Ex-MATS Connie in S Korea.........
Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:30 pm
has received a new paint job. check www.conniesurvivors.com/1-connie_news.htm There is also an update about the Connie the Museum of Flight is trying to import from Canada.
Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:37 pm
Are the Koreans actually flying that plane (looks like it), or are they planning on letting it slowly return back to the condition it was in before the MATS crew work so hard to refurbish it? With the money they spent for the plane, I'm guessing they have some type of schedule for operation, seeing that it's a flight training facility and all.
Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:40 pm
All that hard work polishing that aircraft to a mirror shine...painted over... 
Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:05 pm
What a bummer. I was fortunate enough to see her on multiple occasions and it was always a fantastic sight.
Rob, I've read elsewhere that the Connie is to be a static exhibit and no longer flown.
Rob, I've read elsewhere that the Connie is to be a static exhibit and no longer flown.
Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:57 pm
Won't fly again. I believe the airworthy engines were removed for the Dutch Connie and replaced by static ones.
Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:55 pm
The MATS Connie was bought by the Koreans with the stated intention of it being static only. The good engines were indeed sent to the Dutch Connie at Lelystad.
Walt
Walt
Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:14 pm
Hmmm... mixed emotions here... 
I guess it's no secret that I'm a crazed, foaming-at-the-mouth Connie freak, so this whole thing with the Koreans and the MATS bird really chaps my... uh... backside. I'm really bummed that we're down to one flying Connie left on this continent, the Star of America (what a perfect name!). The Connies that have left us have certainly gone to good homes, with the exception of the MATS bird, but I would have preferred to have 'em all aviating in North American airspace. At least the MATS Connie's engines will live on in the care of those very dedicated Connie-lovers in The Netherlands... that's a great thing!
I have fond childhood memories of going out to Philadelphia International Airport with my grandfather and watching the TWA and Eastern Connies come and go from the windows of the rooftop restaurant as we ate hot dogs and sipped fountain Coca-Colas...
Connies... ya just gotta love 'em...
I guess it's no secret that I'm a crazed, foaming-at-the-mouth Connie freak, so this whole thing with the Koreans and the MATS bird really chaps my... uh... backside. I'm really bummed that we're down to one flying Connie left on this continent, the Star of America (what a perfect name!). The Connies that have left us have certainly gone to good homes, with the exception of the MATS bird, but I would have preferred to have 'em all aviating in North American airspace. At least the MATS Connie's engines will live on in the care of those very dedicated Connie-lovers in The Netherlands... that's a great thing!
I have fond childhood memories of going out to Philadelphia International Airport with my grandfather and watching the TWA and Eastern Connies come and go from the windows of the rooftop restaurant as we ate hot dogs and sipped fountain Coca-Colas...
Connies... ya just gotta love 'em...
Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:30 am
In better days.
This is only Connie I have ever seen fly.
This is only Connie I have ever seen fly.
Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:47 am
Me, too, Dean.
I grew up in Orlando in the late 50's and early 60's, and spent many an hour at the airport fence watching the planes come in. Those were the days when the fence was pretty close to the end of the runway, and you could almost read the words "Goodyear" on the sidewalls of the tires as the planes came over. Eastern was flying the Super G Connies and National had the Super H flying into Orlando at the time.
I would spend my hard-earned lawn-mowing money on plane tickets, and go to places like Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville and Atlanta on day-trips. Flew on the DC-6s and DC-7s of Eastern and Delta, the Convairs of National and Delta, the National Electras, but never did manage to snag a trip on a Connie.
We would go over to the terminal in Orlando and chat with the ticket agents between flights. They got to know us and we got a lot of behind-the-scenes tours of the baggage areas and they would often take us out to the aircraft and give us a tour. Great times.
Walt
I grew up in Orlando in the late 50's and early 60's, and spent many an hour at the airport fence watching the planes come in. Those were the days when the fence was pretty close to the end of the runway, and you could almost read the words "Goodyear" on the sidewalls of the tires as the planes came over. Eastern was flying the Super G Connies and National had the Super H flying into Orlando at the time.
I would spend my hard-earned lawn-mowing money on plane tickets, and go to places like Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville and Atlanta on day-trips. Flew on the DC-6s and DC-7s of Eastern and Delta, the Convairs of National and Delta, the National Electras, but never did manage to snag a trip on a Connie.
We would go over to the terminal in Orlando and chat with the ticket agents between flights. They got to know us and we got a lot of behind-the-scenes tours of the baggage areas and they would often take us out to the aircraft and give us a tour. Great times.
Walt
Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:05 am
Was fortunate enough to catch a ride few years back when she was visiting New York. She's sorely missed around here.
Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:08 am
What's the background on it's sale to the Koreans? It's a shame it couldn't stay here...even as a static display.
Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:27 pm
I grew up under the approach/depature of Atlanta International Airport, & I too can remember seeing & hearing those Connies, DC-7s, 6s, & the early jets. There ain't nothing like the sound of a Connie for a big airplane. What a beautifull airplane.
Robbie
Robbie
Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:45 pm
Basically, Vern Raburn (Eclipse Aviation, Microsoft etc) owned the MATS Connie. He'd been trying to sell it for a while, I remember that Air Comix and maybe others had ads for it. Pratt & Whitney finally wound up buying it from Vern, and donating it to the Koreans.
As to why Vern sold it, you'd have to ask him. I think tho, that he'd had his fun with it, maybe, and it was time to move on. I also had heard that Frank Lang (who flew Connies for Eastern I think and was the MATS Connie chief pilot) wanted a slower pace of life at 80-something.
I think also that Vern saw the writing on the wall as far as the increasing difficulty and staggering expense of operating multi-engine prop planes, and the airshows not being able to afford fuel and appearance fees etc etc.
I, like all of you, cried when I heard the news that she'd been sold, and that she'd be ground-bound forever. I sure do miss her.
"Jets are for Kids"
As to why Vern sold it, you'd have to ask him. I think tho, that he'd had his fun with it, maybe, and it was time to move on. I also had heard that Frank Lang (who flew Connies for Eastern I think and was the MATS Connie chief pilot) wanted a slower pace of life at 80-something.
I think also that Vern saw the writing on the wall as far as the increasing difficulty and staggering expense of operating multi-engine prop planes, and the airshows not being able to afford fuel and appearance fees etc etc.
I, like all of you, cried when I heard the news that she'd been sold, and that she'd be ground-bound forever. I sure do miss her.
"Jets are for Kids"
APG85 wrote:What's the background on it's sale to the Koreans? It's a shame it couldn't stay here...even as a static display.
Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:32 am
Hi Guys,
Yep, it was a sad day for me as well to see one very proud aircraft become a ground bound statue. Even with the new paint. I was lucky enough to see both the MATS Connie and the TWA Connie at Oshkosh one year. I would have to look (am still living out of boxes ever since moving from MN to CT), but I may have some shot of both.
The one silver lining to this cloud is that the good engines from the MATS Connie went towards keeping another airworthy airframe in the air.
Aren't there several other Connies that perhaps aren't flown regularly, but are either airworthy or getting close to becoming airworthy again ??
Paul
Yep, it was a sad day for me as well to see one very proud aircraft become a ground bound statue. Even with the new paint. I was lucky enough to see both the MATS Connie and the TWA Connie at Oshkosh one year. I would have to look (am still living out of boxes ever since moving from MN to CT), but I may have some shot of both.
The one silver lining to this cloud is that the good engines from the MATS Connie went towards keeping another airworthy airframe in the air.
Aren't there several other Connies that perhaps aren't flown regularly, but are either airworthy or getting close to becoming airworthy again ??
Paul
Sat Jan 20, 2007 9:33 pm
Aircraft Mech Paul wrote:Aren't there several other Connies that perhaps aren't flown regularly, but are either airworthy or getting close to becoming airworthy again ??
What happened to N9463 / 48-0610 / Columbine II? That one has been kept in an (almost) airworthy condition for a long time?
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... entry=true
Tillerman.