looking splendid after the resurrection - ready for the ferry flight to the Netherlands (photographer not known)

later repainted in period KLM colors - photographer unknown

Later N9465, C-GXKR, N749VR and N749NL. This is the aircraft that was restored to airworthy condition, but then not flown, at the Aviodrome in the Netherlands

Trying to catch the propblur on a bright sunny day. Setting my camera to 1/60sec at F22. Engine testrun of the Aviodrome Constellation, with Mr. Erling Brom at the nosewheel.

Taxiing past to to some high speed tests on the Schiphol-East runway 04 - 22

Delivered to the USAF in 1949 as 48-0612. Withdrawn from use in October 1967. To Christler Flying Services in July 1970 as N9465. To Beaver Air Spray in July 1979 as C-GXKR. Withdrawn from use and stored at St. Jean, Quebec, Canada. To Conifair Aviation around October 1981 as N749VR. Seen in April 2002 as N749NL at Avra Valley, Arizona. Restored by May 2002 and made its first flight since 1994. The ferry to The Netherlands started on September 15, 2002., routing Fort Worth, Alpena, Goose Bay, Keflavik, Duxford, Manston, Lelystad and Schiphol. Forever a shame she wasnt given a chance to fly.

Our Dutch Connie standing beautiful in the autumn sunshine, in preparation of an engine run later that evening. Forever a shame she was never given the chance to fly.

Work in progress on everyone's favourite propliner. Unfortunately she would not return to the sky.

Registration PH-FLE was never actually assigned to this aircraft. It was requested for this Connie on 5 May 2003, but the request was denied nine days later. The real PH-FLE was Fokker F.27 c/n 10334 (in 1967).

A wet and dismal day for my visit to Saint-Jean. This is the aircraft now preserved as N749NL in KLM livery at the Aviodrome, Lelystad, The Netherlands.

The nightly test-run of the Connie with many visitors present who came to watch this event. Unfortunately the #3 engine was refusing to cooperate, but it still was a great sight (and sound!).

Spitting out some fire during the afternoon test-run of the Connie. She would give another demo later that night, but unfortunately engine #3 didn't work.

Acquired by the Dutch Constellation Association. Aircraft ex Conifair (Canada) C-GKXR. Re-registered N749NL in October 2001. Flown to Amsterdam in September 2002. Now resides on static display at the Aviodrome, Lelystad, The Netherlands.