07/2009 | Conversion back to passenger aircraft begins
About a year had elapsed between the start of the search for suitable passenger doors and the moment of opening the two transport crates for the first time following their arrival in Hamburg. The Super Star doors are a critical element of the conversion now under way of the L-1649A back to its certificated original state as a passenger aircraft.
It was only after many months of a difficult search for suitable doors and the surrounding fuselage structure that a solution was finally found thanks to the tremendous support of the South African Airways (SAA) Museum. Many well preserved passenger variants of the L-1049 Super Constellation with the identical fuselage structure are to be found in museums which are prevented by statute from passing them on. On the other hand, other examples of Connies that are in good technical condition are military versions with cargo doors.
For several months the Super Star team therefore focused their attention on a civil L-1049 Super Constellation that was in private hands in Brittany, France. At first its owners appeared to be prepared to sell it, since in its present form one would hardly have suspected that in its finest hour it had been the flagship of Air France, used to transport the President of France. But sadly the family who owns it could not bring themselves to part company with the weathered emblem of their discotheque for the project.
The joy of the project team was therefore all the greater when the SAA Museum agreed to make the doors of the former D-ALOL available, and they constructed a replica of the surrounding structure. In this way future guests of the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung will pass in style through the original doors of a Lockheed L-1649A bearing the livery of Deutsche Lufthansa to take up their seats on board the Super Star.
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It was only after many months of a difficult search for suitable doors and the surrounding fuselage structure that a solution was finally found thanks to the tremendous support of the South African Airways (SAA) Museum. Many well preserved passenger variants of the L-1049 Super Constellation with the identical fuselage structure are to be found in museums which are prevented by statute from passing them on. On the other hand, other examples of Connies that are in good technical condition are military versions with cargo doors.
For several months the Super Star team therefore focused their attention on a civil L-1049 Super Constellation that was in private hands in Brittany, France. At first its owners appeared to be prepared to sell it, since in its present form one would hardly have suspected that in its finest hour it had been the flagship of Air France, used to transport the President of France. But sadly the family who owns it could not bring themselves to part company with the weathered emblem of their discotheque for the project.
The joy of the project team was therefore all the greater when the SAA Museum agreed to make the doors of the former D-ALOL available, and they constructed a replica of the surrounding structure. In this way future guests of the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung will pass in style through the original doors of a Lockheed L-1649A bearing the livery of Deutsche Lufthansa to take up their seats on board the Super Star.
Back to overview
