The Star of America, seen at the Kansas City Downtown Airport preparing for engine runs – Photo: JL Johnson
This is the story of a Connie that no one wanted, a plane that was abandoned and mothballed numerous times throughout its history. While it has had a generally-tragic existence, with just a few bright spots sprinkled in, this is an adventure that continues to unfold. In fact, in 2014, this plane will begin a new chapter as it again returns to the skies.
In 1958, this Lockheed Constellation rolled off the assembly line in Burbank, California – destined straight for storage. It was the beginning of the jet age and suddenly airlines had little interest in these sleek, evolutionary, once record-setting birds. Indeed, even those like this 1049H model, which were built with the intent of easy conversion between freighter and passenger configurations, were a hard sell. The variant was canceled after just over 50 were built, this example being third from last. Prior to completion, the order for this plane was canceled, just the beginning of a tough existence for this elegant flying machine.
In September of 1959 after over a year in storage, it was converted to freighter, sold to Slick Airways, and assigned registration number N6937C (which it has carried ever since). For eleven years the plane ran freight with various carriers before being stored and later abandoned in Miami, FL. In June of 1971, it was seized by the airport for non-payment of fees. After being auctioned off it spent the next four years doing odd jobs, hauling military parts and even horses. Its last commercial use was as a sprayer in Mesa, Arizona, where it was equipped with chemical tanks and large spray booms.
This video is technically not a TWA commercial, but it does star one of their Boeing 707s. This is a classic milk commercial way before the whole “Got Milk” craze became popular. Two flight attendants banter about how they are trying to lose weight, but keep up their energy on long flights and milk is the perfect way to do that. “You know gals, like us, who have to keep our weight down and vitality up should always drink milk.”
In 2000, Trans World Airlines (TWA) was celebrating their 75th anniversary. It is too bad the airline would last only about a year longer before being merged with American Airlines at the end of 2001. I am not fully sure, but it appears this video was shown on the airline before taking off. The introduction from the manager of advertising is a little slow and dry, but work getting through to see the ten old advertisements from TWA. From “TWA’s the way” ad campaign from the 1960’s to the “one mission…yours” from the 1990’s, there’s a little bit of everything.
The 5 on the steps refers to aircraft line number 5, which was N93101. At the time, it was still in the test flight program, and did not have a fully furnished interior; note the bare passenger door.
N93101 was first delivered to Trans World Airlines (TWA) in August 1970 after her first flight on July 13, 1969. She was the fifth Boeing 747 to be produced and the first to be delivered to TWA. The airline celebrated that this was their first Jumbo Jet with painting a “5” on the front of the aircraft.
The 747-100 didn’t stay in service with TWA for long. It was sold to the Iran Air Force in March 1975 (reg#: 5-280) and has been in service with the Iran Air Force (reg changed to 5-8101)and Iran Air (reg#: EP-NHV) until 1985. After that, she has flown only for the Iranian Air Force.
This aircraft is special, since not only was it the first of 30 Boeing 747’s operated by TWA, it is also the oldest flying Boeing 747 flying today. This amazing aircraft has been flying for about 41.5 years.
The Iran Air Force has quite the Boeing 747-100 collection. They also have aircraft numbers 8 and 9 (both with similar histories to aircraft #5) with a total of seven actively flying Boeing 747-100’s.
Now, I am not a big history buff, but the idea that Iran was able to get quite a few almost-new Boeing 747-100’s only five years after they were delivered seems like there might be more to the story. Anyone have some thoughts?
Click the registration numbers above for additional photographs. This is the newest photo of the 747 I can find, taken in December 2010. Thanks to MK for pointing this airplane out to me.
I remember when flying wide bodies was a common thing to do. Catch a DC-10 or even Boeing 747 from one coast to another. Today, you are more likely to be on a Boeing 757 or Boeing 737. In 1974, TWA was proud of their Lockheed L1011 service to the East, where you got extra cushioning and even a steak meal in coach.
Ah, the good ‘ol days when you could get a steak in coach. Of course remember, you can fly today from coast to cost for a little over $100 one way. I think I can handle the peanuts for that cost!
