Warbird Information Exchange

Anyone have any updated status on the return to flight of these two beautiful Connies?

The last I had heard there was some hope that Columbine II would be ready to fly in the first part of 2020 so it could take part in the 75th Anniversary of VE Day Washington, DC flyover on May 8. Seems like Bataan is further down the road.

In any case, I look forward to the day we see one or both of these Constellations flying on the U.S. air show circuit.

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Jim C.

Lewis Air Legends recently uploaded a 45 minute video of part of the "First Flight" of Bataan from Valle which ended up at Chino (instead of the 2 leg trip originally), and in it and its accompanying Twitter post, there was a suggestion that there would be a major update shortly on its progress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhgU7XmyNko

BTW - I applaud everyone involved for posting this video. #1 - there is some crazy stuff that happens on it. #2 - it's awesome to see the crew coordination and work going on in the back to ferry this airplane that hasn't flown in 20+ years back to Chino to get it properly restored.

Cool video, thanks for sharing the link.

Now that was a cool real on video...tks for sharing...

Just saw Bataan today it’s still being worked on and in the same state of disassembly it’s been the last year or so. It’s still way off being completed.

Ralph Pettersen has reported that the restoration of Columbine II has been halted and the entire crew laid off

Sounds like Lufthansa Connie restoration project in Maine.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

No, this was a report today about Columbine

Lufthansa did the same thing to their restoration crew about a year or so ago, and shut that project down completely, is what Pat was referring too.

Yes, they did, although that was three years ago now. The Swiss Super Connie Flyers Association group did a similar thing too.

Does anyone know how the work on Bataan is progressing?

That is really disappointing to hear. They had been making great progress.

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Matt

"No mon , no fun" Dynamic Aviation has possiblly been affected by the troop drawdown in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, to name a few. They have had a lot of aircraft on government military contracts. They still have lots of other work on the civil side. It will be interesting to see how the new administration uses and outsources work to Dynamic, L-3, DynCorp , Blackwater and others.

Without being political, any smaller companies in the oil business are probably halting anything that is not an integral part of their operations until they see how things are going to shake out over the next year or so. I suspect you will others within the warbird world start doing the same thing fairly soon.

A news article with a few more details: Dynamic Aviation confirms staff layoffs

Also, in case anyone missed it, Mr. Pettersen wrote a detailed article on the Columbine II restoration back in June: Columbine II Restoration Update

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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

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