1998 marked the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, and to celebrate this event some vintage airliners which had participated in the lift visited Europe again during the summer. The most beautiful and rarest of those was of course the Lockheed L-749A Constellation of the Constellation Group, operated in full “Military Air Transport Service” (MATS) colors. It was the first Connie to be seen in Europe after more than 20 years and generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst the prop lovers here. A big “thank you” from all of us goes to the crew members and supporters of the Constellation Group who made this memorable visit possible!
The following photos were all taken during the Swiss part of the Connie tour, i.e. at the “Bodensee Air Show” in Altenrhein (that’s also where the air-to-air photoflight originated) and at Basel.
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Close-up of the engine start
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors
N494TW / 48-609Lockheed L-749A Constellation Constellation Group, MATS colors