LOCKHEED SUPER CONSTELLATION aircraft enthusiasts will have to go to the ABTN website to see a fine picture of this rare bird as N73544 staged through Prestwick last week from California on its way to way to its new home in Switzerland. The former Smithsonian aircraft was built in 1955 for the USAF and is now to reside in Europe for the next five years at least. Sponsored by Breitling it will be making the rounds of the air shows this summer. As the first pressurized aircraft in widespread use, the Constellation helped to usher in affordable and comfortable air travel for the masses. Among airlines that flew the Long Beach California-built machine were Trans World Airlines, Pan American World Airways, BOAC, Air France, KLM, Qantas, El Al and Lufthansa. 856 aircraft were produced and about 20 remain.
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