Early Lufthansa Lockheed Super Constellation Model

A rare hand painted cast aluminium model of a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft on original stand in prototype livery, circa 1953. This model was made as a presentation piece and has a plaque on the base that reads, "For the inauguration of the new maintenance hall on 28.9.1953."

Dimensions: 49 cm/19¼ inches (length) x 54 cm/21⅛ inches (wing span) x 24.75 cm/9¾ inches (maximum height on stand).

The forerunner of post war Lufthansa, “Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf” (Luftag) was founded on January 6, 1953. On August 6, 1954 Luftag bought the name, the trademark; the Crane symbol, and the colors; blue and yellow from the first iteration of Lufthansa, which was in liquidation at the time, and has called itself "Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft” since then.

Lufthansa introduced the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation on their transatlantic flights to New York in June 1955 having originally placed an order with Lockheed for 4 aircraft in 1953. By August 1958 fifteen Lufthansa 1049Gs and 1649s (Lockheed Starliners) left Germany each week on route to Canada and the United States. Three 1049Gs a week flew to South America, three flew to Tehran and one to Baghdad.