Lufthansa buys three Constellations
By Alton K. Marsh
Three Lockheed Constellations awaiting restoration in this country have instead been sold to a branch of Lufthansa Airlines that restores aircraft once used by the airline.
They were owned by Maurice Roundy and are among less than 20 remaining in the world fleet. Of those, few are flyable. Two of the aircraft are in Maine, while the third is on loan to Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Fla. A restoration hangar will be constructed by Lufthansa at Maine’s Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport to restore one of the two L-1649 Starliners based there to flying status. The other two could be used for parts, one source reported.
However, it was the L-1649 at Fantasy of Flight that served with Lufthansa as a “Super Star,” providing “Senator Class” service. It was later used to carry West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer to the United States, Japan, and home again over the North Pole, stopping in Anchorage to refuel (it carries 9,844 gallons).
January 10, 2008
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