06/2010 | Interview: “Fascination Super Star”
The aircraft is completely jacked up in the hangar in Auburn and the first structural repairs have begun. Following completion of the inspection phase, a detailed plan for the restoration of the aircraft is to be drawn up in the second half of 2010.
Borgmann: How much progress has been made in the restoration work on the Super Star as of June 2010?
Raineri: We are currently in the final phase of inspecting the aircraft structure and are documenting the condition of the aircraft, which was built in 1957, in great detail. This is taking longer than we had originally expected, but it is unavoidable if we are to achieve airworthiness.
In parallel to completion of the inspection work on the primary structure of the aircraft, the preparations for the first structural repairs have been under way for a good two months. The aircraft is now completely jacked up in the hangar in Auburn, Maine, so that it is stress- and load-free.
At the moment we are working on the wings, which will be repaired starting from the tips and working inwards. The load-bearing sections of the cabin floor are also being worked on and the preliminary measures for converting the freighter doors into passenger doors are in full swing.
All these repair measures are being closely coordinated with the FAA and are only being implemented after rating their relevance once we get the go-ahead from the FAA.
Borgmann: Is there a date for completion of the aircraft as yet?
Raineri: Only once the ongoing, intensive inspection phase is complete, which I expect to be in the near future, will we have a clearer picture and be in a position to draw up a plan to reconstruct the aircraft in the second half of 2010. And only after every detail of this plan has been worked out will we be able to make any accurate predictions about the likely timing of the second maiden flight of L-1649A. Yet even that plan could go awry due to various uncertainties on such a complex venture.
But in principle, the sooner, the better. Everyone on the project wants to see L-1649A flying as soon as possible!
Borgmann: What is the special fascination about the Lockheed Super Star for you?
Raineri: After I got my engineering degree 30 years ago at the Technical University of Darmstadt, a dream came true for me when I got a job at Lufthansa.
Since then my enthusiasm for aviation has never left me, whether I was the person in charge of engineering projects of Lufthansa Express or now at Lufthansa Technik as head of the team preparing for the A380 maintenance – and in future performing the same role for the 747-8I.
So it was another dream come true for me when I was appointed head of the fascinating Super Star project – a challenge which in many respects is on a par with the entry into service of the A380.
Back to overview
Borgmann: How much progress has been made in the restoration work on the Super Star as of June 2010?
Raineri: We are currently in the final phase of inspecting the aircraft structure and are documenting the condition of the aircraft, which was built in 1957, in great detail. This is taking longer than we had originally expected, but it is unavoidable if we are to achieve airworthiness.
In parallel to completion of the inspection work on the primary structure of the aircraft, the preparations for the first structural repairs have been under way for a good two months. The aircraft is now completely jacked up in the hangar in Auburn, Maine, so that it is stress- and load-free.
At the moment we are working on the wings, which will be repaired starting from the tips and working inwards. The load-bearing sections of the cabin floor are also being worked on and the preliminary measures for converting the freighter doors into passenger doors are in full swing.
All these repair measures are being closely coordinated with the FAA and are only being implemented after rating their relevance once we get the go-ahead from the FAA.
Borgmann: Is there a date for completion of the aircraft as yet?
Raineri: Only once the ongoing, intensive inspection phase is complete, which I expect to be in the near future, will we have a clearer picture and be in a position to draw up a plan to reconstruct the aircraft in the second half of 2010. And only after every detail of this plan has been worked out will we be able to make any accurate predictions about the likely timing of the second maiden flight of L-1649A. Yet even that plan could go awry due to various uncertainties on such a complex venture.
But in principle, the sooner, the better. Everyone on the project wants to see L-1649A flying as soon as possible!
Borgmann: What is the special fascination about the Lockheed Super Star for you?
Raineri: After I got my engineering degree 30 years ago at the Technical University of Darmstadt, a dream came true for me when I got a job at Lufthansa.
Since then my enthusiasm for aviation has never left me, whether I was the person in charge of engineering projects of Lufthansa Express or now at Lufthansa Technik as head of the team preparing for the A380 maintenance – and in future performing the same role for the 747-8I.
So it was another dream come true for me when I was appointed head of the fascinating Super Star project – a challenge which in many respects is on a par with the entry into service of the A380.
Back to overview
Dean Raineri has been in charge of the Lockheed Super Star Team at Lufthansa Technik AG since the beginning of the year 2010.
