Lockheed VC-121A 'Bataan' back in the air
LH's Connie is stored and will not be flying any more. They halted the work halfway through it after seriously busting their budget.
Back in 2017 I was on a trip to Ljubljana from Birmingham via Zurich. The second flight was delayed...and delayed....until finally it was announced that we would be flying on a different airline. A bus came to pick us up and we drove to a remote part of the airport....and there was the Breitling Connie. Ooh, what a nice surprise!
Sadly that wasn't our aircraft though - we boarded some ageing ATR which then droned its way to our destination.
Sadly that wasn't our aircraft though - we boarded some ageing ATR which then droned its way to our destination.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
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There was a Connie at Kirkop just outside Luqa Airport on Malta many years ago.
If I remember rightly it had been impounded for gun-running and then bought by a couple of local businessmen who towed it off the airport and turned it into a restaurant.
We dined there in September 1988 but when we tried to return a few days later it had closed.
Some years later it was vandalised and set on fire. Only the wings survived and last I heard were at Ta' Qali. One of the partners had told us he was planning to tow the complete aircraft to Ta' Qali which sounded totally impossible.
If I remember rightly it had been impounded for gun-running and then bought by a couple of local businessmen who towed it off the airport and turned it into a restaurant.
We dined there in September 1988 but when we tried to return a few days later it had closed.
Some years later it was vandalised and set on fire. Only the wings survived and last I heard were at Ta' Qali. One of the partners had told us he was planning to tow the complete aircraft to Ta' Qali which sounded totally impossible.
Last edited by DHfan; 30th Jun 2023 at 22:04.
N7777G The Stones' Connie
The Manila Connie
I'm not sure you can use the words Wroughton and displayed in the same sentence.
We went to an airshow there in 1990-ish and saw the exhibits in the main hangar including the Connie. It didn't register what the markings were and not having much interest in airliners it wouldn't have meant anything anyway. The hangar was brightly lit and looked immaculate as did the "exhibits".
I believe that's the hangar that's reputedly dangerous and structurally unsound.
We went to an airshow there in 1990-ish and saw the exhibits in the main hangar including the Connie. It didn't register what the markings were and not having much interest in airliners it wouldn't have meant anything anyway. The hangar was brightly lit and looked immaculate as did the "exhibits".
I believe that's the hangar that's reputedly dangerous and structurally unsound.
Can't be sure if it was the same one, but summer 1993 I stumbled across a similarly abandoned Connie in Malta. Fraid the precise location escapes me, but it had certainly been used as a restaurant/diner.
Managed to get inside her, which was I recall a little rough. Looking for souvenirs I found quite a few Maltese coins scattered around the floor!
Cooch
Managed to get inside her, which was I recall a little rough. Looking for souvenirs I found quite a few Maltese coins scattered around the floor!
Cooch
This Connie nostalgia reminded me of a flight back in October 1992. It took a while to find it in my logs. The Tucson Soaring Club (Arizona) had displayed a Janus glider at an airshow at nearby Pinal. It was my job to fly it home and departure was very close to sunset. The MATS Connie was leaving at the same time and graciously allowed our glider and tug to depart first. Never forget it holding short with all 4 running while we took the runway.
Lockheed Constellation Survivors
Lockheed Constellation Survivors
Last edited by EXDAC; 1st Jul 2023 at 13:13.
Can't be sure if it was the same one, but summer 1993 I stumbled across a similarly abandoned Connie in Malta. Fraid the precise location escapes me, but it had certainly been used as a restaurant/diner.
Managed to get inside her, which was I recall a little rough. Looking for souvenirs I found quite a few Maltese coins scattered around the floor!
Cooch
Managed to get inside her, which was I recall a little rough. Looking for souvenirs I found quite a few Maltese coins scattered around the floor!
Cooch
From Exdac's link
Lockheed Constellation Survivors
Not permanently closed in April 1988 but our visit could well have been one of the last only 5 or 6 months later.
Mine host, "George", who said he was one of the owners switched on the cockpit lights and suggested starting an engine. There was a whirring noise from one of the nacelles and consternation from my lady, now wife.
I'm not sure you can use the words Wroughton and displayed in the same sentence.
We went to an airshow there in 1990-ish and saw the exhibits in the main hangar including the Connie. It didn't register what the markings were and not having much interest in airliners it wouldn't have meant anything anyway. The hangar was brightly lit and looked immaculate as did the "exhibits".
I believe that's the hangar that's reputedly dangerous and structurally unsound.
We went to an airshow there in 1990-ish and saw the exhibits in the main hangar including the Connie. It didn't register what the markings were and not having much interest in airliners it wouldn't have meant anything anyway. The hangar was brightly lit and looked immaculate as did the "exhibits".
I believe that's the hangar that's reputedly dangerous and structurally unsound.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,625
Received 298 Likes
on
166 Posts
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,625
Received 298 Likes
on
166 Posts
They are practically holding hands! 
Got it!
