Keith Meyers is correct that there is a flying Connie in Australia (Connie down under, Oct. 21 issue), and the Save-A-Connie in Kansas City, however he is misinformed about where the rest of the flying Connies live.
The MATS Connie, N494TW, was purchased by Korean Airlines about a year ago and was flown to its museum at Cheju Island, Korea, in April. It is airworthy and lived at Marana Regional Airport near Tucson for about 20 years and was flown regularly on tours throughout the U.S. I flew that airplane for 10 years.
One of the MATS Connie’s sister-ships, N749RV, was flown to the Dutch Aviodome Museum near Amsterdam a few years ago and underwent an extensive restoration to flying condition. See Aviodome.nl.
The Camarillo Connie, N73544, was based at Camarillo, Calif., for many years and flew regularly to airshows and events in the western U.S. Two years ago it was purchased by a Swiss Group and went to Basel, Switzerland. I have flown that airplane for nine years and have flown it extensively for the past two years in Europe. For information on the Breitling Super Constellation, SuperConstellation.org.
Another MATS Connie sister-ship is the Columbine II, N9463, and is also based at Marana Regional Airport. It was flown to Marana from Santa Fe a couple of years ago by Clint Fraser and me. It is not flown regularly but is airworthy and may be for sale. Ike’s Columbine One is on display at the Pima Air Museum at Tucson only 25 miles from his Columbine II.
Gen. MacArthur’s “Bataan” N422NA is displayed at the Planes of Fame Museum at Valle, Ariz. It has been restored to flying condition.
Super Constellation N105CF is also owned by the Swiss Super Constellation Flyers and is currently at Marana Regional Airport. It is partially restored and may one day find its way to Switzerland.
The MATS Connie, Columbine II, The Dutch Connie, Bataan and Columbine One came off the line at Burbank within the same month in 1948 as their Air Force numbers are 48-0609, 48-0610, 48-0612, 48-0613 and 48-0614. Most flew the Berlin Airlift in 1948-49. In fact, the MATS Connie was flown to Berlin in 1998 for the 50th anniversary celebration of the airlift. I was there.
Thanks for a fine aviation publication.
Al Malecha
Payson, Ariz.