The Airchive-Save A Connie, Airline History Museum

	Airline History Museum at Kansas City Downtown Airport There are airline museums and then there are airline museums! For actual aircraft, this holds no equal. The Airline History Museum is housed in a former TWA hanger containing a Douglas DC-3, Martin 404, and the star of the show L1049 Super G Connie. The Super G was the genesis of the museum. It they can add a Convair 880, the collection would be complete! Additionally, there are many wonderful artifacts from many airlines. The highlight though may be hearing the stories on tours conducted by volunteers and ex-TWAers who were the folks who originally kept these aircraft in the air. Most know that Kansas City was the original maintenance base for TWA. A 30 minute drive from Kansas City International Airport, it is a must see attraction. Call ahead to see which planes are in as the Connie is active on the airshow circuit. Hangar 9, 201 NW Lou Holland Drive Kansas City, MO 64116 816.421.3401
	Save A Connie "Star of America" Lockheed 1049 Super G Super Constellation N6397 was originally built as a cargo aircraft for Slick Airways. By the late 1980s, it was languishing in Arizona; a derelict ex-sprayer. Reportedly, it was purchased at auction for $4,000 and then donated to the effort . After 9 weeks it was made airworthy to ferry to Kansas City for the real work to begin. This airplane has been impeccably restored, and is in my view the most beautiful flying aircraft in the world.The volunteers and ex-TWAers who are responsible for restoring, maintaining, and flying this divine plane are worthy of our commendation. This is no hanger queen as it is a welcome site to air shows across America. In 1997, the airline was repainted in TWA colors from "Save A Connie" colors. The airplane with Jim Carey co-starred in "Ace Ventura Pet Detective" and was used in the movie "Voyager". Constellation's formed the backbone of TWA transcon and European service beginning with L-649 and ending with the L-1649 in the early 1960s. See the Connie's routes on the Airchive TWA page.
	Triple tail The distinctive triple tail of the Connie is a signature.
	Wingtip Fuel Tanks seen from Cabin Window Super Gs had wingtip tanks that augmented their range up to 6,000 miles.
	L1049 Super G "Save A Connie" postcard
	Connie Economy Class cabin
	Connie First Class cabin
	Sleeper Beds The Connie could stay aloft for over 8 hours on its transcon and European routes. Sleeper beds folded down from the ceiling or converted from chairs for passengers booking these accomodations. Sleeper beds dissappeared from the skies with the advent of the jet age, returning over 30 years later.
	Connie Rear Lounge The fabric on the ceiling, a graphic of the world, is an original wall liner that Lockheed had in storage.
	Connie Flightdeck
	Connie Flight Engineer Station This was the busiest seat in the house, keeping the tempermental Wright recips synced, balanced, and flying.
	Naviagation Station TWA routes extended all to Europe and Africa, neccessitating a navigation station. "The Star of Kansas City" was originally supposed to fly to Cairo to celebrate TWAs 40th Anniversary of Trans Atlantic services back in 1996. TWAs ill-fated flight 800 led to the cancellation of this commemorative flight.
	Connie Galley
	Connie Rear Lounge
	Wrights 3350 Engines and Wingtip Fuel Tanks These long-haul engines were known for their sonorous engine notes, oil leaks, and tempermentalness. Many a F/Es ulcer was because of these.
	Douglas DC-3 TWA Ship 386 This Douglas DC-3-362, registration number NC1945, serial number 3294, was delivered to Transcontinental and Western Airlines (TWA) at Kansas City, Missouri on March 4, 1941. About sixty percent of all DC-3 aircraft went to war in WWII as transports; this one did not. In fact, NC1945 is one of the very few existing DC-3s with the rare 24-passenger, 8-window configuration. This airplane flew with TWA as from 1941 until 1952 before going on to North Central Airlines. Later the plane become a charter airliner and test bed. It then sat in the Californinan and New Mexican deserts before being purchased by a museum in Denver. It was purchased in 1993 by AHM and eventually trucked to Kansas City. It is on its way to being airworthy again in the next year. This plane is worthy of donations to get it back in the air. Also, see Delta Ship 33.

	Martin 404 N145S "Starliner Kansas City" The Martin 404 was the ultimate version of the short haul Martin 202, 303, and 404 range. It was the first pressurized twin engine airliner. This example, one of only 103 404s built, was delivered to Eastern Airlines in February, 1952. It flew 13 years for Eastern, and in 1965 it went to Southern Airways. Southern discontinued 404 service around 1977, and this aircraft was stored. Then it was purchased for an ill fated startup in Florida. It never made it back into air service, and languished in Fort Lauderdale. AHM restored the Martin to mint flying condition. Unfortunately, it has been grounded for the last 2 years due to funding shortfalls. Go to the Airline History Museum website and do what you can to help get this back in the air.

	Pratt & Whitney R2800 Engines and Air Stairs These engines, common to the Martin, were tempermental to say the least. The Martin was the first airliner to feature self-contained rear air-stairs for boarding. Note the flight number on the side of the stairs.
	Martin 404 Cabin

	Martin 404 Cockpit Instrumentation
	TWA Lockheed L-649 Constellation Entering service in 1944, the L649 was the first of the Connie line. It is identifiable by its shortened fuselage and circular windows.
	Wright 3350 Engines and Wingtip Fuel Tanks These long-haul engines were known for their sonorous engine notes, oil leaks, and tempermentalness. Many a F/Es ulcer was because of these. This was an actual engine on the "Star of Kansas City" used when it was ferried to Kansas City.
	TWA Lockheed L-1049 Constellation Model
	Airport Diarama Model
	1960s and 1970s Flight Attendant "Paper" Uniforms In the 1970s for a short time, TWA FAs wore disposable paper uniforms to promote the flight's international destination. A clever marketing gimmick, yes. But unfortunatly, the uniforms would dispose of themsevles while being worn.
	F/A Uniforms, Seats, Blankets, and Life Vest
	Frontier Airlines Display Case Frontier Airlines was known for its high standard of catering as seen by this complete service in this case.
	TWA Lockheed Connie Galley
	Museum Wide Shot
	"Spirit of St. Louis" Bill of Sale from the Ryan Company to Charles Lindbergh