Considered One Of The Most Beautiful Aircraft Designs Created

The Lockheed C-121A Constellation “Bataan” owned by the Air Legends Foundation of San Antonio, Texas, will return to the 72nd EAA AirVenture 2025 for the entire week of July 21-27 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The aircraft is the C-121A model, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful airliner designs ever created, is part of the Rod Lewis collection and is done up in military markings to reflect its time as a military transport. It will spend the week at OSH on the showcase ramp at Boeing Plaza.

Rick Larsen, Vice President of Communities and Member Programs for EAA, coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. He said, “The rarity of flying Lockheed Constellations, along with its unforgettable triple-tail design, makes this aircraft a favorite whenever it appears at Oshkosh. We appreciate the work of the Air Legends Foundation to bring this ‘Connie’ back to flying status and bring it to EAA AirVenture.”

Bataan was delivered to the U.S. Air Force in January 1949 and operated under the Military Air Transport Service during the Berlin Airlift to move personnel and equipment. After that operation concluded, Bataan was converted into a VIP transport and was used as the personal transport for General Douglas MacArthur, who gave the aircraft its nickname.

The aircraft was retired in 1965 but then recovered from the boneyard by NASA to support the Apollo program until it was decommissioned in 1970. From then until 1992, Bataan lived at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum and then was part of the Planes of Fame Air Museum from 1995 to 2015.

Air Legends Foundation acquired Bataan in 2015 and was restored by Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California. Bataan made its first post-restoration flight in June 2023 and then its inaugural Oshkosh visit the following month. Its historic interior finish was then completed by Aerometal International.

FMI:  airlegendsfoundation.com/