Lockheed's curvaceous Constellation is probably one of the most iconic propliners from the golden age of aviation. Blessed with good looks, long range, and load carrying capability, the Connie was one of the pinnacles of passenger aviation until replaced by jets in the late 1950's. The L-1049 served in both civil and military careers; from passenger/cargo, to military troop transportation as the C-121C/R7V-1, and even as radar picket ships in the EC-121 form.

This drawing depicts one of Rob Barion's L-1049H-82's, one of five undergoing restoration to flying condition. The five L-1049H's will serve in a mixed fleet of other Constellations and DC-6BF's, supporting Rob's company "Barion-Tokarev" in flying electronics, broadcasting gear, and government contract goods around the Mid-West, Mid-East, South, and East Coast of the continental United States.

This aircraft is the first one to fly, after being recovered out of Sao Tome, West Africa. A veteran of the Biafran Airlift, L-1049H-82 "N4671D" was built in late 1957 at Burbank, only to be undelivered. Languishing for a year, the plane was sold to Slick Airways in September 1959 where she flew until Slick went out of business in 1965. Obtained by Airlift International, the aircraft briefly served with the company before finding its way to Nigeria, to support the breakaway region of Biafra. From 1967 to 1970, the Connie bravely flew under the cover of darkness, hauling medicine, food, and munitions for the fledgling Biafran government. Once hostilities ended, the Connie, along with four other L-1049H's were left abandoned at Sao Tome, sitting among the weeds for 46 years until being scooped up by an Italian businessman, who had them disassembled and shipped back to Italy.

While on a trip to purchase a couple Italian planes for his aviation museum, Rob Barion stumbled upon the disassembled Connies while in Naples. Purchasing the whole lot, he shipped them back to the United States, where they have been undergoing restoration back to flying condition. Among the "typical" features that Rob favors, the Connie will be propelled by the hollow steel Curtiss Electric Propeller, a slightly different variation, with rounded tips to reduce vibrations on the fuselage.

The paint scheme is the official colors of "Barion-Tokarev". Modeled on the former Air France paint scheme, the aircraft includes the logo of his husband Joey Paulo's "Air Transport Service" insignia, which in itself is a modified Air Transport Command badge from WWII. The two cargo companies will fly under a common insignia as part of a larger company to support cargo logistics around the United States.