Last Flying Connie seems to be grounded for good

[Wolverine]

When driving back from the SAC museum, I was coming through Salina, and I saw a Connie at the airport there (north side). It was silver, and had three all-red tails. I know it wasn't there when Fossett landed, so whose is it?

(Having seen the TWA Connie in person, I can say that I'm 90% sure this was a different bird--It is painted all over, unlike the one in Salina)

[Raven]

That would be 'last flying Connie in the USA' then, wouldn't it. The lands outside the good ol USA aren't just myths.

I'm sure the Connies flying in Europe and Australia are real.

[Tulio]

Wolverine, that Connie has been there for a while now.

These shots, were taken by yours truly in July or August 2001.






There was an article on this and other Connies in an American Aviation Magazine which will remain nameless because the editor still owes me for photos published back in 1985 : )


Saludos,


Tulio

[Wolverine]

I guess I must of missed it. My bad.

[Chris Brame]

Hi Tulio,
Great photos of the old FAA bird - especially the tail, because you can see very clearly how the outer fins were extended above and below the stabilizer. And I know what you mean about that magazine - I sent a bunch of photos of the first TBF recovered from Lake Michigan back in '79; still waiting...

[Tulio]

Chris,

I have several other shots of the Connie; problem was the angle because the tall fence did not give me much of an angle to shoot.

You're right about the Mag; no money . . . : )


Saludos,


Tulio

[Tulio]

And since we're on the subject, Rob:

Have you seen recently, the Connies in Auburn?

Saludos,


Tulio

[mjanovec]

A little more info on the Salina Connie can be found here:

http://www.conniesurvivors.com/N1206.htm

It has certainly been a bleak year or two for USA Connie fans. Three airworthy Connies leave the country (one of which will probably never fly again) and the last one has a major engine failure, grounding it indefinitely...

[rkski]

The Connie was one of the most beautiful aircraft ever designed! It's sad that the ones I have seen lately are in such bad shape.

[B-29 Super Fort]

Didn't the actor John Travolta once own a nicely restored Connie?

[tom d. friedman]

ohhh if we only knew what the future held prior to this mishap. the real flying beauty of the type just went to south korea for good. hope they take good care of her. aside from her lines & my wife's...... i'm epecially fond of the connie because that's my wife's name!!!! best, tom

[mjanovec]

Didn't the actor John Travolta once own a nicely restored Connie?

He owned the MATS Connie for a while (circa 1984-1987) before it became known as the MATS Connie. It probably wasn't a "nicely restored" bird when it was in his hands...in fact, I'm wondering it it ever flew under his ownership.

It underwent a restoration in the early 90s to bring it back to airworthy condition, after which it toured airshows for roughly ten years.

More info is here:
http://www.conniesurvivors.com/N494TW.htm

Too bad this plane is essentially gone for good. Not only was it a beautiful airplane, but it held a standard airworthiness certificate.

The suspect the main thing keeping Connies out of the sky is their expense of operation. Columbine II and Bataan are two US Connies that are essentially airworthy (or could be made airworthy with a few months effort) but are not flown due to the expense of doing so.

And very few airshows seem willing or able to pay for a Connie to visit. They just don't have the drawing power of a B-17 and are more expensive to operate than most four-engined birds. Those R3350s are hungry for fuel!

[krlang]

Shannon and i stopped into Auburn/Lewiston a few weeks ago cuz I had never seen Mr. Roundy's airplanes. We did a quick drive by on a Food/Gass/Pee stop on our way to rescue a broken airplane in Bar Harbor.

No Pictures taken. Just looked and got back on the highway.
All of the other pictures Ive seen dont look much different from the current status of the airplanes anyway Im sure.
Cowls spread open, control surfaces off etc.

[krlang]

Shannon and i stopped into Auburn/Lewiston a few weeks ago cuz I had never seen Mr. Roundy's airplanes. We did a quick drive by on a Food/Gass/Pee stop on our way to rescue a broken airplane in Bar Harbor.

No Pictures taken. Just looked and got back on the highway.
All of the other pictures Ive seen dont look much different from the current status of the airplanes anyway Im sure.
Cowls spread open, control surfaces off etc.

[Wolverine]

Well This isn't good news at all from ANN,

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm

This just sucks

RER

Rob...

Its not going to be grounded for good if they can get a new R-3350.