First you build a hanger, then you rebuild the plane. And that's what Luftie is doing up in the snowy wilds of the great state of Maine with its newly built hangar at the Auburn-Lewiston airport. There, it's officially commenced restoration of the Lockheed 'Super Star,' the first long-haul aircraft operated by Lufthansa capable of non-stop trans-Atlantic flights. Over the next three years, the aircraft will be brought back into flying condition so that by 2011 it can take to the air again from its new base in Germany once it has been newly registered and repainted in Lufthansa's historic colours.
So why is the plane in Maine? Well, Lufthansa's historic aircraft foundation bought three Lockheed L-1649A Super Star aircraft from Auburn-based historic aircraft enthusiast Maurice Roundy; it then contracted Lufthansa Technik to restore one aircraft back into flying condition. "The Super Star
was the culmination in the history of propeller driven transport aircraft. To make the historic Lockheed L-1649A airworthy again is a special honor and challenge for Lufthansa Technik," said August Wilhelm Henningsen, Chairman of Lufthansa Technik AG.
The L-1649A was formerly configured for cargo flights so the scheduled work also includes retrofitting it as a passenger aircraft. The cockpit will also be brought up to the very latest technological standards and the cabin will be restored to its historic splendor. The Lockheed L-1649A, of which 44 were built between 1956 and 1958, is the ultimate model of the legendary Lockheed Constellation series. Today only four of these L-1649A are preserved, and not one of them is airworthy.
was the culmination in the history of propeller driven transport aircraft. To make the historic Lockheed L-1649A airworthy again is a special honor and challenge for Lufthansa Technik," said August Wilhelm Henningsen, Chairman of Lufthansa Technik AG. The L-1649A was formerly configured for cargo flights so the scheduled work also includes retrofitting it as a passenger aircraft. The cockpit will also be brought up to the very latest technological standards and the cabin will be restored to its historic splendor. The Lockheed L-1649A, of which 44 were built between 1956 and 1958, is the ultimate model of the legendary Lockheed Constellation series. Today only four of these L-1649A are preserved, and not one of them is airworthy.
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