VC-121 Constellation May Fly Again?

maybe the newer versions are more reliable….they have done an upgrade on the engines of both FIFI and DOC because early R3350’s dont have a good reputation.

I noticed in the article the engines are destined to be replaced,, they seemed to work just fine getting her there, why would they be replaced rather than just a thorough check and service? Do they have a “time” limit on them?

photos and videos.

http://www.nbc29.com/story/31552601/first-air-force-one-aircraft-lands-in-bridgewater-for-restorations

Hi All,
Davidisby,
Many thanks for the continued updates….:eagerness:
Despite my pessimism in my first post I still think it looks beautiful and really deserves this new good home and to be kept in an airworthy state which fingers cross both those boxes are now ticked…. 😎

Geoff.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/columbine-ii-arrives-home.html

VC-121 Constellation Columbine II photos and video

Re: XH558 replacement I think we have a winner! I could watch Connies all day.

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-first-air-force-one-has-taken-to-the-skies-once-aga-1766275489
For the facebook averse amongst us….

Connie air-to-air photography:

https://www.facebook.com/tvrphotography/

photos of 20 March flight

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marana-Regional-Airport/143047819039775

http://pilotonline.com/aviation-pro-to-restore-first-air-force-one/article_eb2f5a6c-1595-5184-a2b9-b0f18fae129a.html

http://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2015/04/18/a-lockheed-constellation-for-lewis-air-legends/

I saw this beauty back in 2010 and thought it was in a fair condition but would require alot of work. Lets face it $200,000 wouldn’t even pay for the engine overhauls. I only need a simple lottery win, why do they keep pulling out the wrong numbers!

But a DH Albatross might.

I can’t argue with that John.

Isn’t the Constellation just about the most elegant piston engined transport aircraft of all ?

According to the Daily Fail article the owners want $1.5m for it. The estimate for restoration is $200,000. How did they get that restoration figure? At that amount they would struggle to get it in a static display condition.

It’s not the case that nobody cares, but that the owners are asking an unrealistic price (some $2m apparently) for it. I’ve lost count of the number of historic aircraft that are mouldering away in the backs of hangars and parked outside on airfields because the owners think that they are worth way, way more than their true value.

Hi All,
Well I hope it is kept in better shape than the last time it was restored to airworthy status, it is amazing that this historic aircraft has been left to go back to being just another wreck more or less, I saw this video below a while ago and I even posted it in one of Skyraider3d’s threads a while back, such a shame but with this latest video who knows what will happen but I fear like mentioned in this video nobody cares ??

Geoff.

The Daily Mail had an article about this a couple of days ago.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2957051/Inside-original-Air-Force-One-included-marble-floors-mahogany-desk-Eisenhower-wrote-Atoms-Peace-speech-left-Arizona-desert-sun.html