The Constellation News has reported the new owner of one of the last flyable Lockheed Super Constellations, John Travolta, has tested the engines on the former airliner and freighter. That's fueling speculation on what the Oscar-winning actor and longtime pilot might have in store for the historic aircraft, which is the only civilian version of the aircraft left in operable shape. Travolta bought the plane, N6937C, from the Airline History Museum last September and, after some work by mechanics, the plane was rolled out at Kansas City Downtown Airport on Jan. 12 and all four R3350-42 engines (3250 horsepower each) were run successfully.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.