The Lockheed L-1649A Super Star, once the flagship of Lufthansa, has been restored to its original 1950s appearance following a full repaint at Münster/Osnabrück Airport. The restoration was handled by Altitude Paint Services (APS), with paint supplied free of charge by Mankiewicz, a Hamburg-based manufacturer. Approximately 500 liters of special paint were used for the project.
A significant aspect of the restoration involved recreating the aircraft’s distinctive parabolas, an important part of Lufthansa’s historic design. The Graphics Solutions department at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg developed a detailed paint plan using historical documents from the company archive to ensure accuracy.
The aircraft is scheduled to be moved by heavy-duty vehicle to Frankfurt Airport next week. Starting in spring 2026, it will be displayed as a central feature at the Lufthansa Group’s new conference and visitor center, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Lufthansa’s founding. It will be exhibited alongside another classic aircraft, the Junkers Ju 52 D-AQUI.
First introduced into Lufthansa’s fleet in 1957, the Lockheed Super Star was notable for being the first aircraft equipped with “Senator Class” service and operated primarily on nonstop transatlantic flights to New York. With four piston engines, it represented one of the last major propeller-driven airliners before jets became standard. Flights could last up to 17 hours and departed from Hamburg, which also served as its maintenance base. The Super Star measures over 35 meters long with a wingspan exceeding 45 meters and stands just over seven meters tall.
Photos of the restored Super Star are available online: https://tinyurl.com/lpcsuperstar
“The former flagship of Lufthansa, the Lockheed L-1649A Super Star, is once again shining in its former glory. This aviation icon of the past now sports the classic look of the 1950s,” according to a statement from those involved in the restoration.
