Warbird Information Exchange

Qantas museum finally lands 'Super Constellation'
By Chrissy Arthur
Updated 19 Sep 2014, 10:14amFri 19 Sep 2014, 10:14am

An aviation museum in western Queensland has acquired an historic aircraft in the Philippines and plans to ship it home for display.

The Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach says it has purchased a 'Super Constellation', which dates back to the late 1940s, from the Manila Airport Authority

It was a US Navy aircraft but it is the same type that Qantas flew on its first around-the-world service.

The museum's Rodney Seccombe says it has been trying for years to get hold of a Constellation, because it changed the nature of flying and made a significant contribution to the history of Qantas.

"Until then, it took about 10 days to fly to London in a flying boat and it reduced that back to four days, so it made a terrific difference," he said.

"The 'Connies' have all sorts of firsts - they were the first pressurised, they were the first ones to fly around the world and Qantas actually had counter rotating flights going around the world and they crossed over in London and Sydney.

"You take 10 days to London, back to four days, it is a big difference."

He says the plane will not fly but the museum needs to raise funds to have it shipped to Australia, before it goes on display.

One tough part will be putting all those passenger windows in, but best of luck to them!