Lockheed 749-79-32 Constellation

Lockheed 749-79-32 Constellation

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01/22/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "After World War II ended, the Irish Government decided to start transatlantic air service between the United States and Ireland. A new company, Aerlinte Éireann Teoranta, was formed on February 26, 1947 by Aer Rianta, the government holding company which controlled 70% of Aer Lingus Teoranta. To provide this service, five Lockheed 747 Constellations were ordered. All were accommodate 52-day or 44-night (eight bunks and 36 seats) passengers plus five crew.

This aircraft was delivered at Burbank, California, on August 28, 1947. Three of the aircraft (this one plus EI-ACR c/n 749-2548 and EI-ADA c/n 749-2554) flew across the Atlantic Ocean in formation and were greeted by 12,000 people when they arrived at Dublin Airport on September 30, 1947.

Transatlantic service was to begin in November 1947 but it was postponed until March 1948 because of technical difficulties. Two of the aircraft were leased to Aer Lingus and used on the Dublin-London and Dublin-Rome routes. In addition to technical problems, two other problems developed, financial and political; Aer Lingus lost almost IR£900,000 in 1947/1948 and because of these loses, the new government did not support the transatlantic service and all five Connies were placed in storage at Dublin in February 1948.

All five of the Connies were sold to British Overseas Airways Corp. (BOAC) of London, this one on June 15, 1948. The aircraft were purchased to replace the antiquated Short Solent flying boats on the London-Australia route. This Connie was registered G-ALAL, named Banbury and placed in service on December 1, 1948 flying to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia via Rome, Italy; Cairo, Egypt; Karachi, Pakistan; Calcutta, India; Singapore, Malaya; and Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The aircraft was subsequently converted to a Model 749A with new engines and increased take off weight and later to a 60-seat tourist aircraft.

In July 1959, this aircraft was leased to Skyways of London, Ltd., to operate cargo flights from London to Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney, Australia. To accommodate cargo, BOAC installed a rear cargo door during early 1960. Skyways purchased this aircraft on June 13, 1962 but the company was purchased by Euravia (London) Ltd. on September 1, 1962. These aircraft were used as 82-seat tourist and cargo flights.

Sold to Aviation Charter Enterprises Ltd. (ACE Freighters) of London on February 4, 1965, the Connie suffered damage to the Number 2 engine at Karachi, Pakistan on August 5/6, 1965. The aircraft was repaired but ACE Freighters went bankrupt in September 1966 and it was stored at Baginton Airport, Coventry, Warwickshire, England. After bankruptcy procedures, the aircraft ended up in Miami, Florida, USA. It was to be sold to COPISA (Compania Peruana Internacional de Aviacion S.A.) of Lima, Peru, registered OB-R-899 but the deal fell through however, the Lockheed c/n plate of this aircraft was officially transferred to L749 c/n 2548 in July 1966. The aircraft was placed in storage at Miami and subsequently sold to a number of individuals and companies and eventually used for spare parts until it was scrapped in fall 1974."


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01/22/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "After World War II ended, the Irish Government decided to start transatlantic air service between the United States and Ireland. A new company, Aerlinte Éireann Teoranta, was formed on February 26, 1947 by Aer Rianta, the government holding company which controlled 70% of Aer Lingus Teoranta. To provide this service, five Lockheed 747 Constellations were ordered. All were accommodate 52-day or 44-night (eight bunks and 36 seats) passengers plus five crew. This aircraft was delivered at Burbank, California, on August 28, 1947. Three of the aircraft (this one plus EI-ACR c/n 749-2548 and EI-ADA c/n 749-2554) flew across the Atlantic Ocean in formation and were greeted by 12,000 people when they arrived at Dublin Airport on September 30, 1947. Transatlantic service was to begin in November 1947 but it was postponed until March 1948 because of technical difficulties. Two of the aircraft were leased to Aer Lingus and used on the Dublin-London and Dublin-Rome routes. In addition to technical problems, two other problems developed, financial and political; Aer Lingus lost almost IR£900,000 in 1947/1948 and because of these loses, the new government did not support the transatlantic service and all five Connies were placed in storage at Dublin in February 1948. All five of the Connies were sold to British Overseas Airways Corp. (BOAC) of London, this one on June 15, 1948. The aircraft were purchased to replace the antiquated Short Solent flying boats on the London-Australia route. This Connie was registered G-ALAL, named Banbury and placed in service on December 1, 1948 flying to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia via Rome, Italy; Cairo, Egypt; Karachi, Pakistan; Calcutta, India; Singapore, Malaya; and Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The aircraft was subsequently converted to a Model 749A with new engines and increased take off weight and later to a 60-seat tourist aircraft. In July 1959, this aircraft was leased to Skyways of London, Ltd., to operate cargo flights from London to Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney, Australia. To accommodate cargo, BOAC installed a rear cargo door during early 1960. Skyways purchased this aircraft on June 13, 1962 but the company was purchased by Euravia (London) Ltd. on September 1, 1962. These aircraft were used as 82-seat tourist and cargo flights. Sold to Aviation Charter Enterprises Ltd. (ACE Freighters) of London on February 4, 1965, the Connie suffered damage to the Number 2 engine at Karachi, Pakistan on August 5/6, 1965. The aircraft was repaired but ACE Freighters went bankrupt in September 1966 and it was stored at Baginton Airport, Coventry, Warwickshire, England. After bankruptcy procedures, the aircraft ended up in Miami, Florida, USA. It was to be sold to COPISA (Compania Peruana Internacional de Aviacion S.A.) of Lima, Peru, registered OB-R-899 but the deal fell through however, the Lockheed c/n plate of this aircraft was officially transferred to L749 c/n 2548 in July 1966. The aircraft was placed in storage at Miami and subsequently sold to a number of individuals and companies and eventually used for spare parts until it was scrapped in fall 1974."