The Lockheed Constellation thread....

[Sploosher]

Thanks for posting those pics CR, it just makes you realise how much work is involved............

[Dan4th]

Here's the latest updated report from
Lufthansa Technik on their Super Star
Constellation::::::::::

http://www.lufthansa-technik.com/applications/portal/lhtportal/lhtportal.portal?requestednode=608&_pageLabel=Template5_6&_nfpb=true&webcacheURL=TV_I/Media-Relations-new/Background---Specials/Super-Star/News/Dezember_2011_Structure_Engineering_US.xml

They continue on their mission to build
a better-than-new Connie Starliner, and
perhaps I will get to see it in my lifetime

Too bad our visitor/new forumeer from
back in November hasn't stuck around!

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

Well he last looked in on the 14th of this month, I've sent him a PM so we'll see if he replies!

[Dan4th]

I hope so, but I've heard that Lufthansa
is very tight with allowing photos or any
other information to be released......

MAYBE Connie-Restorer got into some
trouble over sending us those pics!

I HOPE not, but who knows?????????

Danf.

[Connie-Restorer]

Here's some more photos from Auburn, Maine...

Since this shot was taken, many of the fwd skins have been removed and replaced.


The right side showing skin replacement in progress. The green areas are where primer has been temporarily applied in order to protect rivet rows. Eventually, the entire fuselage exterior will be cleaned and primed.


Alot of work was done to the structures of the cockpit and this is an earlier shot. It's further along than this now.


Skin replacements in progress above the fwd cabin area.


Many of the stringers and frames require replacement because of various types of damage.


The two outboard vertical stabalizers nearing completion.


Upper stabalizer tips in work.


Here's the de-ice control panel. It will some day look new.


...As will the rest of the instrument panels.


Happy New Year All

[Dan4th]

For now, I think WOW!!!!!!!!!! is going to
have to cover it........

Thank You, C-R!

I can't EVER get enough Constellation!

But I guess you knew that already.........

Oh, and who controlled the de-icers?

Was it the flight engineer???????????

Danf.

[Connie-Restorer]

I think the de-icer panel was the responsibility of whatever passenger sat in the last seat aft. They were instructed to look out at the tail periodically and if they saw ice building up they were to hit the switches.

[Dan4th]

I think the de-icer panel was the responsibility of whatever passenger sat in the last seat aft. They were instructed to look out at the tail periodically and if they saw ice building up they were to hit the switches.

HA! HA! HA!

Did that passenger get a Reduced Fare??????????



Danf.

[MOD]

Thanks for those excellent photos and the PM C-R.

A Happy New Year to all of you working on this project.

EDIT: That is not Restoration that is a hand-made REBUILD


Ian

[Xplumberlives]

Thanks for that informative update C.R!

[Dan4th]

I know this is a Military Constellation, but I
thought I'd put this here with the others.....

This EC-121 has been sitting for quite a while
awaiting approval for a short ferry flight to
the Yank's Museum in Chino, California, and
it finally happened yesterday.

This one spent a large part of her service life
stationed in Iceland, so I'm sure she paid visits
to the UK many times::::::::::::::::



There are many contradictions in what you
hear concerning whether or not she will
ever fly again, but given what they had to
do for the ferry flight, I can't imagine they
wouldn't at least TRY to keep her in the air!

She's a tough, battle-scarred old bird!

Danf.

EDIT: Vid is Back Up!

[Xplumberlives]

I hope they do try to continue her flying career!

[Sploosher]

nice find Dan4th........................

[Dan4th]

I hope they do try to continue her flying career!

I expect it will boil-down to matters financial.....

What Doesn't??????????

Not as x-pensive to keep as a Vulcan, but it still
will take $$$$$$$$$$$ to keep her flying!

FAA requirements just for the one-hour ferry hop
took over Four YEARS!

And she is now a fully-functional aircraft

Danf.

[Ducati Boy]

I hope they do try to continue her flying career!

I expect it will boil-down to matters financial.....

What Doesn't??????????

Not as x-pensive to keep as a Vulcan, but it still
will take $$$$$$$$$$$ to keep her flying!

FAA requirements just for the one-hour ferry hop
took over Four YEARS!

And she is now a fully-functional aircraft

Danf.

Costs for a restoration of a Connie are probably easier to calculate, given its not the first and is not a complex category like the Vulcan.

But with skin off work of that magnitude and all the hours required to do what appears a nut, bolt and rivet re-build, I wouldn't take a bet on it being any cheaper than the Vulcan just yet D4th.

Be lovely when its done and good luck to them, definately my second favourite 4 engine prop heavy, Bristol Brittania is of course No.1.

[Dan4th]

Actually, Pat, the FAA made them do
SO MUCH just for that 90-minute hop,
I think she's most of the way to being
certified for regular flights!

Here's another vid::::::::::::::::



If they can get someone to underwrite
a regular maintenance schedule and
some further resto work, it could just
maybe happen

Lots of hours on that airframe, though......

BTW: Is there ANY Brittania anywhere
that could be made to fly?

I know they never made many of them.....

Bad Timing

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

B - ooooooo - ti - FULL!

Great video Mr West!

[Gully]

@Dan4th

Can't see a Britannia ever returning to flight, judging by the list of survivors published in Jets Monthly towards the end of last year, but one of the best preserved examples is the last to fly - landing at Kemble in 1997 - XM496. The preservation society's website is here: http://www.xm496.com/index.php

Gully

[Sploosher]

Thanks for the link Gully.....

but I did note an error on the home page

namely this.

On14th October 1997 XM496 returned to the UK and landed at Kemble, now Cotswold Airport, and this was the last last flight by a Bristol Britannia anywhere in the world. It is the only survivor of the original twenty-three strong RAF Britannia fleet.

I do believe there is one at Cosford

[Ducati Boy]

@Dan4th

Can't see a Britannia ever returning to flight, judging by the list of survivors published in Jets Monthly towards the end of last year, but one of the best preserved examples is the last to fly - landing at Kemble in 1997 - XM496. The preservation society's website is here: http://www.xm496.com/index.php

Gully

A true example of if it looks right it is. First large aircraft I ever marshalled, in to a very tight spot too.
Seemed immense at the time, with those 14 foot or so props. Flew UK Singapore twice in a passenger/freight Brit, smoothest most comfortable flight across the Indian Ocean, marvellous old bird. Shame there are non-flyable

[Dan4th]

You know, Pat, Lockheed made four
Constellation Turboprops, two each
for the Air Force and Navy....



Wish they'd made a few more!

Danf.

[Ducati Boy]

Connie turbo prop lurverly You Yanks obviously got the hint from the Brits eventually. Shame theres none flying.

[Cluny]

Thanks for the link Gully.....

but I did note an error on the home page

namely this.

On14th October 1997 XM496 returned to the UK and landed at Kemble, now Cotswold Airport, and this was the last last flight by a Bristol Britannia anywhere in the world. It is the only survivor of the original twenty-three strong RAF Britannia fleet.

I do believe there is one at Cosford

IIRC Cosford example never flew for the RAF , its a former BOAC aircraft and formed part of the British Airways Collection at Cosford till BA pulled the plug a couple of years ago . It was repainted into an RAF Transport Command scheme after the RAF Museum took her on

[Dan4th]

Connie turbo prop lurverly You Yanks obviously got the hint from the Brits eventually. Shame theres none flying.

The "Plan", actually, was that the last Connie,
the Starliner, would be a turboprop. The ones
that were built for the military evidently were
great performers.....

But it was the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8
which were looming on the horizon which killed
the turboprop Constellations.

It was the big delay in its introduction vs the
impending Jet Age, Comet notwithstanding, that
doomed the Brittania to very small production
numbers, too!

A great aircraft, but too many delays kept it from
ever being made in great numbers, sadly.....

She is a lovely aircraft, although I do not like her
tail section.

SORRY!

Danf.

[Dan4th]

Latest from Round_Engine.......

http://www.conniesurvivors.com/1-connie_news.htm#AUG20

As I said W-A-Y back in January, they
had to do so much to that aircraft to
move it that it was, in fact, very worthy
of continuing to fly on a regular basis

Turns out I was RIGHT!

(...for once...)

Danf.