More On The Canadian Super Connie

[Mike]

Do we know for certain that MoF intend to display the Connie undercover, or is this pure speculation? Looking at their website, larger airframes such as the Concorde and VC-137 seem to be left outside at present, so my guess is that the the intention is that the Connie would be left outside.

Not that I think that MoF is not an appropriate home for it, mind you. I had a few beers in this one when it was in use as a bar outside the Regal Constellation Hotel in Toronto in around 1996-7, so it will be good to see it going to a major collection, as it seems to have had something of a chequered history since those days.

[JBoyle]

I hate to be a bit of a devils advocate here... I mean, the B-29 and the Concorde are still outside from what I remember... I think the B-47 too.
Ryan

Last time I was there, 2-27-05, the only one of those planes outside was the Concorde...along with the 737, 747 prototypes and a ex-AA 727-200 and the VC-137B. Along with a F-14 and AV-8A.

If the aviation history community expects ALL the airliners to be placed under roof, the museum will have to sell half their collection to buy a building large enough for the 747, Concorde, etc. Both of which are more historic airframes than a run of the mill ex-bar Connie.

What I'd like to see them do is move the Comet 4 , B-52G, and 727 prototype down from Paine Field for display with the other jets.

[mrhenniger]

No, the Connie will be displayed outside. Here is part of a post from an email list I am on.

The Museum of Flight has responded to many of the questions surrounding
its acquisition of L1049G CF-RNR on their website
http://www.museumofflight.org/FileUploa ... nieRTQ.pdf

Also, a photo of CF-RNR taken 31 January 2006
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1001876/L/

I am not so sure that it would be worse off outside in Seattle rather than Toronto. They do seem to take care of their collection in Seattle.

Mike

Last edited by mrhenniger on Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[mrhenniger]

What I'd like to see them do is move the Comet 4 , B-52G, and 727 prototype down from Paine Field for display with the other jets.

There is not much space at Boeing field for more airframes. Even the airliners are across the road in a Boeing parking lot.

Mike

[Mike]

No the Connie will not be outside. Here is part of a post from an email list I am on.

The Constellation will be reassembled in place in the Museum's Airpark, an outdoor gallery on the Museum's main campus in Seattle.

I'd say that this is pretty conclusive in saying that the Connie WILL be displayed outside, Mike.

[mrhenniger]

I'd say that this is pretty conclusive in saying that the Connie WILL be displayed outside, Mike.

Ooopss... I still was awake when I posted that. I will edit my post.

Mike

[Andrew Semon]

So out of all those historical aircraft currently stored outdoors at the Seattle Museum....will any eventually make it indoors or under cover in the future???

[Ryan Keough]

So out of all those historical aircraft currently stored outdoors at the Seattle Museum....will any eventually make it indoors or under cover in the future???

I seem to remember seeing a master plan somewhere that had a facility being built across the road, connected by a skyway, where the commercial jets and large aircraft would be. I am not sure if that master plan is still valid or where it sits in the scheme of things. I know a lot of museums create the plans and usually have some sort of pretty model in the lobby to help spur donations, but I have seen very few actually get realized on the scale they present...

However, I feel that a master plan is a heck of a great idea... all organizations need a direction!

Ryan Keough

[JBoyle]

There is not much space at Boeing field for more airframes. Even the airliners are across the road in a Boeing parking lot.

Mike

I know, I've been there...but they must have some space if they want to add the Connie.

Besides, seeing the first 727, 737 and 747 in one place would be neat.
BTW: Boeing also has the first 757 (as a F-22 avionics test bed) and the 767 as an Army project, so some day I'd love to see those too.
Also, the Comet deserves a place of honor at the main museum...heck so does the 52.

Hopefully, it's a large parking lot.

[Raven]

I know a lot of museums create the plans and usually have some sort of pretty model in the lobby to help spur donations, but I have seen very few actually get realized on the scale they present...

However, I feel that a master plan is a heck of a great idea... all organizations need a direction!

Ryan Keough

Hi Ryan,
I'd agree in general. But it would be unfair not to acknowledge those museums that have built a new facility and a big one too...
NASM
CWH (Probably the most spectacular 'phoenix from the ashes' to date)
Canadian Aviation Museum
Le Bourget
Nowra in NSW, Australia

And places like Shuttleworth, RAF Museum Hendon and the Fleet Air Arm Museum Yeovilton have been steadily adding buildings to cover more aircraft over the past 20 - 30 years.

Still, I'm going to make a model hangar with a plane outside with a slot in the top for my front room now...

[Andrew Semon]

Are the Paine Field and Seattle museum's collections both owned by Boeing? And if so why keep them separate? Is limited space the main reason....

[mrhenniger]

See this new thread...
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... 3134#53134
...for a summary of the Museum of Flight locations.

Mike

[Ryan Keough]

Are the Paine Field and Seattle museum's collections both owned by Boeing? And if so why keep them separate? Is limited space the main reason....

The Museum of Flight is an independent non-profit entity and is only tied to Boeing through the generous support Boeing gives to the museum due to its proximity to the bulk of the company at Boeing Field and Everett. It has always fought the perception that it is a Boeing owned entity.

The nature of Boeing Field gives it little expansion room "on airport" as most of the available space is occupied by Boeing and other ventures. Everett is much more open to expansion and growth (just look at the aerial view, it is almost labrynth-like). I would assume that the combination of limited hangar space and tight corporate security in the Boeing hangars at Boeing Field keeps the restoration facility at Everett. Additionally I believe that the B-17F N17W "Boeing Bee" that was formerly of the Bob Richardson collection resides at the Boeing Facility at Renton... awaiting an appropriate "under cover" display at Boeing Field.

Ryan Keough

[mrhenniger]

Additionally I believe that the B-17F N17W "Boeing Bee" that was formerly of the Bob Richardson collection resides at the Boeing Facility at Renton... awaiting an appropriate "under cover" display at Boeing Field.

Unless you know something I don't, I was told that the B-17 is stored in one of the Boeing hangers on Boeing field. Renton is yet another airfield in the Seattle area and is south-east of Boeing field. 737 production is at Renton.

Mike

Last edited by mrhenniger on Wed Feb 15, 2006 1:26 pm, edited 5 times in total.

[Mike]

I'd agree in general. But it would be unfair not to acknowledge those museums that have built a new facility and a big one too...

Le Bourget

???