[HD] Lockheed EC-121 Super Constellation Departing Camarillo 1/14/12
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- Lockheed EC-121T Warning Star Super Constellation (Connie) , AF Serial No. 53-0548
After 15+ years on the ground (hence my excitement on takeoff) and a 7 year restoration Effort this Cold War Era United States Air Force airborne early warning radar surveillance (AWACS) aircraft has been cleared by the FAA for a Ferry flight to The Yanks Air Museum Chino, California.
THE most graceful fuselage ever designed to this day
The MQ-25's fuselage, from the side looks way better than the super constellation's fuselage. From the top, it's flush inlet is ugly as hell.
i.ytimg.com/vi/oW9V5tIMGzQ/maxresdefault.jpg
@@anonymousperson2110 Get off your hobbyhorse. No one cares. The MQ-25 is an aerial refueling drone, not an historic transport.
@@anonymike8280 The constellation was piss poor as a transport. It took Douglas to build those. They could waste the lockheeds for these roles but not the good transports.
And the only Super Constellation now flying is in Australia.
As kids when we flew in one on holidays - we heard them called "Camels"... Then as we looked at the models we were given - we thought it described the plane quite well.
When I was in 6th grade in Sacramento, Calif, (1959) my dad was a radio operator crew member on EC-121's flying out of McClellan AFB. These huge AC would fly directly over my school and our house on takeoff - they had to climb out very gradually because they were so heavily loaded with fuel, crew and electronics gear and the noise of those four huge engines operating at max power was ear shattering. The bright blue exhaust flames were fascinating. My mother would stand outside on the lawn and wave a red bath towel at dad as his plane would fly over...he always made a point of watching out one of the few portholes on the aircraft and said he always blew her a kiss as his plane flew over. They would fly out over the Pacific and get on station and orbit for hours watching for potential Russian AC. He would come home in the middle of the next night, just exhausted. Mom always had a hot meal ready for him, no matter what time he came in. These impressive ac were quite a thing to remember.
I once heard a former TWA Constellation pilot refer to the U.S. Air Force and Navy C-121's with upper and lower radar domes as "flying drag."
I grew up on 'Connie's'...My Dad joined TWA as a young salesman working under Jack Frye in St. Louis and Kansas City. He was transferred to Cairo,Egypt in '49' as DSM of North Africa (District Sales Manager). I started flying at age 2 months and in 1958 was in the London Times as the youngest passenger with the most miles flown for my age. I have been on the DC-2, DC-3, Martin 404, and all of the Connie's raking up thousand of hours..My favorite plane was the L-749A. Perfect size before the 'Super G' came out. Travel back then was more intimate and polite and the food was great. Longest trip was from LON to Lax non stop over the N. Pole 21hrs seventeen minutes..Before movies or any electronic devises. Back then people knew how to have 'polite conversations' and their was in first class always an open bar and lots of magazines to read and pretty and knowledgeable Air Hostesses.
nedarc Robert W. Rummel, an aerospace engineer employed at TWA for 18 years and a personal consultant to Howard Hughes (that's right, THE Howard Hughes - at one time the majority stock holder of TWA) remarks in his book "Howard Hughes and TWA", that the 749A Constellation was one of the best Connies ever produced. The other he liked was the 1049 Super "G" Constellation.
Hello Mr. Uscian, I remember seeing a photo of Howard Hughes (who my Dad knew and did not like) and Jack Frye in a publicity stunt with one of the first 049 series in I believe was 1943 as they flew across America in record braking speed in TWA colors, I think Tommy Tomlinson was also onboard. If you would like, tell me a little more about yourself...I was brought up on TWA and Connie's it is in my blood. My e-mail is nabuhasum@yahoo.com. If I do not hear from you .... Best of luck in whatever you do !
nedarc
Connies are the most graceful airplanes ever to take wing. Even the radar bulge can't detract from the beauty.
What a treat when you consider all the long hours of maintenance and sweat that went into keeping this plane alive and ready for action anytime and anywhere.
All you men including the grounds crew deserve big rounds of applause for your tireless efforts.
Still the single most beautiful plane ever.. We flew these as Navy Airborne early warning aircraft from Midway over Adak AK and return . This was part of the NORAD early warning system in the late 50's.
The Connie was the most beautiful prop driven plane ever. thanks for the video.
Those R3350 turbo-compounds are temperamental beasts! And they sound better than any Harley!
R-3350 power unit 3.430 H P . X 4 .
Wait they use turbos?
Pretty cool that they made nearly as much power as the wasp major at just over half the size though
To me this is the most beautiful airplane made.
Absolutely, I still have photo's of a KLM Connie taken at Singapore's (then new Airport at Paya Lebar) 1956. Oh bot, the shape, lines were beautiful the mighty engines were music to my ears.
Nah..the DC-3/C-47 is.
Mmmmm, well actually it's a toss up.....I don't know if the award goes to the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, or the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. My vote goes to the Tristar, by a tiny margin :-)
It’s truly is a beauty of the skies!
@@styldsteel1 Narrow? Just the Tristar's S-duct should make it win, by a large margin.
I remember being very impressed with these planes as a boy. Watching each engine smoke and cough into life, sometimes with fire, always a thrill. Jets cannot compare to this at all. Thanks for uploading.
I worked on these in 1970 and again 1972, in 1973 flew 12 hour missions up around North Vietnam out of Korat Thailand. Sure brings back old memories. Flew all over the world on these, the best flying aircraft ever built. wow do miss them. My best friend Ricky and I spent many hours on these. Graceful flying.
I was Flight Engineer with Collage Eye '67 & '68. I agree with your rating of Best Aircraft ever built.
I flew in one of these marvels in 1952, with my family from Caracas to New York. I was 9 years old. I still have a short movie of the moments when we walked from the plane to the airport passenger areas. Next trip was in 1958, from Caracas to Madrid, using Azores and Lisboa as stepping stones. It was a 27 hours flight. I enjoyed the flight both ways! Great plane, impressive aerodynamics! Awesome moments of my life.
In 1952, the version of Constellation you flew on was probably an early L-049 or an L-749, quite different in features, engines and performance than the C-121 Super Constellation in the video. Like comparing a DC-4 to a DC-7.
My late great Pop was a navigator aboard the 552nd's Triple Nickel Connie now on display at Wright Patterson AFB museum in Ohio. On his last day aboard before retirement in Nov. 1970, he signed and dated his initials inside the navigator's station desk. We emailed the museum about it a few years ago, and they sent back a picture of it. :)
I was in the 552nd 68 and 69, remember the triple nickel
@@jonathancomeau9349 awesome. we have whole boxes of his photos from that era i was a pre-school yoot while he was away.
I HAVE MANY COMBAT HOURS IN AN EC121SUPER CONNIE. I WAS CIM IN THE 553 RECON WING KNOWN AS THE "553 BATCAT WING." I WAS THERE IN 1969-1970. VERY HAPPY I VOLUNTEERED FOR THE MISSION!
WHY ARE WE YELLING. YOU'RE SCARING THE CHILDREN. PLEASE USE YOUR INDOOR VOICE.
I have 66 combat missions on the D & T models, in the 552d at McClellan, almost went to Bat Cat in '69, but was medically grounded before I could leave.
Yes, for a Pratt & Whitney engine on a DC-6, I heard that each engine consumes about 4 litres of oil per hour. What a magnificent video - just the raw sound makes me shiver. Thanks for posting!
Worked on that very aircraft . Stationed at McClellan AFB California 1971-1972. Propeller and engine tech. Did several TDY'S to Koraht Thailand.
Was she wearing painted on teeth in those days ? Heard a lot of the Korat AC did.
They did a nice restoration of AWACS plane of the 1950's & 1960's. When I was kid, living in Springfield Gardens, in Queens, New York, at the now JFK, but back then it was called Idlewyld Airport, us kids who we're bonkers over piston engines aircraft after school and the summertime, would spend a long day at the airport, it was within walking distance for us, and we went over the Military area at the airport, they had several of these aircraft parked out on the tarmac. They had USAF, USN. TY
I had the privilege of filming air-to-air of this wonderful bird when we ferried her from Tucson AZ to KCMA back in March '95. This was the bird's second flight after the USAF mothballed her 1978. Jerry D. piloted chase in Wayne's C310R while I sat backward and handled the camera. Wayne (new owner of this "Connie" N548GF) and Frank flew the magnificent bird, with Jerry S. keepin' her purring from the FE seat. Chief mechanic Bob L. was instrumental in bringing this beautiful bird back to life, and the skies! The flight through the clouds at FL100 between San Jacinto and San Gorgornio peaks over the Banning Pass was absolutely spectacular! I have the original video around here somewhere. Truly a memorable experience. Those involved know who you are. Miss you guys! Thanks for posting your video. I live in Camarillo and wished I were there to see her off to Chino and Yanks. Keep her up, Yanks. 🙂👍 -Jay
I was a navigational aids technician for the West Virginia Air National Guard on the C-121 Aircraft in Martinsburg, West Virginia. I love the aircraft and love seeing it fly again.
Wilton McNiel
That sounds awesome!
I've spent a few hours in that bird as Flight Engineer. The belching fire is normal. The engines started easier back in the 60's. Not bad for a 60+ year old aircraft. A real lady. Not AWACS, but for runner of the type. Correct mission name: Airborne Early Warning and Control, (EAW&C). Great Aircraft.
+Chuck Light On our Connie startup seems pretty easy now with the engines in absolutely top shape. (SCFA)
+Chuck Light Much higher octane gas back in the 50s/60s.
You are right, we used 115/145
The guy must have a damn good camera with a damn good external mic because the sound is perfect !
When I was nine years old in 1968 I used to be thrilled to see the big four-engined planes very low over my town headed for Wethersfield Airbase. I remember being rather overexcited one afternoon when my friend and I, playing on the grass in front of his house saw a low flying four-engined plane trail a good deal of grey smoke briefly from a couple of engines. We ran inside to tell his older brother that “a plane was on fire and going to crash!” Sadly (for us) he explained that planes did that from time to time and no, there wasn’t going to be a crash.
I can’t remember much about the planes other than they were silver, four-engined and going towards Wethersfield, so American. Connies perhaps?
The huge treat for us back then as kids was to go to the big airshows at Wethersfield. It really was like another world, another universe compared to a rural Essex 60s town where the cattle market still ran in the town centre on a Wednesday.
I flew on this EC-121-D in 1964-5-6-7 as a radar technician, this AC was also deployed to Viet Nam for Operation Big Eye in support of US fighters against NVN migs.
I remember when Connies were still flying commercial routes. Those engines are like music.
An Orchestra in total harmony. A beauty to behold.
One of my earliest memories was my parents taking me on a Constellation flight in the early 50s. I remember hearing the name a lot along with enthusiasm by my parents. The other faded memory was the sound of the engines in flight.
Why start with #3? The simple answer: It is traditional for 4-engine piston engine aircraft to start with #3. On L-049 through L-1049 series of Connies, hydraulic power for the brakes is from the Secondary hydraulic system, which obtains it's power from engine driven pumps located on engine #3 and engine #4. The L-1649A obtains hydraulic power for the brakes from any engine. The DC-4/6/7 series obtain hydraulic power from engines #2 and #3. As you can see, starting #3 on any of the above aircraft will provide hydraulic power for the brakes, and everyone can be prepared for #3 to be started first. Standard practices increase safety. The typical sequence is 3,4,2,1. Sometimes you will see a difference sequence and, in such cases, everyone involved needs to be informed of the non-standard sequence to be used. I flew all the above aircraft types, variously as flight engineer and co-pilot, back in the late 1970s to late 1980s.
Thank you for that wonderfully clear data on the start ups, it figures but as a non mechanic (I was ATC) it was always a question in my mind. I knew about the 'pooling of oil and the smoky starts which added to the thrill of each start up, then follows that particular sound. All magic and Thanks again Propliner 1955.
DC8 we ran the same sequence. On the 747 classics we went 4321 since #4 hydraulics were primary.
These engines sounds great, is like a simphony
Quite. No other engine sounded like it. As applied to the DC-7 with the 4 blade props, it sounded even better.
The sweet sound of those R-3350 turbo compound engines is music to my ears.
On February 20, 1972 I flew on a C-121 from Harrisburg, PA Middletown Airport to Lackland AFB on my way to basic training. It was an experience of a lifetime. Flew across country at a very low altitude was able to see everything in detail.
No other sound like it. Used to be an everyday occurrence but no more. The drone of those big radials flying by at altitude leaving contrails. Glorious.
One of those sounds I miss. Would to go back...
I was a crew member 27650, radar operator, back in 1972 thru 1974 at McCellan AFB.
Hey Dan Medellin, THANKS SO MUCH for posting this Connie Vid. I didn't know one was flying. Where and when I grew up a, EC-121 Connie would go over our yard on final approach. It had a large dorsal and large belly blister. Years later I married a gal and her father was most likely on some of those flights doing R&D stuff (radar & mag sensing) for Naval Air Developement. Man did I grow up in a neat place, no wonder I became a pilot. Thanks again for thinking of others. Me and all the other very appreciative folks on here. The others... well let's hope they learn to appreciate what others give for free and may they also stop complaining and start enjoying what is given to them free:-).
Love the sound of those 3350's and the unmistakeable sound of those expander tube brakes. Loved that aircraft. Worked on them while attached to VQ-2 in Rota Spain.
Great video, I took lots of pictures that day but no video, I'm so glad that you captured this incredible aircraft.
So glad to find this video. Brings back the memories from 1973-74 McClellan AFB duty. 963rd SQ. 552 Wing. I was radar operator and logged I forget how many hours flying time as some missions were like 10-12 hours long. Also remember almost having to jump out over the ocean during a winter night flight because of a fire. We were standing in line wanting for the six bells signal to jump. Somehow the Flt. Engineer saved the day.
Yep! I remember many night flights out of Korat AFB, 1970-1971. U.S.A.F. Vet. 68-72. 301X4 Inertial Nav Tech. F-105 Wild Weasel,F-4C&D's, EB-66. What a sight to see when this beautiful aircraft flew at night! You could really see the exaust flames then. Being a son of a S.A.C dad at Carlwell A.F.B. in Fort Worth, Texas,living off base, only the mighty "big stick" B-36 shook me more!
God I love the super Connie, I wish they were still flying everywhere
Thanks so much. I really appreciate you taking the time to make and then post this.
Hundreds of hours as an Electronic Warfare Operator on the EC-121M the Navy Electron Surveillance version of this. Brought back a lot of long fond memories of in the air.
In early 1968 I was based at Burnham Military Camp, south of Christchurch (New Zealand). At the time an American Navy Squadron, Air Development Squadron 6, was based at McMurdo Sound in Antarctica and the Operation Deep Freeze headquarters at Christchurch Airport. The squadron flew a variety of aircraft, including Constellations and one morning, while we were on Battalion Parade, one of the Constellations flew low over the camp.
The noise was colossal and everyone on parade looked up, including all the officers and Regimental Sergeant Major Pope, who was taking the parade. He had a voice that could be heard over just about any other noise, but even he had to wait until this tremendous racket had departed.
As the aircraft receded into the distance RSM Pope reminded us in great detail, and volume, that we were at attention on parade and that meant eyes front and no looking around, no matter what was flying overhead. Just to make sure that we got the message, he kept us on parade for another half-hour and the god of our choice help anyone who even blinked.
Best part of the video is when the people talking get quiet during the approaching overhead and being in awe of the sound. Welcome to a real time machine.
Thanks for posting this- flew in one of these (MATS version) to Hawaii as a child- 1958 (space available)- what a trip- all the sound and vibration- great to relive it-
One of the most beautiful airplanes ever built.
I stumbled on to this fabulious video in the wee hours on sleepless night. I got my AC Wings on the Willy EC121 while stationed in Rota, Spain with VQ2 back in 1973. We used to say that the Willy didn't take off so much as the world got pissed off and fell away. Our Navy birds did not have tiptanks when I flew patrols in them which I later learned was due to one falling off in flight, a comforting discovery. Brings back a flood of memories (Old VQ2 P31 & P32)
Navy Spook CT Binder
Brings back memories. 1972 at McClellan AFB as a propeller repairman. Spent many an island hopping to Wake island towards Koraht Thialand for 6 months TDY. Loved those days.
Just love The Constellation....great upload.
The sound of the propellers is simply romantic and majestic.
When I was a kid in the 1950s, I can remember watching Super Connies flying into the Harrisburg, PA Airport, by TWA. Our home was on the flight line for landings when planes flew into our airport from the East. I had a few model airplanes on top of my dresser, and I had a model of the Super Connie draped across my bedroom walls near the ceiling. When I was 12 or so, I took my bike for a long ride from my home, to the airport. I didn't realize how far the airport was, but off I went for about a 4 mile ride on my 3 speed Schwinn bike. I was rewarded with one TWA Connie arriving and I watched it taxi right up to the Airport Terminal. The loud sounds of the four engines running was a surprise to me, and I'll never forget that summer afternoon back in the late 1950s... In late 1968 during the Vietnam War, I was at the Pleiku Air Base working as an Aircraft Parts & Supplies Tech Sergeant for the US Army and I got to see many USAF airplanes and jets landing at that Airbase. One day an EC-121 flew into our airport. I wasn't sure why he flew into that Airbase because they usually flew in from Saigon and/or Thailand. The airplane probably had a mechanical problem or just needed fuel, as our Airbase was near the Cambodian border, and that Ho Chi Minh Trail was nearby. But it was good to see that Connie flying in all "dressed up" with an Electronics twist to it's operational function at that time.
Another "my Dad" story: mine flew Connies for EAL out of Logan Boston, along with Electras, DC-9s, 727s and finally as chief pilot, the L-1011 down to Quito, Ecuador. 35 yrs with Eastern, his career followed the wave in aviation; he was hired by Eddie Rickenbacher and gave Frank Borman a ride in his Delta 88. He was also the EAL rep to ALPA. He passed away in 2008.
Sorry to hear that,your Dad would have endless stories of these aircraft I'm sure, thanks for posting, it's a nice touch and a tribute too.
Was his first name Lee?
@@stylus2253 Thanks, wrong one.
Wonderful to see this beautiful old bird fly again. I was in the 79th AEW&C Group in the late '70s and flew missions on this plane several times.
Makes the Baron starup in that excellent video look like a go-kart, heh...
My first flight on an airplane was in April 1960 on an Eastern Airlines "Super C" Constellation, Pittsburgh to Miami. Seeing that beautiful thing take off brought back a lot of memories. Even though I was eight, we knew even then that the Connie's days were numbered. Any airline that had them advertised their jets.Pittsburgh was lengthening its runways for them, but already at least one pilot was capable of landing a 707 there as I saw one parked on the ramp before my flight.
Great camera work and sound! Thanks.
This is the top in propliner design. From a time that happened before most of us were even born. Respect to those who travelled all over the world in these machines.
That after takeoff flyby sounded so spooky....It was a very haunting sound that gave me chills...It made me want to go back in time to hear that kind of thing over and over....
Listen to the sound of those engine.... music to my ears when taking off and in the air
The rich mixture fire exhaust is just so unique for this plane, I love it!
May have been slightly overprimed.
Loved the video of the engine start-up and take-off roll. I flew on C-121s from 1967 to 1973 with the !67th MAG(West Virgina Air Guard,Martinsburgs) Thanks for the memorys
This moved me to tears this as hearing was wow and then watching it where it belongs in the Air gave me Goosebumps.😪
Stephen Powell Standing next to one on take-off, you can feel the sound in your ribcage....
She was the only other female in my early life, her shape and the engine sounds wow!
There was an old L1049 that sat on the tarmac at Camarillo for years, that my dad flew in the late '80's hauling fish from Palau to Japan for Winky. I'm wondering if it's this one they restored and reconfigured to an EC 121. Anyone know? Would be quite a coincidence to have two Connies at Camarillo in the same decade. My dad flew them in southeast asia for Flying Tiger Air Service in the '60's and later to the slope in Alaska for Interior. As a teenager I remember sitting in the jump seat looking out the window and watching that blue exhaust flame in the dark flying over the Brooks range. Amazing airplane, incredible video, and wonderful memories it brings back. Thanks Daniel Medellin!
No, the Wiknys fish Connie still exists just about in Manila. Was abandoned there
no-this one came from Pima Museum-cranked up & flown after sitting for 17 or 18 years.It's the last EC-121T.
dpohunter, you know how blessed you are for the privilege of flying the most beautiful aircraft ever built. This plane brings tears to my eyes....
This aircraft is the most beautiful flying machine ever built.
What a awesome sound from those 4 big radials. You hardly ever hear that anymore!
I was stationed at McClellan AFB, 552nd AEW&C, from 1971 - 1975 in Aircraft Maintenance. When I became a Crew Chief, this aircraft #548, was my bird for a period of time. I crew'd several other tail numbers as well, as the planes rotated in and out on TDY's to Iceland and Thailand. I did fly on one of these to Keflavik more than once, spent the coldest night of my life at Goose Bay, changing out #2 engine, and then staying with the plane all the following night while the flight crew slept, running up all 4 engines for a few minutes every hour to keep them warm enough to start and get us out of there in the morning. Also did a TDY to Korat RTAFB in 1972, just at the tail end of the action over there, and did jump on one mission over Thailand, just to say I did.
Interesting times, heck of an interesting aircraft, good memories!!
If this aircraft is still at Chino, I'll be dropping by soon to say hi to the old girl. She's not as pretty as she used to be, but oh, those curves are still there!
-Rod Eggink
I used to see this plane parked at the airport on my daily commute from Oxnard to Newbury Park. So glad to see it flying again.
I was a radar operator in the back of the EC-121 from 1960 until April 1963. I was in VW-11 in Newfoundland and Iceland. We flew 12 hour flights between Iceland and Greenland and between Iceland and the Faroe Islands north of Scotland. I served when it wasn't dangerous prior to Vietnam. Some of the most interesting years of my life. You never forget those times. I used to have a log book with all of the EC-121s I flew in and I flew in a bunch in Hawaii and Newfoundland. Wish I still had the book as a half dozen or so are in air museums and it would be interesting to see if I flew in one of the remaining aircraft.
Was there 63/64 VW13 spent most of the time in Iceland ( TAD ) Remember the Grey Ghost. Was on flight to check out Sursey day after eruption . Also remember the fish camp r&r, pet rocks, endless bites and days. Great chow , Brenavin, and pyramid shape milk carton lol
Great viddy! That backfire on #2 during the beginning of takeoff was pretty spectacular. Then it hit me during the overhead pass sequence... I haven't heard that sound, that gathering of cylinders en chorus, since I was a teen (Im 50 now). I lived along an approach to PHL so I heard and saw plenty of radial equipped aircraft in their twilight years coming in and out of there and surrounding airports. But hearing it is like seeing a ghost. Or for some people hearing a wolf or a train horn off in the distance. It carries more than its disturbance of air molecules. It carries character.
No1 Good Start... as long as you dont load up the cylnders and foul the plugs...
Starting the Wright Compound R-3350 is an Art, The Days when FE's where part of the Flight Crew... The FE station on this Aircraft is a Dream Area, was always busy. Anyone reading this remember the Guage BMEP... Yep the Connie had this Guage !!!
Also Very Important, These engines burned 115/145 Octane Deep Purple Gasoline... considering this Old Gal is using maybe 100 LL is testimony to the Crew great engine starting Skill !!!....6-7 Blades... Mag On ! Man those where the good ole days, When Human Hands where the direct connection with the Aeroplanes.
I was part of the crew that got her ready to fly. Four R-3350 round engines are a beautiful sound and make a tremendous amount of power. Would love to see her fly again. Come on Yanks! Make it happen!
Mark Burdick â
So wonderful to see this. I flew missions on this very plane in the late '70s with the 79th AEW&C group out of Homestead AFB in Florida.
I had no idea this magnificent bird had flown again, as I would have considered going there to shoot it myself. This is some great cam work to btw, and that radome on the belly always fascinated me since I saw one fly over Ft. Rucker in the 60s when I was a kid. Incredible.
I worked 3rd shift in the 388th MMS maintenance area at Korat RTAFB just across the road from the 121 parking area in 1972 as a 20 year old A1C. We usually finished our buildups early and would climb the water tower to watch the pre-dawn startups and takeoffs. Always impressive with the blue exhaust flames. They always seemed to struggle for altitude though. Most beautiful transport aircraft ever built.
Could watch this all day..
What a sweet aircraft. What a thrill it must have been, to be there. Thanks for posting!
My brother's last assignment was at McClellan AFB as the line chief for the EC-121's. He retired in 1974. He really loved working on the receps and never moved to the jets his entire 28 year career.
With Columbine II flying recently, that makes three different C-121s airborne, in the U.S., over the past four years. Pretty incredible.
Columbine 1 now sits in need of work a private field owned by Wiecks. Was ferried o er a couple of years ago. Check Fantasy of Flight you tube channel.
Awesome video! It feels like being there for real. I remember watching these babies fly over all the time towards the late 60's. The airport traffic always flew over and around our house. What an amazing plane the Connie was and still is.
I recall the first one I saw from our home as it claimed out from the Atlanta airport of what I think much have been its first flight from that airport. My dad had phoned from the airport to tell us to go out and watch.
Back in the early 1960's we lived a few blocks from Midway airport in Chicago and at that time TWA ran passenger versions of this in and out regularly right over our house. Loved the smooth quiet prop engine sounds. That peace was shattered when jet aircraft came in and it was nothing but noise.
I remember seeing the Connie sitting at the Camarillo Airport for years at the end of the runway. Good to see her back where she belongs!
I think all of us being vintage aircraft fanatics, were having "airgasms" that talker guy was the only one speaking them. but hey. to each his or her own Eh?, talk about a sweet sounding lady flyin out. many thanks to those who worked on her, who flew her in her day, and to those who served in one way shape or form. thank you.
Aaron
Incredible video showing those engines starting up. Well done mate.
I crewed on these out of Keflavik and Homestead. Crewed on this very aircraft from time to time.
WowSAY THAT AFTER 15YEARS OF HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THE OLD GIRL STILL CAN FLY.
To all you men out there you guys are as tough as steel to do this amazingly great work and the hours it took.
Great job men and once again america is proud of you.
It's amazing how steady you are holding the camera. Thanks for this.
Back in 1951, the PanAm Clipper Golden Fleece flew us from Munich to Hong Kong over a period of three days. It was a flight I will never forget.
Lucky man.
Dad was a nav on these - 551st Otis AFB '62-65.
I grew up in Sacramento in the 50's as well and fondly remember watching these aircraft flying over. The flying boxcars too! Awesome!
Conner! You took the words out of my mouth! I first flew on this fantastic Airplane from Shannon Airport to London in 1962.
My father flew in the ec121 at the 193rd sog in highspie pa. The old bird flew over our house while they were training . I will always have a special place in my heart for those beautiful old birds
It never ceases to amaze me what we've managed to do in such a short time. Our ancestors would have stared in terror and awe to see such a magnificent machine rumble to life in a cloud of fire and smoke. Incredible.
I agree! My mom's side of the family came from Plymouth England on a relatively little tiny boat called the Mayflower with no assurances given the place they were headed even existed. That side of the family fought the Revolutionary War to start a new country and the Civil War to keep it together and that side of the family ended up in a new town being built on swamp land that would be called Chicago.
My dad's side came here, knowing the place they were headed did exist, on a big steam liner in 1929, he was 4, after they saw the writing on the wall that Hitler didn't like them. The relatives that remained saying Hitler was a flash in the pan, became smoke belched from chimneys. My grandparents and dad ended up in Chicago.
My parents met riding a streetcar every day, they worked for the same employer during high school. They dated until WWII came home to the USA. He enlisted, they dated by mail, he returned after serving in Los Alamos during the construction of the most destructive weapon known to mankind, they married and parented 2 sons. My brother, 6 years my senior, fell for some shit from a recruiter and was killed in Vietnam.
I have a photo of my dad as a boy standing in front of his parents 1932 Buick with what looks like wooden spoked wheels. I remember telephone party lines, the first car my dad had that I remember was a '57' Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, I was 4 and his last car was a Nissan something. I remember lying on the lawn as a family watching as Sputnik blinked it's way overhead in the night sky. And then the Space Shuttle and the Space Station, NOT "2001" but not Sputnik either. I remember a guy bringing milk to the house in glass bottles and another selling fresh veggies from his pick up truck. I remember being so terrified of 'duck and cover' training in school that I was so terrified of the Wednesday test of air raid sirens at 3 PM that mom drove to the school, several blocks from safety, to pick me up.
When I was a little kid dad's best friend was a guy next door, his wife and my mom plus 2 other ladies played Canasta poolside in our back yard during summer. The guy was a pilot for TWA and flew a Super Connie. The first time I'd ever been on a plane was a visit he engineered, the plane's engines never started, it never left the ground but we were given the 'grand tour'. Fast forward decades later and I've flown around the USA on jet planes many times.
***** kool story
I'm not much into airplanes, but this one has got to be the most graceful and attractive one EVER !
roger that!
Magnificence. What a symphony of engine sound.
Wow good video - thought he wasn't getting over the fence for a minute there. LOL
Enjoyed that alot - thanks for upload
I was also in Sacramento 1969ish. My Dad flew these. He always loved his crew and knew them to be people he needed to do his job. Did surveillenance off the coast of Florida. Sounds which send me reeling into just beautiful nothing-ness are small planes taking off!
In 1957 I was a passenger on a C121 to Europe...we stopped at the Azores, and had lunch and then took off but something was not right so we dropped a lot of fuel and returned to Lajes...we finally were up and bound for Wheelus AB in Libya...a great scene looking down to the blue of the Med...a ship was sailing east....a great scene for a kid who had never been out of the states :)
A quite normal Connie takeoff, sounds like the cameraman was trying to personally coax it off the ground :).
I too was stationed at Otis AFB from 1962-64. But I was with the 26th ADMS, (Bomarc). I took the big Connies for granted, becaue back then, everything had propellers on them. I loved the summers, but hated the winters. We used to say they shouls have given us overseas pay every time we crossed the Buzzard's bay bridge.
In 1957, I was an air force passenger on a C-121 - Charleston AFB SC to Wheelus AB Libya...the seats faced the rear...I recall seeing a ship on the Med. A farm kid from the midwest seeing such things...btw, I like this airplane, I think ppl who make negative comments just have not seen one or been a passenger...
A strange looking aircraft..... Looked like the pilot did not want to stress the engines to much on take off...great vid....
As a young airman fueler (POL) stationed at McGuire AFB NJ in the late 70's, I delivered grade 115/145 avgas to RC and EC121's on several occasions. The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard still actively flew recip engines aircraft back then, and we had an old hydrant fueling system pump house configured to store 115/145 and fill refueling trucks with the fragrant purple fuel.
I island hopped across the Pacific to Okinawa aboard one of these Supper Connies in 1962 ... What a flight !!!
Beautiful airplane and well done video . You had me a little nervous too watching it roll slowly down the runway.
Flew as a pilot for 2 years at McClellan/Korat/Tainan. Loved the old bird. Have some hours in “triple nickel” (555) that is residing in the USAF museum at Wright Patterson. That’ll make you feel old!