The Manila International Airport Authority in Manila, Philippines recently announced an auction to forcibly sell off a dozen dormant airliners which had lain more or less abandoned at the airfield’s general aviation facility for some years now. These included five DC-9’s, an Antonov 24, Yak-40, four DC-3s and most importantly a Lockheed Super Constellation. The civilianized, former US Navy C-121J (Bu.131623) has been ground-bound at Manila for more than twenty five years now. It was last used by World Fish & Agriculture, Inc. to fly tuna from Palau to Nagoya, Japan, until being impounded at Manila in 1988. Since that time the aircraft has slowly deteriorated in the hot and humid climate. This usually spells the end for any airliner, and the scrap man is nearly always the winner at an auction such as the one held at Manila on September 12th.
However, while there is no news on the fate of the four DC-3s, WarbirdsNews learned from a post on Ralph Pettersen’s fabulous website Connie Survivors, that the Qantas Founders Museum has secured the the Super Constellation. The museum, based at Longreach in Queensland, Australia has been around since the mid 1990s and is dedicated to preserving the history of the famous airline. Qantas initiated its around-the-world service with the Constellation, and it played a major role in broadening the airline’s reach.
The chairman of the Qantas Foundation Memorial, Rodney Seccombe, recently stated that until the advent of the Lockheed Constellation, “… it took about ten days to fly to London in a flying boat, and it [the Connie] reduced that back to four days, so it made a terrific difference. The ‘Connies’ have all sorts of firsts – they were the first pressurised, they were the first ones to fly around the world, and Qantas actually had counter rotating flights going around the world…They crossed over in London and Sydney. You take ten days to London, back to four days, it is a big difference.”
Seccombe says the museum has been looking for a Constellation for years now. While they have now purchased the one in Manila, there is only a certain amount of time to remove the aircraft from the premises. Initially the airport authority said that any purchasers had just two months to get them out, but presumably they will make some allowances for the museum as the plane is unable to fly out and will need significant disassembly for transport to Australia by ship. The Qantas Founders Museum is currently in the process of raising funds to affect this move, so anyone wishing to help save this fine airliner should visit the museum website or click HERE to become a member of the Qantas Foundation Memorial.
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.
We have a fully restored Constellation on Lelystad Airport, great plane! It came from Arizona and after its restauration, it flew back to the Netherlands.
From Tom Ballantyne: “Based on the B17 military bomber, the Boeing Model 307 Stratoliner was the first commercial transport aircraft with a pressurized cabin, allowing it to cruise at an altitude of 20,000 ft (6,000 meters), well above bad weather. Perhaps Rodney Seccombe meant to say the Connie was the first pressurized airliner to fly for Quantas. Just sayin.
Correct BuNo131643, C /N 1049B-4144, R /N N4247K from Ralph Petterson & Joe Baugher sites
I was part of the flight crew from 1959 To 1961
That is fascinating Ron… We’d love to hear more. Thanks for writing in!
I was radar tech on EC 121 mid 60s during Vietnam nam
Tom, the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, CA will receive very soon the EC 121 that was at Chanute AFB Museum.