Lockheed constellation Patan It is scheduled to return to Oscush this summer as part of the EAA Airventure. The plane, the C-121A model, is part of the ROD Lewis collection and its ownership and preservation by the Air Legends Foundation in San Antonio, Texas.
Patan It is one of the last jewelry models in existence. It will be shown on Boeing Plaza at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) during the annual Fly-in conference from 21 to 27 July.
Rick Larsen, Vice President of Communities at EAA and member programs, said: “The indoor mansion of Lockheed’s tail, in addition to its unforgettable triple design, is preferred whenever it appears in Oukasoush,” We are appreciating the work of the institution Air Legends to return it to the flight mode and prepare it to EAA Airventure. “
Air the plane
The development of the Lockheed constellation, known as “The Connie”, arose from a request from Transcontinental and Western Airlines in 1939 for a 40 -sized plane that can fly throughout the country. The Haward Hughes was a great supporter of the project, as he pushed a plane with a group of 3500 miles, which was more than anything that was previously designed.
In 1943, the L-049 constellation made her first trip. It was also launched in the middle of World War II, the plane was used as a military transport.
After the war, the press driven by the fan entered the service as a civilian plane.
Unlike the unprecedented DC-3, which was one of the most popular aircraft, it can fly on most of the weather, which leads to a more comfortable and safe flight. The airlines’ travel has become glamorous in the post -war years, and people wearing clothes as they were going to a luxurious airline.
Meanwhile, the army is still using cony. the Patan It was handed over to the US Air Force in January 1949 for use by the Military Air Transport Service. It was used during Berlin’s air to transport employees and equipment, then convert it into a VIP transfer.
During the Korean war, General Douglas Mac Arthur used it as a personal plane and he was the one who called it Patan. The flying army retired to Boneyyard in 1965, then later, it was recovered by NASA for use in APOLLO. The plane was officially stopped in 1970.
From 1970 to 1992, Patan It was kept at the US Army Aviation Museum before Ed Maloni owned the air fame planes. From 1995 to 2016, Patan He lives on the Planes of Fame Fame at Valle Airport in Arizona.
Air Legends Foundation acquired the plane in 2015. A year later, it was transferred to Chino, California, and fighter construction players went to work to restore cony. Constellation made its first journey to Airventure in 2023, although the internal restoration was not yet completed.