F-BGNJ French Connie.

[magpienja]

Hi all,

Anybody know if the Connie F-BGNJ is still at Nantes Airport,

Love to see one in the flesh....if it is can anybody give me any info available re viewing it,

Such a shame that the one here in the UK at Swindon is keep under lock and key.

Nick.

[treadigraph]

Looks like it might be...

Googlemap (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Nantes+Atlantique+Airport/@47.1496295,-1.606725,280m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4805eaee9b19622b:0x18246ec2038c352 4?hl=en)

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Brings back memories. I first logged it on 19 February 1961 over my parents house in Morden inbound to London.

[magpienja]

Just found there facebook page and asked the question...fingers crossed.

[DaveReidUK]

Just found there facebook page and asked the question...fingers crossed.You can also email them at [email protected]

Taken on its 60th birthday in May of this year:

http://www.conniesurvivors.com/pictures/F-BGNJ-sm-24May14_P1160718_petit.jpg

[HeadingSouth]

connie is adjacent in switzerland even in the air sometimes...

[SpringHeeledJack]

Such a shame that the one here in the UK at Swindon is keep under lock and key

Which one is that ? Who owns it and why is it locked away ?


SHJ

[treadigraph]

The Science Museum Reserve Collection at Wroughton (http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/museums/main/science-museum-swindon.htm).

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a610/brendan_mccartney/Aircraft/IMG_2639_zpsd5d7272b.jpg

My wife and I saw it in October 2005. It's registered as G-CONI.

[magpienja]

So they do open up from time to time then???

[SpringHeeledJack]

Is that N7777G, or what was ? I wasn't aware that this 'extra' collection existed, but it's always nice to be surprised.


SHJ

[Halcyon Days]

I guess a look at the photograph might just give you a clue?

[DaveReidUK]

So they do open up from time to time then???The Science Museum collection at Wroughton has very occasional Open Days, I think the 2005 date that HD referred to was one of the last ones, which I also attended.

They have a big problem in that one of their hangars is technically unsafe and so for Health & Safety reasons is never opened up to the public. It's the one with the Trident, Comet and other assorted aircraft.

See http://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/394833-comet-trident-wroughton.html

[SpringHeeledJack]

I guess a look at the photograph might just give you a clue?

That would be a clue, but the flare of the overhead lights across the last third of the registration gave me doubts, added to the fact that the last time I saw the real N7777G, it was festering many years ago in DUB and I assumed it had been scrapped with the other 'junk' that resided with it. Good to see that it's alive and looking so good.

On another note, when is the Lufthansa connie somewhere on the eastern seabird of the US ever going to be airworthy ?


SHJ

[treadigraph]

N7777G was saved from oblivion by Mike Woodley's Aces High - the plan was to use her in the second series of Airline which was cancelled, but at least the Connie was rescued!

I saw somewhere (here?) that Lufthansa's L1649 is coming along nicely and I seem to recall that they are fitting a C130J style cockpit to satisfy EASA regulations!

[SpringHeeledJack]

Thankyou mr treadigraph, as ever a font of knowledge :ok:


SHJ

[bamcb38c]

Yes the Connie is still in Nantes and visible easily from the northern slip roads, on the southern side of the runway there is also a mirage 3 and I believe a nord nautilus. I was there Sunday picking up relatives .

[magpienja]

Good...is there public access to it????

[DaveReidUK]

First Saturday of each month, until the end of October:

Visiter le F-BGNJ | Amicale du Super Constellation | (http://superconstellation-nantes.fr/visiter-le-f-bgnj)

[magpienja]

Thank you.

[Liffy 1M]

N7777G being dismantled at Dublin in 1983:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4150/4991275402_2c7af5dc40.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/8B4Ahs)

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3424/3879480348_9826be3bf9.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/6UPmmd)

[Proplinerman]

F-BGNJ as she appeared at Nantes in September 2001, right at the start of her restoration programme to bring her back to excellent condition and in AF colours:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48975048@N06/11647132533/in/photolist-iKdAHT-cGVhsf

And there are links in the comments on this photo of mine, to shots of the aircraft as now restored.

F-BGNJ in her heyday in service with Air France in the 1950s:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48975048@N06/7682980570/in/photolist-cGVhsf

N7777G at Wroughton in July 2000:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48975048@N06/4488507285/in/photolist-7QCLQD-gA2kCC-94JHME-dmEgP6-nNWivb-nwBfe3-94JEdR

N7777G, distant shot of her at Coventry in March 1974 (more than 40 years ago now!):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48975048@N06/10230373536/in/photolist-gA2kCC-94JHME-dmEgP6-nNWivb-nwBfe3-94JEdR

Finally, photo taken in flight aboard the Swiss Connie, just six days ago (9th August 2014)!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48975048@N06/14901257251/in/photolist-oGLQCt-oH3yHK-oqyNkm-oqy3dT-dPDbTs-8kdbS1-cc1W9y-dPDknw-dPxzdV-dPxz3c-7U8iBQ

[magpienja]

Nice pictures...bet you have some fine memories from when they where taken...very graceful looking a/c,

I remember many years ago making a special trip to Wrougton to see the science museums connie thinking the place was open daily...very disappointed when I got there and it was all locked up...what a waste.

[treadigraph]

Saw about five different Connies at Floridian airports in the 1980s - only one, a Starliner, still survives - Maurice Roundy (he of the two at Auburn, one of which Lufthansa are now bringing back to life) acquired it and ferried it as far as Kermit's place - think it's still there?

[fauteuil volant]

Curiously, only this week I received an e-mail from the Amicale du Super Constellation with the following information:

'Bonjour,

L'Amicale du Super Constellation organise des Journées Portes Ouvertes les 27 et 28 septembre 2014.
Ce sera l'occasion pour le public de (re)découvrir le Lockheed L-1049 C Super Constellation, le plus bel avion de ligne à moteurs à pistons jamais construit.
Sorti des usines de Burbank, CA en novembre 1953, le F-BGNJ est le dernier exemplaire encore en "bon état" existant en France.
Classé monument historique, il est le premier appareil à avoir participé aux évacuations sanitaires lors du conflit du Biafra en 1968.
Il est ainsi à l'origine de la création d'Aviation Sans Frontières qui verra le jour 10 ans plus tard.
En restauration depuis 2000, il est depuis 2012 enfin ouvert au public.
Beaucoup de travaux de restauration restent à faire, notamment le remplacement de l'ensemble des hublots (en cours), la restauration complète du cockpit (quasi terminé), l’aménagement d'une partie des sièges et d'un petit salon version "Parisien Spécial", la remise en place des dérives à entoiler...

Cette année nous aurons le plaisir d'accueillir les associations Aéroscope, AREA ainsi qu' Aviation Sans Frontières.

Venez nombreux !

Lieu : Aéroport de Nantes-Atlantique - Chemin de Frémiou, Saint Aignan de Granlieu. (à côté de Météo France)
GPS : Lat 47° 8'57.59"N – Long 1°36'25.12"O
Horaires d'ouverture : Samedi et Dimanche de 9h 12h30 et de 14h à 18h30
Tarif : 4 € (gratuit pour les moins de 18 ans), parking gratuit
Renseignements et informations : Amicale du Super Constellation | (http://superconstellation-nantes.fr) et [email protected]

Affiche et plan d'accès ci-joints.'

[magpienja]

Wish I could read French???

[SpringHeeledJack]

You can visit, touch and go inside said French Connie on the 27th and 28th of this month. Might even still be a bit of nice weather in France :ok: Open from 9am until 12.20pm, then a break for lunch and reopening at 2.30pm until 6.30pm all for 4euro. Cheap at twice the price!



SHJ

[Stanwell]

SHJ,
I must engage you as my French interpreter!

The Froggies just seem to love verbosity.
What we can communicate in five words, they require five lengthy sentences to satisfactorily do so.

Is there any hope of that Connie becoming airworthy again?