The 2026 edition of the Propliner Annual will be published on April 20, 2026. As its title implies, Propliner Magazine is totally dedicated to Propliner aircraft and is a must-have for any aviation enthusiast and especially Propliner enthusiasts. Orders for this bumper 176-page publication can be placed at www.propliner.co.uk
HARS Super Connie Suffers Engine Failure - May 15, 2026
I received a message today from David Wood informing me that HARS Super Connie VH-EAG recently suffered an engine failure. "The HARS Super Connie has blown an engine, and it needs to be rebuilt or replaced. The Connie is grounded for the time being and HARS has started a GoFundMe account to raise funds for the effort. Former Qantas Super Connie flight engineer Alan Trass tells me that it's the #3 engine that has failed." Many thanks to David for his report.
Lufthansa Completes Starliner (Super Star) Static Restoration - May 8, 2026
Lufthansa's recently completed the restoration of L1649A D-ALAN (N7316C) and Dirk Grothe was given the opportunity to visit and photograph the aircraft on April 30th. What an amazing transformation from the first time I saw this aircraft at Maurice Round's house in January 1997! "I had an exclusive photo shoot at Lufthansa Group Hangar One in Frankfurt last week, the home of the L-1649A Super Star in its final destination."
"Following the rollout of the Lufthansa Super Star in January 2025 at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg in its primer coat and its presentation in its 1950s livery in August 2025 at Munster/Osnabruck Airport (FMO), it is now at its final destination in Frankfurt. Dirk Grothe visited the aircraft in the new "Lufthansa Group Hangar One" before its opening to the public this coming summer."
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
"Bataan" Delights Crowd at SUN 'n FUN - April 20, 2026
Crowd favorite Constellation "Bataan" arrived at the SUN 'n FUN airshow late Thursday afternoon after completing a two-day transcontinental flight from Aurora, Oregon. The aircraft and crew didn't disappoint show attendees with flights on both Friday and Saturday. All good things must come to an end with the Connie heading west back home on early Sunday afternoon. Izzy Polo sent me some photos from the show. "I have been following your website for a while now because the Constellation is my favorite aircraft ever. Yesterday (April 18th) I was able to see Air Legends' Bataan Connie both on display and in flight at SUN 'n FUN! I figured I would send over my favorite photos from that day; it was a magical experience seeing her for the first time in person. Thanks for all the hard work you do documenting her." Many thanks to Izzy for his kind words and for sharing his photos.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Super Connie Continues Its Slow Decay in Aguadilla - April 13, 2026
Jim Devonshire recently sent a photo and short report on the current status of L1049H HI-542. "I stumbled on your website while trying to learn something about the Constellation at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The attached picture was taken this past Thursday while I was visiting the airport. Perhaps an update for you - it's still there." The good news is that it hasn't been cut up...the bad news is that it is slowly being consumed by the vegetation.
FAA Issues Determination on the Airline History Museum's Part 16 Complaint - April 2, 2026
After 18+ months, the FAA has finally rendered a determination regarding the Airline History Museum's FAA Part 16 complaint. While there's lots of legal verbiage in this comprehensive document that I don't totally comprehend, it all boils down to a statement on page 27 of the document..."The Complaint is dismissed." Not quite sure what this means for things going forward, but it can't be good for the museum. I would not be totally surprised if additional legal challenges are forthcoming from the museum. Word is that the museum's L1011 will be scrapped before the FIFA World Cup event happens in mid-June. Check out the museum's response to the FAA decision on the its website, which seems to indicate they want to vacate the hangar and remove their aircraft. Stay tuned for updates.
Kermit Moves His Connie - Feburary 13, 2026 - Updated February 19, 2026
Kermit Weeks recently posted an interesting 41-minute video on YouTube titled Lockheed Constellation Move - Part 1 which documents the movement of his Starliner N974R from a grass field to a concrete handstand in front of his main hangar. Kermit is in the midst of building what he calls "Fantasy of Flight - Act III" and the aircraft had to make way for the groundbreaking. Having been damaged during previous hurricanes, Kermit also wanted to move the aircraft where it could be better secured for any future storms. His short intro on the video..."OK, Gang, here’s Part 1 of 2, moving the Lockheed Constellation from its display location near the Museum Lite to make room for the construction of our new hangar! This is typical of things we do around Fantasy of Flight, so grab yourself a beverage, sit back, and watch us do all the work!" It's great that the aircraft has been moved off the grass field, which has been its home for many years. Aircraft parked on grass fields in humid climates suffer greatly from corrosion and I hope its move doesn't come too late. In the video, Kermit says that he plans on converting the aircraft in a restaurant one day. Kudos to Kermit for taking care of this iconic aircraft and moving it out of harm's way. Hopefully his restaurant plans come to fruition. UPDATE - Here's Part 2 of the video.
French Propliner Relics - January 27, 2026
I recently received an email from Hansjoerg Buergi with a report and photos from a trip he took last fall to France. What makes his photos so special is that quite a few were taken from the air in his Cessna. "Last autumn we flew with our Cessna 172XP to France to visit some Propliner relics. So I send you some pictures and information in the attachment, which you could use for free for your very interesting website."
Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation F-BHBG near Quimper (LFRQ)
"The Lockheed L-1049G entered service with Air France in October 1955 as F-BHBG. Air France grounded it in Toulouse in April 1963. Its flying career was over. At the end of the 1960s, it was dismantled and transported to La Roche-Bernard to serve as a tourist attraction. In December 1973, it was transported further northwest to Vannes and finally, in August 1976, to its current location near Quimper at "Le Moulin." In 2001, it survived an arson attack, and in 2003, it lost its two outer side fins due to progressive corrosion. Today, it is in a desolate condition but still complete."
 |
 |
"The L-1049G Super Constellation in Nantes is the F-BGNJ, which Air France received in November 1953. Ten years later, it was parked at Paris-Orly. Sales attempts failed until it took off again on September 5, 1968, as F-BRAD for Air Fret thanks to the impending Biafra mission. From 1970 to 1973, Catair used it as a freighter. In May 1973, it flew to Nimes-Garons, and a year later to Nantes, where it has been on display ever since. In 1985, it was repainted in its original Air France colours, and in 2001, the French government designated it a "historic monument." This was followed by a comprehensive restoration, and today it is cared for by the "Amicale du Super-Constellation F-BGNJ" association."
 |
 |
"This Breguet 763 is one of only three still in existence; only 20 were ever built. It bears the fake registration F-BACC, but in reality, it is the F-BASS, which flew for Air France from 1953 to 1964 and was then used by the French Air Force with the registrations "306," F-RAPP, and F-RBPP. It is even said to have flown missions in the South Pacific to support nuclear tests there. However, it was taken out of service in 1967 and, in 1984, slipped into its new role as "Restaurant Le Breguet" in Fontenay-Tresigny, painted in Air France colors. In 2011, the swingers club "Septieme Ciel" was established there, but it was closed in 2014 after several scandals."
 |
 |
"A Vickers Viscount, the SE-210 Caravelle 12 F-GCVK, and the Boeing 727-200 F-BOJA have been displayed in the immediate vicinity of Merville Airport for years. They served as training platforms for mechanic training at the Institut Aeronautique Amaury de la Grange (IAAG). In 2022, however, the three fully preserved aircraft were towed from the IAAG site to a neighboring property, where they now threaten to rot away. According to the local flight school, the new owners have plans for a restaurant. Information on this can be found on the Facebook page "T'air France."
 |
 |
Many thanks to Hansjoerg for sharing his report and superb photos.
FAA Kicks the Can Down the Road on AHM's Part 16 Complaint for the NINTH TIME - January 24, 2026
The Airline History (AHM) recently announced on its website that the FAA, for the ninth time, has issued an extension the museum's Part 16 Complaint, with the decision date being pushed back to February 18, 2026. What can I say other than to repeat that this is absolutely amazing and has got to be extremely frustrating for all parties involved including the museum, John Travolta's folks and Signature Flight Service.
| Page Top | Home |
----Created 31 January 2004------Updated 15 May 2026----