Warbird Information Exchange

According to the e-newsletter I received today the NASM's Connie will soon be on display at Udvar Hazy. The newsletter says the plane is being thoroughly cleaned before being placed on display. I dont suppose that means a new paint job.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Wow! THat is great. news. It is a very cool aircraft.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/ai ... d_1049.htm

It's had been outside for a long time...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Yeah it looked pretty rough the last time I saw it.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

It's nice to know that the C-121C at Udvar-Hazy is going to be prepared for display. I agree that it looks like it will need a little more than just a thorough cleaning to get it ready for display.

But hopefully they will restore it to a beautiful appearance. A Super Constellation will be a very welcome addition to the displays at the museum.

Some pictures from the E newsletter...

http://www.nasm.si.edu/imagedetail.cfm?imageID=1230

http://www.nasm.si.edu/imagedetail.cfm?imageID=1231

http://www.nasm.si.edu/imagedetail.cfm?imageID=1233

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Does anyone know if the Connie is to be painted in its historical military markings or in commercial livery?

Is it to be displayed in the comecial dies of Udvar-Hazy (near the Concorde) or in the post WWII military wing?

Kevin

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Kevin McCartney

I hope they are not going to try to take this former military C-121C Super Constellation and try to make it up like a civil airliner version. The aircraft should be cleaned up, refurbished and painted in legitimate military markings to display the aircraft as it truly was.

If the NASM is really interested in a commerical airliner Super Connie display, then they should trade this C-121C for the civil L-1049E Super Connie at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB, Delaware. Althought the Super Connie at Dover is in significantly rougher shape than the one that NASM has in Virginia, the AMC Museum people are actually planning on trying to convert this former civil Connie to represent a C-121C in MATS service as it looked in the 1950s/60s.

I really wish the Dover Museum had a real former military Super Connie rather than having to do this convoluted modification on their civil Connie.

The aircraft is being moved because a new building is going up near where it is stored and will block the movement of the aircraft because of it's large wingspan. That is the reason that this is happening right now. As far as I know, it will not be going inside the museum for some time, but this might have changed since last I heard. They will be cleaning it up though, but as far as any restoration goes, I doubt that they have the manpower available at present.

Cheers,
Richard

Accorind to the E newsletter, it is to be re-painted in it's former military markings and moved inside the Hazy center when complete - within 3 months...

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

That's good news! I hadn't heard about the repaint.... this wasn't what I'd been told three weeks ago... guess I should check my newsletter more diligently!

Cheers,
Richard

Glad to hear the NASM is finally planning to put their military C-121 indoors. I imagine in addition to cleaning and painting the aircraft they will also need to remove some of the chicken wire out of the engine nacelles and exposed openings that was used to keep the birds out. Our NMUSAF's EC-121, nicknamed "Triple Nickle" because of its serial number, sat outside in the Air Park for several years until we finally moved it into the Modern Flight Gallery in 2002. I got to help remove the chicken wire out of its engine nacelles. Since then Triple Nickle's paint scheme and interior has been completely refurbished. I'm sure the NASM will do the same for their military C-121 and it will look just as impressive as ours.

Jim