delta Air Lines in October 1961 with registration N8809E.

It was later registered as N880EP after the musical star took it up. After buying the plane, which he called "Lisa Marie" after his daughter, Elvis spent the next six months and about $800,000 having it fitted out the way he wanted. He first flew the customized jet on November 27, 1975, to Las Vegas, where he was performing for about two weeks.

Flying the Convair around the US

Built by the Convair division of General Dynamics, the Convair 880 was designed to compete with the Douglas DC-8 and Boeing 707. While it was smaller and faster, it sold poorly. During its three-year production between 1959 and 1962, only 65 examples were built.

The plan was to use the aircraft to fly Elvis and his entourage around the United States while on tour. The "Flying Graceland," as it was nicknamed, took the star to concerts and family vacations. According to the Graceland Blog, one of Elvis' most memorable flights on the Convair was with Lisa Marie Presley. Having realized that his daughter had never experienced a winter with real snow in Memphis, he flew her to Denver, Colorado, and played in the snow before returning to Graceland.

The customization of the aircraft included fitting it with two half baths, a lounge area, a conference room, a master bedroom, and a sitting room, which could be turned into a guest bedroom. The interior followed a blue, green, and gold color scheme, with gold-plated belt buckles and accessories. It also had suede sofas, leather-topped tables, a quadraphonic 8-track stereo system, and other luxurious amenities.

Elvis Presley's other aircraft

While Lisa Marie was being refurbished, Elvis purchased a Lockheed JetStar business jet with a capacity of up to ten passengers. The Lockheed JetStar differed from other private jets as it was powered by four rear-mounted engines and had slipper-style fuel tanks on the wings.

It was built initially for what Lockheed hoped would be a military contract. However, when the military had to cut its budget, one of the first things they did was to scrap any plans for the JetStar.

Rather than abandoning the project, Lockheed tried to sell the aircraft to the public. The first JetStar flew in 1960, and a year later, deliveries began. In total, during its production run, Lockheed built 202 planes, with the last one being delivered in 1978. Elvis first flew in the aircraft he had named "Hound Dog II" in October 1975. He paid around $900,000 for his second aircraft, which was registered as N777EP.

The Hound Dog II did not require significant modifications, but Elvis still made some adjustments to the cabin. He fitted it with accessories similar to the Lisa Marie and got blue, green, and yellow seats for the cabin.

Elvis bought another JetStar in 1976. With registration, N440RM, it was more striking than the other two, with pink velvet seats and a vivid red livery.

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Where are Elvis' private jets now?

Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42. This came just about a year after purchasing his third private jet. Following his death, the Convair 880 and the Hound Dog II remained grounded, with the second JetStar being sent to an aircraft storage facility in Roswell, New Mexico.

The Lisa Marie was bought by Memphis-based OKC Partnership, who then signed an agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises to put the plane on display at Graceland. Not long after, Hound Dog II also went on display at Graceland. A tour of Elvis' planes is included with all other tour experiences in Graceland.

The third aircraft, now stripped of valuable parts, remained in New Mexico before being auctioned to a private buyer. Having paid almost a quarter of a million dollars for the shell, YouTuber James Webb (Jimmy's World) has been attempting to convert it into an RV. A couple of weeks ago, he drove it out of the workshop for the first time.

What do you think of Elvis Presley's private jets? Have you ever toured any of them? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!