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Vintage aircraft soon to ‘land’ at JFK: ‘Connie’ is centerpiece of TWA Hotel

Vintage aircraft soon to ‘land’ at JFK: ‘Connie’ is centerpiece of TWA Hotel
Photo by Jeff Yapalater

The vintage Lockheed Constellation, or “Connie,” is getting closer to its new home at JFK Airport’s in-the-works TWA Hotel.

Under cover of darkness early Saturday morning, a convoy of two long flatbeds carrying the iconic tail wing and fuselage wrapped in blue tarp, as well as three escort vehicles, pulled over on the side of the throughway for a rest.

The tail wing, which was near the end of its several-day trip to the airport from a restoration site in Auburn, Maine, was clearly visible on the flatbed truck, along with a handwritten signs saying “Queens or Bust” and “See You at JFK.”

Lockheed Constellation fuselage under wraps during transport from Maine reconstuction area to TWA Hotel on next to Terminal 5 at JFK Airport .
Photo by Jef Yapalater

This restoration of an actual Constellation is the centerpiece of the new TWA Hotel currently under construction at JFK Airport. The transported aircraft parts will be reassembled on site at the TWA Hotel as part of a vintage, unique lounge for the TWA Hotel expected to open during the second quarter of 2019.

When complete, the hotel will bring back the look and feel of the glory days of flying at JFK, and include 500 rooms with easy access to all terminals via the JFK Airtrain.

Iconic tail wing section of Lockheed Consetllation on flatbed enroute to JFK Terminal 5 TWA Hotel.
Photo by Jeff Yapalater