SCFA Super Connie

The project to bring one of the three last airworthy Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellations to Europe started in the year 2000, when the "Super Constellation Flyers Association", founded by a group of Swiss pilots and aviation enthusiasts, bought a former Aerochago freighter aircraft in the Dominican Republic and ferried her to Avra Valley, Arizona, to carry out repairs and modify her to passenger standards. However, after a lot of work on the aircraft the U.S. FAA unfortunately did not grant the necessary certifications, and at the end of 2002 it looked very much as if the project had to be abandoned. Shortly afterwards the SCFA got in contact with the owner of the Camarillo based Super Connie (known as the "Camarillo Connie"), who wanted to sell his aircraft. This Connie, registered N73544, already was certified for carrying passengers, and after long negotiations an agreement was made for a lease/purchase deal for the plane, a former US Air Force Super Constellation C-121C which had been touring the US airshow circuit for many years. The Super Connie was prepared for the trans-atlantic flight to Europe in the early months of 2004, and on April 26 she took off from Camarillo - now sporting the titles and logo of the project's main sponsor, pilot's watch manufacturer Breitling - to arrive at her new home base at Basel airport on May 8, 2004.

This is just a short recap of a long story. If you want more information on the SCFA or even want to become a member of this organization (entitling you to ride in the plane!) please check out their homepage at www.superconstellation.ch.

This album will be updated with new photos of the Super Connie whenever I've had a chance to shoot her again (which hopefully should be often, considering that she's based in Switzerland and even at my "home airport").