HAMBURG, GERMANY (January 2025) – Aviation history came to life as Lufthansa Technik celebrated the rollout of the meticulously restored Lockheed L-1649A Super Star. The long-haul aircraft, a flagship of Lufthansa’s fleet in the late 1950s, emerged from its Hamburg hangar for the first time on its own landing gear, marking a momentous occasion for aviation enthusiasts and historians alike.
Reviving an Aviation Icon
First introduced to the Lufthansa fleet in 1957, the Lockheed Super Star was a trailblazer in long-haul travel, offering the luxurious Senator class and non-stop flights from Europe to New York. Powered by four piston engines, the aircraft was a technical marvel, bridging the era of propeller-driven planes before the advent of jet engines on North Atlantic routes.
The aircraft’s rollout in Hamburg, where its original maintenance base was located, holds significant historical resonance. Supported by the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin-Stiftung, this intricate restoration project involved reassembling the aircraft’s fuselage, wings, and iconic triple tail unit, alongside thousands of individual components delivered in over 292 crates.
A Tribute to 1950s Engineering
The restoration team has paid meticulous attention to authenticity, with the cockpit restored to its original 1950s design. Functional lighting, controls, and movable rudders and flaps, operated via cable pulls, showcase the engineering prowess of the era.
A Journey to Completion
Following its rollout, the Super Star will be dismantled into larger sections for transport to Münster/Osnabrück Airport, where it will be repainted in its original Lufthansa livery from the “Parabola phase.” The interior will feature a blend of 1950s style and modern technology, with wine-red leather-upholstered seats repurposed from a retired Lufthansa A340, along with historically inspired carpets and curtains.
The aircraft is expected to arrive in Frankfurt by October 2025 and will take center stage at the Lufthansa Group’s new conference and visitor center, opening in spring 2026 to coincide with Lufthansa’s 100th anniversary. Visitors will be able to admire the Super Star alongside the legendary Junkers Ju 52 D-AQUI, thanks to a glass façade that ensures year-round visibility.
This milestone underscores Lufthansa’s commitment to preserving and celebrating its rich aviation heritage while inspiring future generations of aviation enthusiasts.
SOURCE AND IMAGE: © Lufthansa
