Icon of the golden age of transatlantic aviation will shine again in a permanent exhibition alongside the legendary Junkers Ju 52
On the eve of its centennial celebration, Lufthansa has completed the restoration of one of the most emblematic aircraft in the company’s history: the Lockheed L-1649A Starliner, known as the “Super Star.” Built in the late 1950s and derived from the L-1049 Super Constellation, the aircraft has been fully revitalized at the Lufthansa Technik base in Hamburg and once again sports its historic livery — silver fuselage and a blue stripe with a yellow outline — that marked its service in the 1950s.
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The painting process was carried out at Münster–Osnabrück International Airport (FMO) by Altitude Paint Services (APS), with support from Hamburg-based manufacturer Mankiewicz, which supplied 500 liters of special paint for the restoration.
Next week, the Starliner will be transported to Frankfurt Airport. Starting in the spring of 2026, it will become the centerpiece of the Lufthansa Group’s new visitor and conference center, displayed alongside the historic Junkers Ju 52 D-AQUI.
The restored aircraft is one of only four L-1649As preserved out of the 45 built. Interestingly, it will carry the registration D-ALAN, the same as a Starliner that actually flew in Lufthansa’s fleet. The original aircraft bearing that registration is also preserved, but is located in the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Florida, USA.
Source and images: Lufthansa Technik | X @LHTechnik. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
