MuffinMan

Wow… that would be one incredible restoration. Gorgeous looking airplane. I’d hate to have its fuel bill. It would be one heck of a head turner that’s for sure.

Peter_Bentley

You wouldn’t want to pay for the spark plugs, never mind the fuel…

P

Karrpilot

Supposedly this isn’t the first time that he’s owned a constellation. 10+ years ago, there was a constellation selling rides at Galesburg Illinois during the stearman fly in event. If you bought a ticket, said ticket not only gave you ride, it also put you in the right seat for a 10 minute stint. Yours truly took advantage of this! What a heavy bird to fly! And supposedly, that aircraft was sold and on it’s final tour in the USA. The owners were transferred the aircraft to South Korea. Hopefully this one will stay here in the USA, and still fly.

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dbier

Would love to have done that!

Bob_Cowen

I flew in one from Lima to Cuzco (Peru) in mid-1965. It was a former TWA. The choice was a DC-4 (not pressurized) or the Connie. It was an easy decision. https://photos.app.goo.gl/aNSHR7HVFaH1abVY8

charral

Speaking of fuel bill, what would the fuel bill be if the engines were replaced with similarly rated turbines? Ok, ok, not on a sexy plane like the Connie perhaps, just the fuel burn rates.

I’ve been curious for a while now.

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RationalityKeith

Higher.
The piston engines with Power Recovery Turbine were efficient.

(Conversion not a great idea anyway including because tail is poor configuration - it’s that way to fit into hangers.)

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JMBIII

As a 4yo kid, I flew in a PanAm Connie from USA to Germany-1947.
New York - Gander - Prestwick - Frankfort. My mother always maintained that was the start of my aviation fascination. That and I was in love with the stewardess.

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gil

I flew along side this airplane in Canada when we sprayed the forest (1974).
The airplane I was copilot on was also an L1049. It eventually became a tour airplane in Switzerland from around 2003 to 2017. (N73544 then HB-RSC) I think Russ rode on it.

Tristar

The Connie lit my fire too…back in 1956 heading to Saudi Arabia as a five year-old. Flew on TWA, PanAm, Lufthansa, and Air France Connies. I have a scale wooden model of N6937C, which I have now dubbed the “Johnny Connie”, in TWA livery, that I bought in PHNL airport back in the late '90s on my hutch. I was saddened to learn in this article that it was never in TWA livery until TWA ceased to operate.

PaulLogue

Travolta was getting his Citation type during my recurrent at American Airlines in the 70s. Aviation definitely in his blood.

Tristar

True…but it looks cool too. It’s nice when form and function come together in beauty.

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Duckhawk43

My dad. Loved flying Connie’s for Eastern airlines