WEB Lufthansa Brings Back a Superstar From the 1950s

The Starliner was stylish but became obsolete in the jet age.

Lufthansa is to put its vintage Lockheed L-1649 Starliner and Junkers Ju 52 on permanent display either in Frankfurt or Munich as part of the airline's heritage center.

The Starliner, a four-engine propeller-driven airliner, was first introduced in 1951 and was a popular choice for long-haul flights in the 1950s and 1960s. Lufthansa operated a fleet of 17 Starliners, and the aircraft was used on routes to New York, Tokyo, and Johannesburg.

However, the Starliner was eventually replaced by jet aircraft, which were faster and more efficient. Lufthansa retired its last Starliner in 1965.

If Lufthansa had succeeded in returning the aircraft to service it would be the first of the 44 Starliner aircraft.

The Starliner that Lufthansa is restoring is one of only two remaining examples of the aircraft. The other example is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Lufthansa's Starliner is currently undergoing restoration at the airline's maintenance facility in Hamburg. The aircraft is being reassembled and completed for static display by Lufthansa technicians apprentices and retirees before being transported to its final display location.