In June 1998 I was asked if I would like a lift over to British Aerospace’s Woodford airfield to view the very special USAF MATS (Military Air Transport Service) Lockheed C-121A Constellation (L-749). Silly question!
My contact, Graham Robson, was going to do an air to air photo session. When we got over there it was fabulous to see the Connie (and a Douglas C-54) at close quarters. She had such a superb, almost mirror-like finish. It was great to get aboard for a look around. I
t would have been amazing if a promised flight in her had gone ahead, but that wasn’t to be! Instead we came to an agreement – when I had completed this drawing of her, the crew would take a number of prints for use as merchandising, to help with costs. In a way, I DID fly in her…!
BTW, This portrait achieved Runner-up in the GAvA’s 2013 Aviation Painting of the Year Annual exhibition – it just missed out being the best picture in show.