RIP Aviodrome, Lelystad, NL

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

On December 23rd, the doors closed for the last time.

They take three months to prepare for a public auction of the complete collection. Should no half-miracle happen before this date, the collection will be split up and this is "the worst possible scenario," according to the director.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviodrome



Jeroen

[Pierre Theillere]

Hi Hoppie!

Aaarrggggh... that's really sad news: of course, I think about the FSWeekend becoming somehow orphan... but the scariest point is regarding all the amazing people working here, and the unique plane collection.
Maybe the Paris Air & Space Museum at Le Bourget could do something... not sure they're even aware of the situation at EHLE yet.

[farrokh747]

thats terrible news.....     - is there no govt funding here?

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Government has decided that no money is to be spent on leftist hobbies any more, so I have little hope. Look at what happened to Fokker.

Anything technological is endangered in the Netherlands, I sometimes believe.


Jeroen

[Pierre Theillere]

Hi Hoppie and Farrokh,

I have just sent an e-mail to the guys from Paris Air & Space Museum, as I have some professional contacts with them: I guess the latest chance to keep the whole collection "as is" (without splitting it) might come from institutions like them, or Smithonian Museum... or why not a very wealthy one from Emirates... who knows?
Last, but not least, the guy I know most, at Paris Air & Space Museum, is the organizer of the "Mondial de la Simu" (a bit like a small FSweekend)... so it may help a little bit for our small hobby considerations. I've been there as an exhibitor last 3 years (for my work), and the 3 other times before, with X-Plane french guys... so I'm not completely anonymous there...

[Phil Bunch]

This is a major loss to the aviation enthusiast community, which I believe is actually a large fraction of the population.  

I see that they have a Lockheed Constellation airliner.  I took this opportunity to refresh my memory on some of its features and specs - what an amazing airplane!  Four 18-cylinder engines!  From what I've read casually, it was a real beast to take off or land.  Not much computerization in these older aircraft.  I had forgotten that it came into existence during WWII, in 1943.  Somehow I had thought it was more of a 1950s plane.  Its complex shape is so enjoyable to see.

[Michel Vandaele]

It is really sad to hear that such big collection will be distroyed or separated.
Is the KLM B747 classic also belonging to the museum,  or is there another organisation for the outside display area?

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Nope, same group.

[Jeroen D]

That's a real shame. I wasn't aware they were in trouble. That sort of news doesn't make it to Kansas City. When I was small I grew up in Amstelveen which is very near to what is known as the "old Schiphol", or rather the original Schiphol. In those days and we're talking 40+ years ago, they had this museum close to the original terminal building. During the weekends my dad took me on his bicycle and we went plane watching, always toured the museum. Once, on my birthday we took to the sky for a tour of Amsterdam in a Martinair Dakota.

With the opening of the "new Schiphol" i.e. Amsterdam airport they moved the museum to the new part of the airport. I was in my teens then. Still went on the bicycle, but a much longer ride, about an hour.

Not sure when they moved it to Lelystad, but I have visited quite a few times there as well, although not by bicycle anymore.

Real shame to see it all go. I'll make do with my little aviation museum right here at the Kansas City downtown airport: http://www.ahmhangar.com/.

And they own and operate a beautiful Lockheed Constellation in TWA colors!

Jeroen

[Hardy Heinlin]

Another one, I think it was Eisenhower's:





|-|

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Impressive, rather timeless aircraft, Concorde-style.

But look at the nose! It must have been flying secret government missions with a super-new alien radar already in the late 1940s! It's all a conspiracy!

[Garry Richards]

Australia has Connie, lovingly maintained and flown by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society. Check out all their aircraft at www.hars.org.au.

[farrokh747]

There's one static display at the naval air museum in Goa - ex air india - http://farrokhchothia.com/goaconnie/

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/Constellation.html

We're working with the navy to restore the cockpit, which some merry soul at some point has painted green....  levers, knobs and all -

The MIP panels have been repainted and placards re-screen printed - the TQ is lying at the sim, waiting for a strip down and refurbish....

fc

[frumpy]

Oh, Goa. I always knew - I have to go there ! :lol:

Lufthansa is about to restore a Constellation too:
http://www.klassiker-der-luftfahrt.de/de/bilderstrecke/lufthansa-technik-restauriert-super-connie.7066.htm

[Phil Bunch]

While surfing the net for more photos and info about the Constellation, I came across this site that includes some sort of simulator.  Is this a MSFS visual simulator or does it have more capabilities?  Even with Google translator I wasn't sure what I was seeing.  Perhaps it is simply a rebuilt cockpit with controls plus an MSFS setup?

http://www.scfa-pictures.ch/gallery/displayimage.php?album=101&pid=1831#top_display_media

and

http://www.scfa-pictures.ch/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=101

It seems to be one of the most beautiful airliners built.  Other than the Concorde, I am not sure I could nominate another competitor for aesthetic qualities.  I read that the since the fuselage is not a tube, it was difficult to design and build.

I also read in Wikipedia that it was designed by Kelly Johnson, who also designed the SR-71 Blackbird, among other famous aircraft.  Wikipedia says that the last version was mostly used by TWA, Lufthansa and Air France.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-1049_Super_Constellation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-1649_Starliner

[SwissCharles]

Re Swiss Super Constellation:

As a member of the volunteer maintenance organization of HB-RSC, let me answer a few questions...

This simulator is based on FS 2004 and built off the remains of an Aerochago Connie (HI_548CT). Latest I know, it's based in Zurich and can be rented by the hour..

Our airplane seems to now be the last    fully flyable and certified Super Constellation in the world . She's BEAUTIFUL and she's a bottomless pit maintenance wise    

After we had to cancel all the flying for the 2010 season due to major (and I mean major  :shock: ) corrosion in both wing's rear spars we took it on us to re-manufacture most of these plus associated parts and now she's better than new! This was only possible due to the continuing support of the main sponsors, a well known manufacturer of expensive (as in: worth the money) watches and a French refinery (and that's a blessing, considering the oil this beauty is consuming just by standing on the ramp   ) plus much, much volunteer work and donations!

Fortunately, we do have enough spare engines (Curtiss-Wright Cyclone R-3350, 3250 horses each, 18 cylinders two rows radial engines turbocompound) and ooohhhh what a sound!!!!  

We also provided preliminary training for the pilots of Lufthansa's L-1649 project.

SwissCharles

P.S: What a pity re Lelystad!!
P.P.S: Hardy, this is a beautiful shot of columbine!!!

[Garry Richards]

Australia's Connie makes the same claim. I saw it fly over Sydney last year. Photos at http://www.hars.org.au/2010/02/connie-takes-to-the-skies/.

[SwissCharles]

Hey Garry,

I stand corrected.

That's good news (I see that this project was done within the context of a museum, so that's probably why I had the wrong impression that it were restored to display status only)!

Good show mate  

SC

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

There are activities being deployed to save the museum. A few million euros are required, and about 20 parties are discussing the plan. It actually makes the national news, which indicates a bit how important it is judged to be. Who knows.


Jeroen

[martin]

A few million euros are required

Can't they buy or join one of those garbage banks and then tap into the "rescue funds" we the taxpayers are putting together? A few million should be peanuts, really...

Happy {New|Ongoing} Year!
M