From cocktail lounge to museum display

The restoration of the Air Mobility Command Museum's Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation N1005C (c/n 4557) achieved a major milestone in July 2003 when World Wide Aircraft Recovery Ltd. completed its reassembly, reports Ralph M. Pettersen. Using engines and landing gear salvaged from the defunct Florence Air and Museum's NC-121K BuNo 141292 (c/n 4416), the three-man crew took about a week to reassemble the old girl. It had been stored at the museum since arriving from Penndel, Pennsylvania, in November 1997 where it had served as a cocktail lounge atop a restaurant for almost 30 years.

Now that the Connie is up on its feet, the museum volunteers face the daunting task of completing the restoration. Many layers of peeling paint must be removed and missing/damaged components must be either found or fabricated. The engine cowlings were heavily damaged by a brush fire at Florence, South Carolina, and must be replaced as do the main gear doors which are severely corroded. For additional information about this project, check out the museum's website at www.amcmuseum.org.