Lufthansa starts work on Starliner restoration
 

Lockheed L-1649 ?Super Star?: Restoration is taking off: Lufthansa Technik AG

Time to start thinking how I can blag a ride

Hopefully the Super Star will join the Ju52 in offering revenue flights around Germany. See https://www.dlbs.de/superstar/engl/index-e.htm

I've seen the Ju52 at Frankfurt on several occasions - it looks tiny compared to even mini-jets like the 737.

Had a good look round it at Fuhlsbuttel once, thanks to the kind generosity of the LH historic guys. They also have a Me 108 which I've also had a look around - a lovely old aeroplane built before cost mattered, it seems.

I recently spent a very pleasant weekend in Prague in the company of several of these LBS chaps, past and present, and I can tell you, they are over the moon about it.

I was always very chuffed to have one as a namessake, and I wonder if they are going to get special dispensation to carry a retro-registration, as they do with the JU-52....:D

I'll try and keep you up to date on the project.

brgds

D-ALAN
English-for-Flyaways - Home

Having flown the 1649 Constellation for about 300 hours, it was quite a nice aeroplane.
310 KTAS cruise at an optimum altitude of FL210 (or, as it was then, 21,000 feet) consumed about 400 gals/hour fuel and 4 gal/hour of 60 weight oil.
Fully powered flight controls (hydraulic boosted) and was quieter than the DC-7. due to the engines being further out on the (brand new, for the type) long tapered wing.
A very complicated systems airplane...typical Lockheed-style.

Big Hearted Lufthansa
 

Congratulations to Lufthansa in restoring their Star-Liner.
Pity British Airways wouldn't admit to flying aeroplanes. Big chance lost to restore a Comet or VC10.
Too busy in the 60s, 70s and 80s pandering to the Yanks and the Middle East , to indulge in nostalgia.

Sounds to me that these folks doing the 'restoration' need a Constellation expert.
Frank Lang is still available in Arizona (I think) but from the looks of it, may well not not have a 'friendly' reception.
One must remember that this is a Lockheed designed aeroplane, not a German one.:}

Given the period in which it was designed, is there a significant difference?

Oh yeah....lots.:}

I worked the L-1649A when I was at Lockheed Air Service in New York. We handled Lufthansa and later Transatlantic Argentina. Aircraft originally had hollow aluminum prop blades. They were real paddleblade type as engine model were peculiar to the L-1649A aircraft with a greater prop reduction ratio. Made for a slow turning prop. A problem with the prop blades developed.

An Air France L-1649 was parked outside our line maintenance office at Idlewild when we heard a big commotion. Came outside and found that one of the prop blades had split open down its leading edge - stuffing inside prop was hanging out. Shortly thereafter they went to solid dural blades.

Starliner was a complicated beast indeed - some of the hydraulics were from the L-188 Electra - 3000-psi and dual all the way around. Had Ermato "leakproof" hydraulic fittings - hah!

It was an interesting aircraft to taxi with the 150-ft wingspan. Needed lots of room. But the most beautiful of the Connies in the air.

Yeah an LH is not used to american planes. They still operate the Junkers 737 and the Messerschmidt 747. They have not been clients at Boeing and McD since ages, let alone Lookheed and Convair.... :ugh:

C17 thanks for your posts very interesting keep up the good work, is there any chance of some photos,

It must be heaven to be working on such a beauty, I envy you mate.

Nick.

Thanks very much for those pics. It actually looks in better shape than I expected...almost ready for the blue and yellow cheatlines to be sprayed on.....:cool:

Thanks for the photos amazing what a complex machine, the shot of the pistons, are the shiny ones new or just cleaned up.

Nick.

Gerby: Unfortunately since the arrival of Marshall nobody at the top end of BA has had an interest in aircraft as such. Ayling is reported to have said he positively disliked them! As result in Marshalls time the last Argonaut followed by a Comet 4 were sent to the fire training unit at Heathrow for eventual destruction. More recently the wanton destruction of the Cosford collection followed the pattern. Showing an interest in aircraft or aviation as such are both taboo in Waterside and likely to be career threatening.

Well done Lufthansa in recognising the importance of the heritage of Commercial Aviation. The Aussies too have recognised this fact. In the majority of cases, the Brits aren't quite the same. It appears that to be preserved in the UK in most cases an aircaft has to have had the ability to shoot or drop bombs.
My father was a Flight Engineer on the Constellation with TCA. I still have some of his manuals and pitcures of the aircraft in which he flew. His log book shows he had 1870 hours on type out of his total of 20 337 hours. Indeed, one of the L1049 in which he flew is being preserved in TCA colours as we speak. As a young lad, I was fortunate to have had many trips on the
L1049 and remember it with great affection. Indeed, it was experiences such as those with the Constellation that prompted me to work in the Commercial Airline environment. IMHO the Constellation is one of the most graceful looking aircraft ever built.
Please keep this thread alive as it will be great to see the progress on this excellent project.

Temps.

C17
What are the plans for the instrument panels? Earlier articles that I have seen stated, that the aircraft will be fitted with electronic (efis???) instruments but I see that the Lufthansa Tek page says only that the cockpit will keep its historic appearance using modern instruments.

I am interested in how this is being done because I am an avionics tech on an airworthy C121. and some parts are getting a bit hard to source.
Wunwing

Indeed, Skylion. Which is why none of the 469 business flights I've had over the past 5 years have been with ba! Instead I've flown whenever possible with Lufthansa.

Great to see such dedication with this restoration project!!

lufthansa's big hearted preservation
 

Skylion and BEagle
Thank you for your comments on my blog congratulating Lufthansa on their preservation record compared to B.As.
There are many photographs of airliners from around the world on the net decorated in joyous colours and designs. J.A.Ls Disney 747s for example.
What did B.A. do ? Painted the nose cone of a 747 gold when bringing home the Olympic team.
An embaressing British national carrier lacking guts and whimsy and an almost Imperial Airways arrogance.:=
Once again congratulations to Lufthansa, Qantas and all the other world airlines who have preserved aircraft from the former fleets.
BEagle. My wife flys on business trips to India, and I will only let her fly on Emirates.

Gerby
In the Qantas case they haven't actually done any preserving. The Longreach aircraft are owned by the QFM while the Connie is owned by HARS. THe DC3, Hawdon was preserved by TAA,now part of Qantas. However Qantas has helped in all these efforts by providing transport and engineering support.They also donated the B747 200 but probably got a good tax deduction from the donation.

The current HARS DC4 and Convair 340 projects don't seem to be sponsored by any airlines and I don't think that the recent Catalina arrival was either.

I suppose the results in Australia are a team efforts of individuals setting up organisations which are in turn supported by business, Government and the public.Probably a good way to go as everyone has an interest, so the projects should have a good life span.
Wunwing

Just as a slight aside, at Schonefeld 2 days ago, parked on the south western side of the main apron was a rather splendid DC 3.