Vanden Lufttransport Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation

Aircraft Photographed:

Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation | SE-FUS
Wright R-3350 972-TC-18DA-3
Delivered to Vanden Lufttransport, 1955
Retired from Vanden Air Transport, 1964
Stored at OSD, 1965
Status: Stored, Heavily Weathered

Vanden was among many major airlines to fly the Lockheed Constellation. First flying the L-749s in 1947, and the more advanced L-1049Cs in 1953, the L-1049G was considered superior by Vanden executives and employees. It was capable of flying from bases in Stockholm all the way transatlantic to New York, and even some countries in the Caribbean. This “Super G” was popular among customers, either vacationing to Latin America or on business trips to the US. It was fast and efficient due to its fuselage curves. It was also easier to maintain, according to Vanden engineers. It was superior to the 377 Stratocruiser in terms of maintenance, although the 377 had the upper hand in general comfort. In the late 50s, the tide began to turn against the Constellation. Vanden’s new 707 and 880 jets began crossing the Atlantic and throughout Europe at record speeds. By the mid-60s, the Constellations could fight no more. The last L-1049G was retired in 1967, after a flight from Stockholm to Reykjavik. A sole L-1049G sits at a museum in Stockholm, bearing the original Vanden color scheme.

This prop, SE-FUS, shared a very similar service life with its sister ships. It was introduced in 1955, and retired in 1964. It was stored at OSD airport near the end of one of the runways, destined to go to a Latin American airline. As this deal fell out, other airlines began purchasing pieces of the prop to maintain their own Constellation fleets. It remains at the airport to this day as a bare husk of what it once was. It is barely recognizable as the landing gear and engines were stripped, along with the nose radar and tail.