The Lockheed Constellation thread....

[Saracenman]

Danforth kindly sent me a link to this clip - fascinating and exciting!

Lufthansa has formally opened a hangar built in Auburn specifically for the overhaul of a rare Super Constellation Starliner.

The German airline actually bought three of the rare airplanes last year from local aviation enthusiast Maurice Roundy. It contracted Lufthansa Technik in Germany to restore one aircraft back into flying condition using parts from all three of them.

Hundreds of Constellations were produced by Lockheed but only 44 Super Constellations were built. Two of Roundy's were used by Trans World Airlines and the third was used by Lufthansa.

Performing the restoration will be a team of five former Lufthansa aircraft mechanics, along with five active mechanics and engineers from Lufthansa Technik.



somewhat similar in concept to 558's restoration - but even more costly!

what a shame that BA could never support a similar project for Concorde - yeah yeah, impossible i know!

thanks D4th - not sure i can wait three years though!

sm

[Mayfly]

patience may be needed SM......... judging by most projects these days 3 years could well turn into 8

will be really good when restored - lets hope things go well for them

[Dan4th]

SM:

I actually don't believe it'll take them anywhere near the full
three years. I'm guessing they are simply covering their butts.
Look for possibly summer of 2010. Can't truly be compared
with 558 resto because Lufthansa is picking-up the entire tab.
BTW: The Germans haven't totally ruled-out the possibility of
there being TWO Starliners flying. God knows they've got
enough parts! Fly two for a while and then cut back.

Okay, so Aussie Constellation and Breitling Constellation both
flying. Dutch Connie and Kansas City Connie awaiting crew and
aircraft licensing issues. That's FOUR. Lufthansa Starliner makes
FIVE and an outside chance at SIX.

Meanwhile, in the deserts of Arizona sit TWO MORE only needing
someone to throw money at them. Truly, the ones in exile out in
Arizona don't need much. I'm praying for a Connie Convention in
five years or so!

Dan4th

[Mayfly]

I wasn't having a go at or specifically refering to 558 in my comment re 3 years turning into 8, unfortunately it just seems to be the way 'projects' go these days be it space stations, millenium domes, IT upgrades or cosings for olmypics, they all seem to over run both in time &/or finances.

It would be lovely to see the Connie restroration come in on time - I truely wish them well

[Saracenman]

wouldn't the Luftwaffe's Connie(s) be the only civvy Super Connies flying though?

the others already flying aren't supers are they?

sm

edit: a couple of snaps of the Lufte Connie, forwarded to me by Danforth

[Dan4th]

SM:

Actually, they made lots of Super Connies, that was the third generation.

Those ones in the pics are StarLiners, of which they made only 44 examples.

Fourth and LAST generation. High water-mark for prop airliners!

Killed-off by the dreaded 707!

Dan4th

[Mackrick]

You might like this link

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/11/23/319229/lufthansas-restored-starliner-to-be-airborne-in-2011.html

[Saracenman]

more Lufte Connie links:

Ralph's news update with pictures


and N7316C being towed into the hangar:


thanks D4th/Ralph

sm

[Dan4th]

SM et Mackrick:

Seeing all this Connie stuff and hearing SM wax over all contemplative
about BA and Concord(e), I JUST HAVE to wonder if any thought at all
is being given to preserving the VC-10 aircraft as a "goer" when RAF's
done with them.

SUCH a great aircraft! In my personal TOP FIVE!!!!

Is there anyone looking down the road at all?

Also, I hope you Brits don't mind all this space being devoted to "Old Smokey".

She is a lovely girl, though, isn't she?

Dan4th the Murkin

[Saracenman]

Mackrick will say a definite "NO!"

whilst sm prefers "why not?"

[Dan4th]

In my Dreams I see a Connie, VC-10 and (aw, heck!) a Brittania
flying in close formation!

I'll take three Queens in my poker hand any day!

DC-6/7 is a BUS as is/was DC-10!

DC-NINE, on the other hand, was a hotrod much loved
by those who flew her! Take off 15 minutes late, arrive
15 minutes EARLY!

Dan4th

[Saracenman]

what about the DC8 D4th?

far superior to the poo that is the 707

sm

[Dan4th]

SM:

Personally, I preferred the Convair 880!

Over-powered and exciting to fly aboard!

See: B-58 Hustler

707 wasn't "Poo", it was just too "everyman" for me.

Boeing and Douglas tended to design blah aircraft.

Lockheed and Convair, though..........

Aircraft for Pilots and Enthusiasts!

LET'S GO! NOW!

Dan4th

[Mackrick]

Whilst I would love to say yes they will keep a VC10 flying I am sorry to say that I do not think It will happen. There are technical reasons why this would preclude a VC10 continuing to fly beyond its out of service date.
The best that could happen is to preserve an example of the RAF variant maybe in a taxi state.
Don't hold your breath on this one though as none are earmarked for saving at this time.
As for the Britannia XM496 at Kemble is in a ground run state but hasn't been ground run for about 4 years. The guys do turn her engines every few months but the cost of Fuel / Insurance and fire cover means that ground runs are out of the question. As for flight don't think it will ever happen .. sorry.

[Dan4th]

Mackrick aka "Voice of DOOM"!

Yeah, well, but we can DREAM, can't we? Please, Sir? Please?

Dan4th

[Mackrick]

Spoke to the guys at Kemble today and in their words

"There is no amount of money that will get the Brit back in the air. Its amazing that they allowed it to be ferried to Kemble in the first place. It had been sat on the ground in Africa for so long .. has no real records as to what work had ever been done to it since it left airline service. It had been used by drug runners amongst other people. The best we can hope for is to ground run it in the future when and if funds become available."

They are an active group over at kemble and do the best they can with the funds available. A little bit of care and maintenance.

As for the VC10 at the end of the day it will be down to spares. There is a draw down plan and spares recovery plan in place and all but the last 5 are due to be spares recovered. The major stopper other than fatigue would be engines and the lack of hours.

Sorry to be Mr doom and gloom. I would love to see one keep flying but at the end of the day I am being a realist.

[Dan4th]

Rick:

Yeah, I know, you are right

BUT!

"It is the DREAMER who invents the Aeroplane,
and the REALIST who invents the Parachute."

George Bernard Shaw, I think.....

Cheers, etc.

Dan4th

[Mackrick]

The Connie at the Science Museum at Wroughton Swindon Wilts

[Dan4th]

Thanks, Mackrick.........

Ain't she Sweet?

Used by the Stones for their 1973 far-east tour!

Dan4th

[Mackrick]

Need to get back up there with the camera again as the hangar is full of aircraft.
Got a few of the Comet, Gnat, Trident and a few others as well but wont mess this thread up with them.

[Dan4th]

Well then, go mess some Other thread up, okay?

Maybe a Mackrick Thread where you can make
just as big a mess as you want!

Photos! Photos!

Dan4th

[Mackrick]

Plenty of photos already posted (hopefully in the right threads) might create a few new threads when I get round to it.

[Wedgy]

She's only 20 odd miles away from me, so will have to pay her a visit early next year

[RLN]

Well then, go mess some Other thread up, okay?

Maybe a Mackrick Thread where you can make
just as big a mess as you want!

Photos! Photos!

Dan4th

What a good idea. A Mackrick thread for his photos divided into a topic for each aircraft type. Then they would all be in one place.

[Mackrick]

She's only 20 odd miles away from me, so will have to pay her a visit early next year

Sounds like a good place to hold a meeting.... anyone interested ?