ELWOOD W. MASON MEMORIAL COLLECTION
No. 4780. Lockheed 049-51-26 Constellation (N88855 c/n 049-2055) Pan American World Airways "Clipper Undaunted"
Photographed in Panama, 1951, by Elwood W. Mason

Travel Air 4000

06/15/2006. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This aircraft was delivered to Pan American Airways, New York, New York, USA, on April 23, 1946 as NC88853, "Clipper Invincible". The interior was arranged for overocean transport carrying seven-crew, 47-day passengers but no accommodations for night passengers. The US registration system changed on January 1, 1949 by dropping the 'C' and it became N88853. This Connie was later converted to Model 049-46-26, with new engines and other improvements. Pan American renamed it "Clipper Undaunted" when it named its 19th Boeing 377 Stratocruiser "Clipper Invincible" on October 31, 1949. The airline was renamed Pan American World Airways, Inc. on January 3, 1950.

This was one of four Pan American 049s sold to Delta - Chicago & Southern Airlines of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on February 1, 1956 and converted to a Model 149 with increased fuel capacity. These aircraft were used on the Dallas, Texas, USA, to Laguardia Airport, New York route. This aircraft was substantially damaged during a landing at Jackson, Mississippi, USA, on February 7, 1957 and repaired. This Connie was stored at Idlewild (now John F. Kennedy International) Airport, New York by June 1958 until sold to American Flyers Airline Corp. of Fort Worth, Texas on April 1, 1960. American Flyers gave it the Fleet Number 501 and later 855 and the aircraft was used for domestic passenger charters and military contract work.

The aircraft was sold to California Airmotive of North Hollywood, California, USA, in 1967. California Airmotive was one of the largest dealers in second-hand aircraft in the world. This Connie was parked at Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, California, and subsequently stored at Lancaster, California, until May 1971. It was scrapped shortly afterwards."


Created November 30, 2005