Lufthansa Group's vintage aviation specialist division has unveiled the Lockheed L-1649A airliner, which has been assembled in Hamburg over the past 18 months.
The aircraft was originally purchased in 2011 for the purpose of being restored and returned to flight, joining the company's Junkers Ju 52 fleet.
However, the ambitious plan, which dates back to 2007, was scrapped in 2018 due to concerns over the scope of work required and rising costs.
Lufthansa subsequently discontinued sightseeing flights using the Ju 52, citing financial problems with operating the aging aircraft.
The alternative is to display the two aircraft as part of the centenary celebrations in 2026, which will mark 100 years since the first flight of Deutsche Luft Hansa following the merger of Deutsche Aero Lloyd and Junkers Luftverkehr. is included.
Branded “Super Star” by Lufthansa, this four-engine type, with a triple tail configuration similar to the Lockheed L-1049 Constellation, entered service on the Hamburg-New York route 68 years ago in 1957. I did.
Lufthansa Technik said it plans to paint the L-1649A and transport it to Frankfurt in October, where it will be unveiled alongside the Ju 52. It will be the “centerpiece” of the new conference and visitor center starting in the spring. 2026.
“Thanks to the glass façade, the exhibits are clearly visible from the outside,” he adds.
Lufthansa Technik unveiled its newly reassembled L-1649A Starliner on January 17th.
“The challenge for the technical team in Hamburg was initially to assemble several large parts accurately,” he said, adding that the main aeronautical structure of the aircraft was shipped from the United States along with 292 wooden boxes containing smaller parts. He added that he had been transferred to Germany.
He said the cockpit is “as faithful as possible to the original,” with working lighting and controls and that pulling cables can move the control surfaces, including the rudder and flaps.
Repainting to the original Lufthansa livery will take place at Münster Osnabrück Airport, where the aircraft will be disassembled and transported again in July.
The cabin has been renovated and uses Airbus A340 seats, but the upholstery is in a burgundy color scheme, and the carpets and curtains are also based on historic designs.
Lufthansa's interest in the aircraft stemmed from three Starliners (two ex-Trans World Airlines and one ex-Lufthansa) being stored in Maine and Florida and undergoing restoration work by aviation enthusiasts. It surfaced in 2007 after acquiring a machine). .
Developed to compete with the Douglas DC-7, the Starliner is derived as a long-range version of the Constellation and is powered by a Wright R-3350 engine.
