The Qantas Founders Museum is hoping
to raise A$1.5m (£770,000) for its Lockheed
Super Constellation project.
The Longreach, Queensland-based
attraction successfully bid for the aircraft,
N4247K, in a Manila International Airport
Authority auction in September 2014.
Grounded in Manila for 25 years, it had earlier
been used by the US Navy and World Fish
and Agriculture Inc.
The money raised will be used to bring
the aircraft to Longreach for restoration and
painting in Qantas livery. The Connie will be
transported either by ship or air, completing
its journey by road prior to reassembly.
Funding for the rst stages of the project
has already been secured, with the aircraft
disassembled and ready for transportation.
To support the project, visit the donation page
at: http://www.qfom.com.au/donate-to-our-museumPRESERVATION
16 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft June 2016Gatwick Aviation Museum Re-opens
Gatwick Aviation Museum re-opened to
the public on March 25 following a major
refurbishment. The original buildings at the
Charlwood, West Sussex, attraction were
removed last year and have been replaced
by a new steel-framed hangar enabling
many exhibits to come under cover after 25
years outside.
The successful reopening comes two
years after the death of founder Peter
Vallance, which resulted in the museum
closing its doors. After much discussion with
Mole Valley District Council, approval was
given for the redevelopment of the site.
The hangar includes a raised area at
the southern end to allow for the taller ns
of exhibits such as the ex-Saudi LightningF.53 ZF579. Volunteers at the museum
also intend to house Buccaneer S.1 XN
inside. Both of these jets, as well as
Shackleton MR.3 WR982, which remains
outside, are in ground running order.
The airframe collection has been greatly
reduced in the last couple of years, although
the museum has succeeded in retaining
its most important exhibits. Among those
moving on are Jaguar GR.1 XX734, which
has been acquired by the Boscombe Down
Aviation Collection, the second Shackleton
MR.3 WR974 now resides at Bruntingthorpe,
and Canberra PR.7 WH773 is currently
being reassembled at the RAF Museum atLaarbruch in Germany.
Airframes that remain at Charlwood
include Meteor T.7 VZ638, Sea Vixen TT.
XS587, Hunter T.7 XL591 and Harrier GR.
XV751. Staff intend to put the emphasis on
the aircraft by not placing too much ‘clutter’
around them which will aid viewing and
photography.
The museum is set to open three days a
week – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – and
there is also the possibility of engine runs
and other special events being arranged in
the future once it has fully re-established.
http://www.gatwick-aviation-museum.co.uk Tim
BeachLightning F.53 ZF579 is now housed in the Gatwick Aviation Museum’s new hangar. Tim BeachAustralian Connie Restoration
Lockheed Super Constellation N4247K is loaded onto a truck in Manila. Qantas Founders Museum16-17_preservation.JRDC.mf.indd 16 04/05/2016 13: