Current Status - Restoration of

Current Status - Restoration of Super Connie CF-TGE

Synopsis

Click here for Move Pictures

Click here for Repair Assessment

Click here for Landing Gear Overhaul

Click here for Wing and Landing Gear Installation

Click here for Towing and Hangaring

Click here for Structural Repairs

Click here for some views in the Hangar

Click here for Paint Stripping

Click here for Complete Reassembly

Click here for Assembled and on the Ramp

Click here for Painting

Click here for the Completed Airplane

Click here for Arrival at Museum of Flight

15 Sept 2009 Airplane moved into Boeing's Plant II for final restoration and interim storage

5-13 Sept 2009 Airplane reassembled after cross-country trip

4 Sept 2009 Arrival at the Museum of Flight in Seattle

August 2009 The airplane was disassembled and transported to Seattle, Washington

July 2009 An Old-Timers Reunion was held before transport to Seattle for people who had flown and worked on this airplane.

Dec 2008 The airplane structural repairs have been completed and the airplane has been re-painted

The airplane will be stored in Rome, New York for the winter and transported to Seattle next year (2009.)

The exact method of transportation is under study and is not defined at this time.

The airplane is NOT airworthy and will not be restored to an airworthy condition.

The airplane currently has no engines. Four R-3350 engines have been donated, are on site at the Museum, and will be installed after reassembly in Seattle.

Nov 2008 Painting in TCA colors

Oct 2008 Preparation for Painting

Sept 2008 Repairs completed

July 2008 Outside - Final repairs in progress

May 2008 Complete reassembly

March 2008 Temporarily outside

Jan 2008 Paint is stripped.

November 2007 Structural repairs are underway

Friday 2 Nov 2007 The airplane was towed, using a modified DC-8 towbar, on its own landing gear, into a hangar for the balance of the repair, restoration, stripping and repainting work. The airplane is now safely out of the weather for the winter.

Friday 26 Oct 2007 The fuselage was lifted by crane, and using cradles and jacks, the inboard wing panels were installed. The overhauled landing gear was installed and the airplane was lowered onto its own landing gear. It will now be able to be towed around like a normal airplane. First destination - inside a hangar for paint stripping and structural repairs.

September 2007 Commencement of structural repairs. Repair and restoration of the landing gear. New tubes and tires obtained as well as new nose wheels. Nacelles reworked and repaired.

July-August 2007 Detailed condition assessments performed on areas opened. A phased work plan created and agreed to between the parties.

The second week in July, a detailed examination of the airplane was conducted at Empire Aero Center at the ex-Griffiss AFB in Rome, New York. A Standards and Scope of Work for Repairs Document was created and initial contract negotiations between the Museum of Flight and Empire Aero were conducted.

Friday 8 Jun 2007 The airplane was off-loaded from her transport vehicles with no major problems, and is now sitting on shoring outside the hangar in preparation for movement inside and reassembly.

Thursday 7 Jun 2007. Super Constellation, TCA / Air Canada's CF-TGE, crossed the border successfully into the United States about 2 PM EDT today, It is now, as of about 10 PM EDT, sitting outside our overhaul contractor's hangar.

On Thursday, March 8, 2007, the Canadian Heritage Board sent a letter to Canada Customs instructing them to deliver an Export Permit for the airplane to the Museum of Flight. Customs issued the Museum an Export Permit on 15 Mar 2007.

After an expensive mid-winter disassembly, and a costly year in storage, we have begun detailed arrangements with Air Canada to move the airplane, to enable repairs and re-painting, followed by road transport to Seattle.

The airplane, which we had hoped to have on display the first week in October 2005, will finally take its place next to the Concorde, Air Force One, and the other historic airplanes in the Museum's Air Park, hopefully during summer 2007. See here for details of the issuance of the Export Permit.

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Revised 31 Mar 2007
                8 Jun 2007
                20 Jul 2007
                27 Oct 2007
               5 Nov 2007
                16 Nov 2007
                29 Dec 2007
                14 Jul 2008
                22 Nov 2008
                4 Dec 2008
                20 Apr 2009

7 Sept 2009