Lockheed Connie Bataan Returns to AirVenture

Bataan is one of the last airworthy models in existence. It will be on display on Boeing Plaza at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) during the annual fly-in convention from July 21-27.

“The rarity of flying Lockheed Constellations, along with its unforgettable triple-tail design, makes this aircraft a favorite whenever it appears at Oshkosh,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs.“We appreciate the work of the Air Legends Foundation to bring this ‘Connie’ back to flying status and bring it to EAA AirVenture.”

The development of the Lockheed Constellation, colloquially known as the "the Connie" grew out of a request from Transcontinental and Western Airlines in 1939 for a 40-passenger aircraft that could fly across the country. Aviation mogul Howard Hughes was a big proponent of the project, pushing for an aircraft with a range of 3,500 miles, which was well beyond anything previously designed.

 In 1943, the L-049 Constellation made its first flight. As it was launched in the middle of World War II, the aircraft was used as a military transport.

After the war, the pressurized, propeller-driven aircraft entered service as a civilian airliner. 

Unlike the non-pressurized DC-3, which was one of the more popular airliners, the Connie could fly above most weather, resulting in a more comfortable and safer flight. Airline travel became something glamorous in the post-war years, and people dressed up like they were going to a fancy dinner party to fly. 

Meanwhile, the military still made use of the Connie. The Bataan was delivered to the U.S. Air Force in January of 1949 to be used by the Military Air Transport Service. It was utilized during the Berlin Airlift to transport personnel and equipment, then converted into a VIP transport.

During the Korean War, it was utilized by Gen. Douglas MacArthur as his personal aircraft and it was he who named it Bataan. The military retired the aircraft to the boneyard in 1965, then later, it was reclaimed by NASA for use in the Apollo program. The aircraft was officially decommissioned in 1970. 

From 1970 to 1992, Bataan was kept at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum before Ed Maloney of the Planes of Fame Air Museum took possession. From 1995 to 2016, Bataan resided at Planes of Fame’s auxiliary location at Valle Airport in Arizona.

Air Legends Foundation acquired the airplane in 2015. A year later, it was ferried to Chino, California, and Fighter Rebuilders went to work to restore the Connie. The Constellation made its first trip to AirVenture in 2023, although the interior restoration was not yet complete.