This Super Constellation was built as a civilian model which never saw any military use. It flew initially with the Cuban national airline, Cubana de Aviación as CU-P573 and later was traded, leased and leased back among various aviation entities until being retired in 1967. By 1968 the plane had been purchased and erected on poles over the top of a restaurant in Penndel, Pennsylvania where the plane served as a novel, eye-catching cocktail lounge.
In 1996 the restaurant and attached plane were purchased by Amoco Oil who bought the site for use as a gas station. Recognizing the historical significance of the aircraft, Amoco offered the plane to the Air Mobility Command Museum. It was transported overland to the museum in December of 1997 with the restoration being an ongoing project ever since.
The restoration of the plane to resemble a C-121C Super Constellation, painted and equipped represent a ‘Connie’ used by the US Military Air Transport Service was not much of a stretch as the military C-121C and civilian L-1049 were essentially the same aircraft.
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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