Can you imagine back in the day when keeping hundreds of big radial engine airliners operational and flying safely was everyday stuff? God bless people who are willing to invest the blood, sweat, tears and $ into keeping such classics flying. Thank You
I flew over a Super Connie that went in just after departure. Hit a supercell microburst. Fully loaded. Just an everyday flight. Korat Thailand. All brave men.
I remember this beautiful bird sitting in a fenced lot at Ft Rucker Al, years ago just rotting away, all I could think at the time was "What a shame." Thanks for all the effort in bringing her back to the beautiful machine she was meant to be.
I remember it at Ft Rucker when I was stationed there too, I didn't realize till now this was the same plane though. The "pucker factor" is real when this happens and I got to experience a main gear failure first hand in the Pacific Prowler in the early 80's and having to divert to BLT while flying with my Dad. Exciting to say the least ! I also got to experience a total power loss in a J3 a few hundred yards off the end of the runway , lucky there was smooth a pasture just off the end of the runway where we set it down with only some minor gear damage. Worst part of that whole deal was that when we went back to retrieve it, the cows had chewed half the fabric off the tail feathers and lower fuselage ! I don't think I ever saw the "old man " that mad before ! There was some cow ass kicking going on then mister , Pa was not a happy camper LOL !! Bright side ,,,that's how I learned to stitch & dope fabric at a very young age . 👍
IN 1959...MY FAMILY AND I FLEW A TWA CONNIE FROM PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIRPORT TO SAN FRANCISCO.....WE HAD TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE LANDING GEAR...I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT
Lovely to see this absolutely gorgeously beautiful old gal still proudly parting the air, and my hat is off to these old gentlemen for working to keep her up there.
I was at Rucker for OH-6 instructor training enroute to Nam and watched this plane from short final to taxi, the day it arrived. Man, what a piece of history, what a beautiful airplane. How nice to see it fully restored and flying once again.
During the takeoff runn, I thought about the incredible complexity of the engines, and all the other systems...that Constellation is one of the beauties of the propeller age, like the Mosquito, Spitfire, and Mustang! Thanks to all who keep her in the air!
Beautiful aircraft. So glad they got back safely. It was awesome that there are dedicated people who preserve and maintain these aircraft from a time gone by.
My father was stationed at McClellan AFB in the mid to late 50s where there were tons of EC-121s. I was about 4-5 years old. That's when I fell in love with Connies! Something like 1957-8. 😊
I rode in a Constellation from Alaska to California when I was a kid. I thought it was beautiful. It is still the most beautiful aircraft ever to fly God’s blue sky. As for the back seat comments, I doubt any of you have flown or worked on a Constellation. These pilots and engineer have worked on this aircraft. I was an engineer on KC-130s for 5 years and I would trust these guys to know what they were doing.
I grew up near the flight line of McClellan AFB where the connie early warning radar planes was maintained and I had a couple friends who worked on them. I remember watching them fly in to McClellan
Rod Lewis ,Thank you for having this beautiful airplane restored and made flight worthy so many people like myself can appreciate what our fathers flew in during their time in their militaryu services. My father flew with tha Paang ang crewed on some of the remaining static c-121's left . So again thank you Rod Lewis for bring Bataan out for everyone to see , and thank you to Steve Hintons POF for the amazing restoration.
In December of 1949 I flew on a MATS Connie (as a 5-year-old) from San Francisco to Honolulu. Even at that "tender" age I was struck by the inherent beauty of that "beast". It was the first time I'd ever seen an airplane, but my little mind still marveled at the overwhelming majesty that lay before me.
I flew in the Navy version of the Super Constellation (EC-121K) from 1960 to 1963. I was an ACW and operated one of the consoles in the CIC section. My last duty station was Argentia, Newfoundland but all the patrols were flown out of Keflavik, Iceland. There was a gap between Greenland and Iceland and between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The patrols covered the gaps and were 14 to 15 hours long. There were two squadrons flying out of Keflavik (VW-11 and VW-13) with the squadrons alternating between the two gaps. The patrols were manned 24 hours every day until the squadrons were decommissioned in 1965.
Back in the late 50’s I used to spend some Saturdays at LaGuardia airport in New York City. After spending many hours watching planes come and go from the observation deck I wondered if I could make my way to the end of the runway without being noticed by anyone of authority. I eventually found a route that involved walking over and around the break water boulders along the water’s edge. I ended up at the approach/departure end of runway 31. The very high berm that was there at the time kept me out of sight from the aircraft departing and any port authority vehicles. It was very exciting watching and hearing all those aircraft from that particular vantage point. Feeling the ground shake when takeoff power was applied. Watching a Connie turn base to final with gear down, full flaps and pass just a hundred feet above my head was pretty fantastic for a 13 year old boy. At that time I wouldn’t have believed that some 20 years later I would be making this same approach in a B-737.
Just Wow! It was awesome seeing her fly at S-N-F. It’s been probably 25 or 30 years since I’ve last seen one there. Never thought I’d see another one flying. Thanks for bringing her! I can’t even imagine the amount of time and money 💰 that took! AWESOME! New subscriber also!
In September of 1966, I flew in one from Anchorage to Fairbanks. I even had the privilege of watching them change an engine while we all sat in the aircraft. The pilot was really chatty and cruised around 12,000 feet, though it was too cloudy to see Mt. McKinley. He did a wingover to get down to Fairbanks to land. I'll never forget that trip.
Great composition / editing to whoever made this film! Plus, the "Connie" is truly a beautiful bird. And nice job by the flight crew to bring her home safe.
That was the only decision they seemed to agree on. Too many chefs in that kitchen at the end. Glad the left seater finally raised his hand, albeit too little too late.
I was lucky to see Connie fly over my place here on the West Wales coast, heading for home after attending a Berlin airlift commemoration some years ago, not high up, it was a memorable site.
My dad worked for TWA for 47 years and the Connie was his favorite plane. I remember when I was a kid going to the airport in Kansas City where the main overhaul base was located. He retired in 82.
Without a doubt one of the most beautiful passenger liners ever created! It's hard to believe that this bad boy is about 75 years old! Thank you to the person(s) and business responsible for keeping this plane airworthy. Hopefully it will be kept airworthy for many years to come so that future generations can view this majestic bird in flight!
@@DebOxy Hopefully they keep it air worthy for many more years to come. Those Constellations are truly the most beautiful piston powered air liners to grace the sky's! The U.S. Air Force were some lucky son of a guns to be able to fly those aircraft as military transport and cargo aircrafts. Probably one of the only times in history when a Cargo Pilot passed a fighter pilot and smiled with a big shit eating grin on their faces because their big ass airplane was the envy of the skys! The fighter pilot was probably looking over at the Connie going "Damn, I wish I was flying that beautiful bird instead of this piece of junk!".
@@joevanseeters2873 Joe, our EAG in early years was USAF military transport/cargo. We hope to keep her flying as long as possible, its not that the aircraft will stop flying, its manpower thats needed, our Connie crew are mostly all late 70s now, oldest is 85 and still runs circles around some youngins 😉😉
@@DebOxy I totally understand. Hopefully some new "blood" so to speak will take over the passion you all have to keep this beautiful bird in the air, as it should be seen and heard. The Constellation is still the most beautiful military transport/airliner ever built.
Iconic! Classic! An incomparable beauty! Yes. I flew on Constellations several times, all on TWA’s transcontinental routes. As I’ve recounted before, on one such flight I met every kid’s greatest hero, Mr. Walt Disney! Our family was invited to sit with him in the Constellation’s unique lounge. I never saw another lounge like that until Continental Airlines introduced Pub Service on their DC10s.
I REALLY enjoyed watching this video of a Classic Lady of the Sky, with a crew of well-seasoned pilots at the controls. It's like aviation poetry in motion. While a few of my flight instructors were reserve or retired Military Pilots, my very first Instructor was actually a WWII decorated veteran who would make these gentlemen look "middle-aged. After taking an "Introduction Flight" ($15.00 for 30 minutes, as I recall), I signed up for my first few lessons and bought a logbook. At the end of my first hour of duel, he was very complimentary of my skill and quick learning; however, he sent me home with a copy of Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche. He told me not to schedule my next flight with him until I had read the book cover to cover, adding that he might quiz me on various teachings. I still have that book with highlighted passages and notes in the borders. Great Memories. Money cannot buy their level of knowledge and skill.
OMG ! That is a beautiful machine. I had chills when they were landing hoping nothing more would happen. Much respect to ALL of the crew and their feedback to each other in that situation. This is something that could be learned by the younger generations. NOT to forget a mention to ALL the ground crew who fix and troubleshoot, so those legends can still fly. Thank you for sharing such skill and beauty.
For me the most beautiful aircraft ever designed 1) Lockheed Constellation, 2) North American XB-70 Valkyrie, 3) Northrop T-38 Talon. In this order. The looks and lines are just... beautiful. Thanks for posting!
My first ever flight was a Super Conny, 1958 bound for San Antonio for USAF basic training. What a beautiful aircraft. Inside and out! To me, this is the most beautiful aircraft ever made!
Such an iconic aircraft from an era when things were so different. Lovely to see all the dedication a lot of people put in to keep her where she truly belongs - in the sky.
I truly hope that this video has won some kind of award(s). It is the finest piece I've ever seen on the most deserving and beautiful airplane ever made. I tear up just looking at 'her'....
Or the comment at left turn at the end of the runway "I've lost the third". Super Constellations were renown having red hot cantankerous engines and often completed flights on three. Qantas briefly had a fleet of them doing long haul to Europe & the UK and kept spare engines at all the airports on the way.(It took 5 days with overnight stops) before the fleet was changed to 707's.
@@theChickenstones Its not uncommon to pull the power levers back too far on big radials and they'll stall. Thats why we never pull ours back to "idle" unless we are on the ground.
Iconic! Classic! An incomparable beauty! Yes. I flew on Constellations several times in the 50s, all on TWA’s transcontinental routes. As I’ve recounted before, on one such flight I met every kid’s greatest hero, Mr. Walt Disney! Our family was invited to sit with him in the Constellation’s unique lounge. I never saw another lounge like that until Continental Airlines introduced Pub Service on their DC10s.
Wow, I recorded this startup, take-off and flight. But never knew there was an issue with the nose gear. It was definitely a smart decision to come back and land when you had "3 green" after cycling the gear. This is no doubt the most beautiful, majestic aircraft I've ever seen! I hope we get to see it again at Oshkosh 2024.
Awesome work, professionally executed and recorded. I love the beauty of the Connie, been one of my favorites for 50 years. Great work by a team of super aviators and support team!
Connie’s are such a beautiful aircraft, it’s great to see this one in such a perfect condition and in such capable experienced hands. The pilot in command just concentrated on flying the aircraft while the crew worked the problem, just stepping in when necessary making the final decisions and a very nice landing making sure the nose gear had minimal stress. A beautifully made video, worth watching more than once. 👍🙂
I piloted the Super Connie for Eastern between Houston and NY back in around 54 or 55 , Of course I was only 5 or 6 years old and sitting on the captains lap and steering the wheel. Now that guy in the right seat was just resting his hands on the other wheel because I was flying the plane, at least in this little boy's mind, I was flying the plane. I'll never forget that experience. Worked at IAH in later years and one came in as a cargo hauler (late 80's-early 90s), I crawled up in it and when I stepped down into the flight deck it all came back after all those years. Love that plane and Howard Hughes was the driving force behind engineering the Super Connie.
Almost a 1000 hours in the EC-121M version. My first A/C as a Naval Air Crewman. I flew on several other aircraft types, but the Connie was and always will be my favorite. Was also a ground Maintenance Tech. It was a joy to work on.
When my parents got divorced, my Mom took a job as a high school librarian on Guam, moving herself, my brother, and me to Guam just in time to have the house we moved into blown away by Typhoon Karen in 1962. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Karen) I got into Boy Scouts, in a troop that was sponsored by the Navy Communications Station. We went to eevents at all the military bases, got to go see all sorts of military aircraft (sometimes they came to us.... when the winds were right, Harmon Village was directly under the low flying, heavily loaded B-52s with full throttle trying to climb on their way to Vietnam in the middle of the night....not only was did the noise wake us, but would cause all sorts of things to vibrate and dance around and occasionally fall to the floor ... but I digress). Anyway, the aircraft that always fascinated me was not the B-52s that woke me in the middl of the night, nor the KC-135s that woke me pre-dawn as they flew out to meet the B-52s returning from Vietnam,. No, it was the ones helping warn us of the next typohoon heading our way - the typhoon trackers, the WC-121 Warning Star aircraft, Super Constellations with sarch radar domes top and bottom. I actually got to shake the hands of some of those supermen who FLEW INTO TYPHOONS FOR A LIVING. THE single most vivid memory I have of my childhood is probably crawling on all fours from our house as it was blowing down to the house next door. On my hands and knees the wind was threatening to blow me away.... I couldn't crawl straight, but had to rotate 90 degrees every few "steps" so I could maintain a scalloped-shaped path toward our neighbor's house. 62 years later, my heart rate is up remembering that night. And those guys flew Super Connies into those storms. On purpose. Studs, one and all. I found this site, in which one of the guys tells their story:vw1assoc.org/airclassics_12_74.html in 1962. in 1962.
Sigh…I’ll be the jerk: professional crews have somebody flying the airplane, while the PM works the issue. In an airplane such as yours, it’s even easier, as you’ve got an FE and a scanner to troubleshoot while the PF devotes their full attention to aircraft control. I don’t need to tell you guys what can happen when all three aviators on board are heads down with something that has nothing to do with flying the airplane. While it’s nice that you’ve got both pilots actively trying to address the directional control issue, on rollout, the SIC is having to help because the PIC doesn’t have enough bandwidth left for anything but hanging on. There are several tells there that the PIC has lost SA. That’s a lovely airplane you all have, and although you put it safely in the ground, you need to improve as a crew. Less than adequate CRM, fellas. And I’d say that right in front of you. If you’re distracted and overwhelmed with a minor gear issue, how’s the engine failure going to go?
Also, cycling a landing gear that’s already down? YGTBSM. Why aren’t you all following the checklist procedure? Anybody want to wager the cocked nose gear was an issue from the second extension and not the first? Lastly, doing a low pass for untrained observers to participate in the process by giving you what is probably bad data, is a recipe for more mayhem - greatly increased risk from flying low passes with a distracted crew that’s inventing its own procedures for the abnormal instead of strictly adherent to flight manual guidance.
@@LJDRVR Terrible CRM. No emergency declared with a known gear issue. No checklist ran concerning gear issue when first discovered, First Officer made all the decisions and the Captain basically froze not knowing what checklist to call for. On landing Crew was confused as to delegate aircraft control. Ran over many taxi lights without noting deviation from taxi lines. I could go on but this was a clear example on how NOT to handle an emergency. Captain Ret. 35,000 + hrs. ATP MEL CFIME FETJ Type rated B-747, DC-10, B-737, EMB-110.
@@williamadler3003 I’m with you Bill. Six type ratings, 18,000 hours and years of experience as a check pilot. If that flight had been a checkride, there would be some uncomfortable phone calls being made and people removed from the flight schedule. Given how much attention it’s receiving and how poorly the vintage/warbird community is doing, it’s surprising these guys have put this out on the Internet, replete with sinister music. Well, given their low SA, maybe not so surprising. A CRM facilitator could use this effectively to demonstrate EXACTLY why we have the FO fly and talk, while the PIC manages the abnormal.
@@williamadler3003your points are noted and valid but you’re tipping into self aggrandising by repeating this comment over and over again in this thread.
@@tungstentwohundredandtwent7007 It's a way of alerting the poster he is replying to that there is a comment on THEIR post. If you don't - that poster rarely reads the rest of the comments to realize there is a different point of view in the short attention span Internet. I agree it's repetitive - but it's the way to beat the YT reporting system. If you don't kinda hammer it home to each poster we end up with a bunch of "wonderful job airshow enthusiasts" who don't understand that to the pilots it was not a stellar bit of CRM.
I was lucky enough to see her fly out at Oshkosh. The Connie is one beautiful airplane. I'm glad the issue with the nose gear is fixed and she is still flying.
Unquestionably the most beautiful prop driven passenger airliner ever built! My parents and I took Grandmother T. to LaGuardia for a flight to Mexico to do some watercolor painting. Must have been around 1955 and we watched from the terminal as her Connie roared down the runway during takeoff. Suddenly, a rather large fireball and smoke engulfed one engine as it lifted off. We all thought we were waiving goodbye for good to our loving Grandmother! The plane circled around and landed without incident. Very tense moments for sure.
Very professional. I was surprised that there was even any question about what to do once the gear was indicating down and locked. I mean... It's down, leave it that way. I'm glad the ol' girl made it down in one piece and was quickly repaired. I'd have loved to known what the problem was and/or seen the repair. Thanks for sharing.
Terrible CRM. No emergency declared with a known gear issue. No checklist ran concerning gear issue when first discovered, First Officer made all the decisions and the Captain basically froze not knowing what checklist to call for. On landing Crew was confused as to delegate aircraft control. Ran over many taxi lights without noting deviation from taxi lines. I could go on but this was a clear example on how NOT to handle an emergency. Captain Ret. 35,000 + hrs. ATP MEL CFIME FETJ Type rated B-747, DC-10, B-737, EMB-110.
Professionalism. The most ridiculously overused word online "aviation enthusiasts" use to describe the "performance" of hobby.flyers that haven't flown as a profession anywhere but their dreams.
Terrible CRM. No emergency declared with a known gear issue. No checklist ran concerning gear issue when first discovered, First Officer made all the decisions and the Captain basically froze not knowing what checklist to call for. On landing Crew was confused as to delegate aircraft control. Ran over many taxi lights without noting deviation from taxi lines. I could go on but this was a clear example on how NOT to handle an emergency. Captain W.S. Adler 35,000 + hrs. ATP MEL CFIME FETJ Type rated B-747, DC-10, B-737, EMB-110.
I'm not sure you could describe it as "utter professionalism". They got it down safely but the teamwork sounded like utter chaos. Rotorhead is on the money.
Wonder who the copilot is. He’s grabbing and doing things that are making the Dawsons job as the captain more difficult. You can tell towards the end , he’s starting to get a little tired of it.
I remember going to Newcastle airport in the North East of England when I was a kid and seeing the Connie when it was in service. I can still picture it! Probably about 58 years ago!
@Lewis Air Legends - WARNING!!! @9:48 the outboard right main tire rolled directly over the taxi light and broke it. The next taxi light miraculously went right between both right main tires, but didn't appear to break. Someone should carefully inspect those tires for damage before the next flight.
My late Father-in-law's favorite airplane to work on. Came out of the Navy working on P2Vs and worked for TWA for 37 years at San Francisco International. Always liked the Connie the best of all the airplanes TWA flew. At the beginning of the video when you were starting #3 engine, reminded me of a story he told me about having the number 3 engine tear its self off the wing during start up. They found out that the pin that holds the massive counterweight in that big ole R3350 had broken and the engine was so out of balance on start up it torn the motor mounts before they could shut it down. He said the engine came to rest on the spinner held vertically by all the cables and hoses still attached to the wing. Said it was a really long night getting that engine off and replaced to get the aircraft back in flying condition.
What a great sight it would be to see our Australian Connie side by side with your US Connie! These must be the last airworthy examples in the world surely 👍
Absolutely THE most beautiful aircraft ever. My first Connie flight was in July, 1956 when I was 7 ... TWA from Chicago Midway to LAX. To pilot one of those magnificent crafts has to be just amazing. After private flying for 34 years I hung it up 4 years ago, but was at Sun 'n Fun 2024 and have sure plans to be there next year 🙂
Memories........spent my life in aviation. When I was a kid in Pa. every day around 5 pm a Connie flew over my house and I always looked up. Worked for a freight airline...A&P mech.....Zantop....DC-6s....C-46s etc......but no airplane can match the beauty of a Connie. Once had an acquaintance who flew the Connie with the Pa-ANG. Last name Denlinger.
Similar experience here for me, the airport was in downtown KCMO, my house as a kid in the early 60s, was in the flight path on the east side in Independence, MO. Would see a Connie now and then and lots of turbo prop aircraft, fly overhead, an awesome thing for a little kid.
On Christmas Day 1959, I was in CIC on a DER (radar picket destroyer escort) somewhere between Adak, AL and Midway, while the CIC staff was singing Christmas carols to the WV-2s (Navy radar picket version of Super Connies) passing overhead on the old DEW line. I've had a soft spot in my heart for Super Connies ever since.
Connie flew low over our House years ago the sound of it coming and going was just amazing. It was gone b4 I got a good look at her. The sound of the 4 motors doing their thing is just awesome
Still one of the coolest looking aircraft to come out of the Kelly Johnson Skunk Works! Oh, and only one taxiway light lost it's life in the making of this documentary.
The CONNIE is one of the most beautiful flying machines ever to grace the skies. So glad it is still flying for generations to enjoy.
A work of art
Reminds me a bit of a sturgeon, just with a triple vertical stabilizer. :)
Nah. It is THE most beautiful aircraft ever designed and built! 😊 Designed with a French curve. 🤣🤣🤣
the the most beutiful airplanes I have ever seen, P-38 Lightning, Lockheed Constellation, and Boeing 747.
@@paulyoung181 Missing the Fokker G-1 in that list 🤔
By Far.... the most beautiful airplane in the skies today. THANK YOU for "Keeping" it Flying!!!!!
Indeed.
@@Ripper13F1V true Queen of the sky
so agree, love the sounds of those engines,
I'm not sure about that, but maybe a close second just behind the Aeronca C-3 😁
IMHO the Connie is the most beautiful aircraft ever conceived. Nothing else even comes close. Magnificent! Keep 'er flying.
Can you imagine back in the day when keeping hundreds of big radial engine airliners operational and flying safely was everyday stuff? God bless people who are willing to invest the blood, sweat, tears and $ into keeping such classics flying. Thank You
...and its mostly all volunteer blood sweat and tears, ....all for the love of Connies
"and flying safely was everyday stuff?"
Back in the day safety of flight wasn't always so safe. We've learned a LOT over time. More and more each day.
I flew over a Super Connie that went in just after departure. Hit a supercell microburst. Fully loaded. Just an everyday flight. Korat Thailand. All brave men.
god?
@@markhenry6486 ?
I remember this beautiful bird sitting in a fenced lot at Ft Rucker Al, years ago just rotting away, all I could think at the time was "What a shame." Thanks for all the effort in bringing her back to the beautiful machine she was meant to be.
I didn't know that it was the same aircraft. If I remember right, it was assigned to a general when it was in US ARMY use?
@@ronaldcooper7609 It was Gen MacArthur's aircraft, "The Bataan". The Army should be ashamed of the way they treated this bird.
I remember it at Ft Rucker when I was stationed there too, I didn't realize till now this was the same plane though.
The "pucker factor" is real when this happens and I got to experience a main gear failure first hand in the Pacific Prowler in the early 80's and having to divert to BLT while flying with my Dad. Exciting to say the least !
I also got to experience a total power loss in a J3 a few hundred yards off the end of the runway , lucky there was smooth a pasture just off the end of the runway where we set it down with only some minor gear damage.
Worst part of that whole deal was that when we went back to retrieve it, the cows had chewed half the fabric off the tail feathers and lower fuselage ! I don't think I ever saw the "old man " that mad before !
There was some cow ass kicking going on then mister , Pa was not a happy camper LOL !!
Bright side ,,,that's how I learned to stitch & dope fabric at a very young age . 👍
IN 1959...MY FAMILY AND I FLEW A TWA CONNIE FROM PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIRPORT TO SAN FRANCISCO.....WE HAD TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE LANDING GEAR...I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT
I remember this bird sitting out at the grand canyon airport and then it was gone. Glad to know where she ended up.
Lovely to see this absolutely gorgeously beautiful old gal still proudly parting the air, and my hat is off to these old gentlemen for working to keep her up there.
I was at Rucker for OH-6 instructor training enroute to Nam and watched this plane from short final to taxi, the day it arrived. Man, what a piece of history, what a beautiful airplane. How nice to see it fully restored and flying once again.
During the takeoff runn, I thought about the incredible complexity of the engines, and all the other systems...that Constellation is one of the beauties of the propeller age, like the Mosquito, Spitfire, and Mustang!
Thanks to all who keep her in the air!
Beautiful aircraft. So glad they got back safely. It was awesome that there are dedicated people who preserve and maintain these aircraft from a time gone by.
They did and excellent job restoring her and she looks like new!
Best looking airplane ever built
The B1 is pretty sexy but doesn’t sound near as good as those 4 radials
You mean the A-6 Intruder isn’t?lol
I concur! A beautiful aircraft. I like the Super Connies which are longer and more attractive than this one, but they are all stunning.
Maybe, but imo the B727 gives it a run for the money
@@jwh475ezc those 727’s always sounded like fighters taking off
There is nothing like hearing her approaching our house and running out to see her fly over! Makes my week❣️🙋🏼♀️
Makes me weak too!
Use to do that some sixty years ago usually at meal time
My father was stationed at McClellan AFB in the mid to late 50s where there were tons of EC-121s. I was about 4-5 years old. That's when I fell in love with Connies! Something like 1957-8. 😊
I rode in a Constellation from Alaska to California when I was a kid. I thought it was beautiful. It is still the most beautiful aircraft ever to fly God’s blue sky. As for the back seat comments, I doubt any of you have flown or worked on a Constellation. These pilots and engineer have worked on this aircraft. I was an engineer on KC-130s for 5 years and I would trust these guys to know what they were doing.
A beautiful burble...
I grew up near the flight line of McClellan AFB where the connie early warning radar planes was maintained and I had a couple friends who worked on them. I remember watching them fly in to McClellan
A true legend. What a gem. Beautiful production and aircraft. Thanks everyone for keeping her in the sky!
One of the best,hope she keeps flying for a very long time!
Best wishes from England
The Connie is such a beautiful aircraft! Lockheed with help from Howard Hughes designed a gorgeous airplane! This is an excellent video, thanks!!
Thank you all for taking care of this world asset. It needs to fly but it needs to fly safely. Wonderful job
Rod Lewis ,Thank you for having this beautiful airplane restored and made flight worthy so many people like myself can appreciate what our fathers flew in during their time in their militaryu services. My father flew with tha Paang ang crewed on some of the remaining static c-121's left . So again thank you Rod Lewis for bring Bataan out for everyone to see , and thank you to Steve Hintons POF for the amazing restoration.
In December of 1949 I flew on a MATS Connie (as a 5-year-old) from San Francisco to Honolulu. Even at that "tender" age I was struck by the inherent beauty of that "beast". It was the first time I'd ever seen an airplane, but my little mind still marveled at the overwhelming majesty that lay before me.
I flew in the Navy version of the Super Constellation (EC-121K) from 1960 to 1963. I was an ACW and operated one of the consoles in the CIC section. My last duty station was Argentia, Newfoundland but all the patrols were flown out of Keflavik, Iceland. There was a gap between Greenland and Iceland and between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The patrols covered the gaps and were 14 to 15 hours long. There were two squadrons flying out of Keflavik (VW-11 and VW-13) with the squadrons alternating between the two gaps. The patrols were manned 24 hours every day until the squadrons were decommissioned in 1965.
Back in the late 50’s I used to spend some Saturdays at LaGuardia airport in New York City. After spending many hours watching planes come and go from the observation deck I wondered if I could make my way to the end of the runway without being noticed by anyone of authority. I eventually found a route that involved walking over and around the break water boulders along the water’s edge. I ended up at the approach/departure end of runway 31. The very high berm that was there at the time kept me out of sight from the aircraft departing and any port authority vehicles. It was very exciting watching and hearing all those aircraft from that particular vantage point. Feeling the ground shake when takeoff power was applied. Watching a Connie turn base to final with gear down, full flaps and pass just a hundred feet above my head was pretty fantastic for a 13 year old boy. At that time I wouldn’t have believed that some 20 years later I would be making this same approach in a B-737.
Your Videography and editing is second to NONE !
Just Wow!
It was awesome seeing her fly at S-N-F. It’s been probably 25 or 30 years since I’ve last seen one there. Never thought I’d see another one flying.
Thanks for bringing her! I can’t even imagine the amount of time and money 💰 that took!
AWESOME!
New subscriber also!
In September of 1966, I flew in one from Anchorage to Fairbanks. I even had the privilege of watching them change an engine while we all sat in the aircraft. The pilot was really chatty and cruised around 12,000 feet, though it was too cloudy to see Mt. McKinley. He did a wingover to get down to Fairbanks to land. I'll never forget that trip.
Also flew to Anchorage in a Connie in 1967
For sure one of the most beautiful aircraft ever manufactured.
Great composition / editing to whoever made this film! Plus, the "Connie" is truly a beautiful bird. And nice job by the flight crew to bring her home safe.
"A down gear is a happy gear"
No, don't 'cycle' it. My vote too.
The age old adage "don't screw with 3 green" comes to mind!
That was the only decision they seemed to agree on. Too many chefs in that kitchen at the end. Glad the left seater finally raised his hand, albeit too little too late.
Fancy seeing you here Juan!
Hey Juan!
Greetings Juan! Love your content, sir.
I was lucky to see Connie fly over my place here on the West Wales coast, heading for home after attending a Berlin airlift commemoration some years ago, not high up, it was a memorable site.
My dad worked for TWA for 47 years and the Connie was his favorite plane. I remember when I was a kid going to the airport in Kansas City where the main overhaul base was located. He retired in 82.
Without a doubt one of the most beautiful passenger liners ever created! It's hard to believe that this bad boy is about 75 years old! Thank you to the person(s) and business responsible for keeping this plane airworthy. Hopefully it will be kept airworthy for many years to come so that future generations can view this majestic bird in flight!
VH-EAG is another survivor, built 1955, only Super Constellation still flying. NSW Australia 🦘🇦🇺
@@DebOxy Hopefully they keep it air worthy for many more years to come. Those Constellations are truly the most beautiful piston powered air liners to grace the sky's! The U.S. Air Force were some lucky son of a guns to be able to fly those aircraft as military transport and cargo aircrafts. Probably one of the only times in history when a Cargo Pilot passed a fighter pilot and smiled with a big shit eating grin on their faces because their big ass airplane was the envy of the skys! The fighter pilot was probably looking over at the Connie going "Damn, I wish I was flying that beautiful bird instead of this piece of junk!".
@@joevanseeters2873 Joe, our EAG in early years was USAF military transport/cargo. We hope to keep her flying as long as possible, its not that the aircraft will stop flying, its manpower thats needed, our Connie crew are mostly all late 70s now, oldest is 85 and still runs circles around some youngins
😉😉
@@DebOxy I totally understand. Hopefully some new "blood" so to speak will take over the passion you all have to keep this beautiful bird in the air, as it should be seen and heard. The Constellation is still the most beautiful military transport/airliner ever built.
Iconic! Classic! An incomparable beauty! Yes. I flew on Constellations several times, all on TWA’s transcontinental routes. As I’ve recounted before, on one such flight I met every kid’s greatest hero, Mr. Walt Disney! Our family was invited to sit with him in the Constellation’s unique lounge. I never saw another lounge like that until Continental Airlines introduced Pub Service on their DC10s.
I had a chance to work on one of these back in the early 70s . Never forget it.
I REALLY enjoyed watching this video of a Classic Lady of the Sky, with a crew of well-seasoned pilots at the controls. It's like aviation poetry in motion.
While a few of my flight instructors were reserve or retired Military Pilots, my very first Instructor was actually a WWII decorated veteran who would make these gentlemen look "middle-aged.
After taking an "Introduction Flight" ($15.00 for 30 minutes, as I recall), I signed up for my first few lessons and bought a logbook. At the end of my first hour of duel, he was very complimentary of my skill and quick learning; however, he sent me home with a copy of Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche. He told me not to schedule my next flight with him until I had read the book cover to cover, adding that he might quiz me on various teachings. I still have that book with highlighted passages and notes in the borders. Great Memories.
Money cannot buy their level of knowledge and skill.
What an incredible video, capturing a beautiful airplane. I was enthralled, cried, and/or had goosebumps through most of it. Thank you for sharing!
OMG ! That is a beautiful machine. I had chills when they were landing hoping nothing more would happen. Much respect to ALL of the crew and their feedback to each other in that situation. This is something that could be learned by the younger generations. NOT to forget a mention to ALL the ground crew who fix and troubleshoot, so those legends can still fly.
Thank you for sharing such skill and beauty.
For me the most beautiful aircraft ever designed 1) Lockheed Constellation, 2) North American XB-70 Valkyrie, 3) Northrop T-38 Talon. In this order. The looks and lines are just... beautiful. Thanks for posting!
My first ever flight was a Super Conny, 1958 bound for San Antonio for USAF basic training. What a beautiful aircraft. Inside and out! To me, this is the most beautiful aircraft ever made!
Great documentary; great photography and built in suspense, along with a happy ending. Whew. 👍
Such an iconic aircraft from an era when things were so different. Lovely to see all the dedication a lot of people put in to keep her where she truly belongs - in the sky.
What a beautiful aircraft!!! Great team with her!!! Congrats...
You guy should do a 10-15 minute video on all your aircraft. The quality of the aircraft and videos on youtube are phenomenal 🤙
And Thank You 🤙
What a fantastic machine!!! Many thanks for those brave men who pursued their dream and made this possible!!
I truly hope that this video has won some kind of award(s). It is the finest piece I've ever seen on the most deserving and beautiful airplane ever made. I tear up just looking at 'her'....
That plane is so freaking beautiful
Never said what they found as the problem….left me hanging.
Or the comment at left turn at the end of the runway "I've lost the third". Super Constellations were renown having red hot cantankerous engines and often completed flights on three. Qantas briefly had a fleet of them doing long haul to Europe & the UK and kept spare engines at all the airports on the way.(It took 5 days with overnight stops) before the fleet was changed to 707's.
Agree. Conclusion of the video gave the perfect opportunity to explain the problem.
bugged me too
Obviously some person, entity, or agency didn't want it revealed.
@@theChickenstones Its not uncommon to pull the power levers back too far on big radials and they'll stall. Thats why we never pull ours back to "idle" unless we are on the ground.
Iconic! Classic! An incomparable beauty! Yes. I flew on Constellations several times in the 50s, all on TWA’s transcontinental routes. As I’ve recounted before, on one such flight I met every kid’s greatest hero, Mr. Walt Disney! Our family was invited to sit with him in the Constellation’s unique lounge. I never saw another lounge like that until Continental Airlines introduced Pub Service on their DC10s.
Great plane
Great crew
Great cinematography
Thanks for sharing.
That was a nail biter for a bit and I was sitting in my chair!
Great recording quality! Puts us right up there. 👍👍
I Agree!
My right foot was jammed on the floor trying to help! That was a clentcher, lol. Great job!
REal pucker factor there..
A lovely, lovely aeroplane.
Wow, I recorded this startup, take-off and flight. But never knew there was an issue with the nose gear. It was definitely a smart decision to come back and land when you had "3 green" after cycling the gear. This is no doubt the most beautiful, majestic aircraft I've ever seen! I hope we get to see it again at Oshkosh 2024.
Awesome work, professionally executed and recorded. I love the beauty of the Connie, been one of my favorites for 50 years. Great work by a team of super aviators and support team!
Probably the most beautiful piston engine aircraft ever built!
The connie is one of very few aircraft that looks fast and graceful just sitting still.😊
What a joy that was to see her at Sun N Fun 2024!
Connie’s are such a beautiful aircraft, it’s great to see this one in such a perfect condition and in such capable experienced hands. The pilot in command just concentrated on flying the aircraft while the crew worked the problem, just stepping in when necessary making the final decisions and a very nice landing making sure the nose gear had minimal stress. A beautifully made video, worth watching more than once. 👍🙂
I piloted the Super Connie for Eastern between Houston and NY back in around 54 or 55 , Of course I was only 5 or 6 years old and sitting on the captains lap and steering the wheel. Now that guy in the right seat was just resting his hands on the other wheel because I was flying the plane, at least in this little boy's mind, I was flying the plane. I'll never forget that experience. Worked at IAH in later years and one came in as a cargo hauler (late 80's-early 90s), I crawled up in it and when I stepped down into the flight deck it all came back after all those years. Love that plane and Howard Hughes was the driving force behind engineering the Super Connie.
Almost a 1000 hours in the EC-121M version. My first A/C as a Naval Air Crewman. I flew on several other aircraft types, but the Connie was and always will be my favorite.
Was also a ground Maintenance Tech. It was a joy to work on.
Me too. I was VQ-1 '73-'75. It was my first a/c as aircrew. I was PCS to Atsugi & flew w/ Crew 25 or whoever needed me.
@@robertworley9620 I was there 73-75 also. Forget which crew number, but Lyle Adrian was the FE. Then I got moved to EA-3Bs
My Dad hated working on the things but loved all DC-6s. Go figure.
Did you ever use the honey-bucket to take a dump?
When my parents got divorced, my Mom took a job as a high school librarian on Guam, moving herself, my brother, and me to Guam just in time to have the house we moved into blown away by Typhoon Karen in 1962. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Karen) I got into Boy Scouts, in a troop that was sponsored by the Navy Communications Station. We went to eevents at all the military bases, got to go see all sorts of military aircraft (sometimes they came to us.... when the winds were right, Harmon Village was directly under the low flying, heavily loaded B-52s with full throttle trying to climb on their way to Vietnam in the middle of the night....not only was did the noise wake us, but would cause all sorts of things to vibrate and dance around and occasionally fall to the floor ... but I digress). Anyway, the aircraft that always fascinated me was not the B-52s that woke me in the middl of the night, nor the KC-135s that woke me pre-dawn as they flew out to meet the B-52s returning from Vietnam,. No, it was the ones helping warn us of the next typohoon heading our way - the typhoon trackers, the WC-121 Warning Star aircraft, Super Constellations with sarch radar domes top and bottom. I actually got to shake the hands of some of those supermen who FLEW INTO TYPHOONS FOR A LIVING.
THE single most vivid memory I have of my childhood is probably crawling on all fours from our house as it was blowing down to the house next door. On my hands and knees the wind was threatening to blow me away.... I couldn't crawl straight, but had to rotate 90 degrees every few "steps" so I could maintain a scalloped-shaped path toward our neighbor's house. 62 years later, my heart rate is up remembering that night. And those guys flew Super Connies into those storms. On purpose. Studs, one and all.
I found this site, in which one of the guys tells their story:vw1assoc.org/airclassics_12_74.html in 1962. in 1962.
Sigh…I’ll be the jerk: professional crews have somebody flying the airplane, while the PM works the issue. In an airplane such as yours, it’s even easier, as you’ve got an FE and a scanner to troubleshoot while the PF devotes their full attention to aircraft control. I don’t need to tell you guys what can happen when all three aviators on board are heads down with something that has nothing to do with flying the airplane. While it’s nice that you’ve got both pilots actively trying to address the directional control issue, on rollout, the SIC is having to help because the PIC doesn’t have enough bandwidth left for anything but hanging on. There are several tells there that the PIC has lost SA.
That’s a lovely airplane you all have, and although you put it safely in the ground, you need to improve as a crew.
Less than adequate CRM, fellas. And I’d say that right in front of you. If you’re distracted and overwhelmed with a minor gear issue, how’s the engine failure going to go?
Also, cycling a landing gear that’s already down?
YGTBSM.
Why aren’t you all following the checklist procedure? Anybody want to wager the cocked nose gear was an issue from the second extension and not the first? Lastly, doing a low pass for untrained observers to participate in the process by giving you what is probably bad data, is a recipe for more mayhem - greatly increased risk from flying low passes with a distracted crew that’s inventing its own procedures for the abnormal instead of strictly adherent to flight manual guidance.
@@LJDRVR Terrible CRM. No emergency declared with a known gear issue. No checklist ran concerning gear issue when first discovered, First Officer made all the decisions and the Captain basically froze not knowing what checklist to call for. On landing Crew was confused as to delegate aircraft control. Ran over many taxi lights without noting deviation from taxi lines. I could go on but this was a clear example on how NOT to handle an emergency. Captain Ret. 35,000 + hrs. ATP MEL CFIME FETJ Type rated B-747, DC-10, B-737, EMB-110.
@@williamadler3003 I’m with you Bill. Six type ratings, 18,000 hours and years of experience as a check pilot.
If that flight had been a checkride, there would be some uncomfortable phone calls being made and people removed from the flight schedule.
Given how much attention it’s receiving and how poorly the vintage/warbird community is doing, it’s surprising these guys have put this out on the Internet, replete with sinister music. Well, given their low SA, maybe not so surprising.
A CRM facilitator could use this effectively to demonstrate EXACTLY why we have the FO fly and talk, while the PIC manages the abnormal.
@@williamadler3003your points are noted and valid but you’re tipping into self aggrandising by repeating this comment over and over again in this thread.
@@tungstentwohundredandtwent7007 It's a way of alerting the poster he is replying to that there is a comment on THEIR post. If you don't - that poster rarely reads the rest of the comments to realize there is a different point of view in the short attention span Internet. I agree it's repetitive - but it's the way to beat the YT reporting system. If you don't kinda hammer it home to each poster we end up with a bunch of "wonderful job airshow enthusiasts" who don't understand that to the pilots it was not a stellar bit of CRM.
What a gorgeous aircraft! Undoubtedly one of the prettiest aircraft ever built!
A true piece of artwork being cared by true aviators...the perfect ingredients for poetry in air❤
I was lucky enough to see her fly out at Oshkosh. The Connie is one beautiful airplane. I'm glad the issue with the nose gear is fixed and she is still flying.
Got to see her last year at the Capitol Air Show. What a beauty!
Unquestionably the most beautiful prop driven passenger airliner ever built!
My parents and I took Grandmother T. to LaGuardia for a flight to Mexico to do some watercolor painting. Must have been around 1955 and we watched from the terminal as her Connie roared down the runway during takeoff. Suddenly, a rather large fireball and smoke engulfed one engine as it lifted off. We all thought we were waiving goodbye for good to our loving Grandmother! The plane circled around and landed without incident. Very tense moments for sure.
So aesthetically pleasing. Perfection.
No lie that things beautiful
Great job. Though not clear who the PIC was. Too many people making decisions and no clear boss.
Very professional. I was surprised that there was even any question about what to do once the gear was indicating down and locked. I mean... It's down, leave it that way. I'm glad the ol' girl made it down in one piece and was quickly repaired. I'd have loved to known what the problem was and/or seen the repair. Thanks for sharing.
Terrible CRM. No emergency declared with a known gear issue. No checklist ran concerning gear issue when first discovered, First Officer made all the decisions and the Captain basically froze not knowing what checklist to call for. On landing Crew was confused as to delegate aircraft control. Ran over many taxi lights without noting deviation from taxi lines. I could go on but this was a clear example on how NOT to handle an emergency. Captain Ret. 35,000 + hrs. ATP MEL CFIME FETJ Type rated B-747, DC-10, B-737, EMB-110.
Lbj's plane is at the Pima Air Museum in Tuscon,Az.
Very nice restoration. Glad they got it down safely. Beautiful plan with a ton of hours into the rebuild.
Utter professionalism. Obvious care for safety, the crew, crowd, and preserving that beautiful bird. Well done to all involved.
Professionalism. The most ridiculously overused word online "aviation enthusiasts" use to describe the "performance" of hobby.flyers that haven't flown as a profession anywhere but their dreams.
Terrible CRM. No emergency declared with a known gear issue. No checklist ran concerning gear issue when first discovered, First Officer made all the decisions and the Captain basically froze not knowing what checklist to call for. On landing Crew was confused as to delegate aircraft control. Ran over many taxi lights without noting deviation from taxi lines. I could go on but this was a clear example on how NOT to handle an emergency. Captain W.S. Adler 35,000 + hrs. ATP MEL CFIME FETJ Type rated B-747, DC-10, B-737, EMB-110.
I'm not sure you could describe it as "utter professionalism". They got it down safely but the teamwork sounded like utter chaos. Rotorhead is on the money.
The truly professional decision was - all gear down, we'll land...
Wonder who the copilot is. He’s grabbing and doing things that are making the Dawsons job as the captain more difficult. You can tell towards the end , he’s starting to get a little tired of it.
Iconic beauty in the sky...Take good care of him guys!
One of the most gorgeous aircraft ever!
I remember going to Newcastle airport in the North East of England when I was a kid and seeing the Connie when it was in service. I can still picture it! Probably about 58 years ago!
Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful aircraft. I can’t stop looking at it
Simply the most beautiful airliner ever built
Would have been good of you to include the findings from the NLG investigation. Also, how many taxi way lights you ended up buying. 8^D
@Lewis Air Legends - WARNING!!! @9:48 the outboard right main tire rolled directly over the taxi light and broke it. The next taxi light miraculously went right between both right main tires, but didn't appear to break. Someone should carefully inspect those tires for damage before the next flight.
What a beauty.❤ Nicely done
My late Father-in-law's favorite airplane to work on. Came out of the Navy working on P2Vs and worked for TWA for 37 years at San Francisco International. Always liked the Connie the best of all the airplanes TWA flew. At the beginning of the video when you were starting #3 engine, reminded me of a story he told me about having the number 3 engine tear its self off the wing during start up. They found out that the pin that holds the massive counterweight in that big ole R3350 had broken and the engine was so out of balance on start up it torn the motor mounts before they could shut it down. He said the engine came to rest on the spinner held vertically by all the cables and hoses still attached to the wing. Said it was a really long night getting that engine off and replaced to get the aircraft back in flying condition.
The pin in the counterweight must be a bit of a wright thing. I’ve heard of the same in an 1820
The struggle for power in the cp is still alive and well and annoying. Glad you gentlemen got her down safe and sound.
Yes the CRM was a bit fuzzy, and no one appeared to be the leader. Even with all that experience somebody has to be the final arbiter.
"cp"?
@@briggsquantum "CRM"?
@@farleymusclewhite411 Cockpit
@@farleymusclewhite411CRM= Cockpit Resource Management
I know it has been said a million times before but the Connie has to be one of if not the most beautiful aircraft ever concieved.
Excellent call to go land it when you got it down. Love the confidence everyone had when saying that.
What a great sight it would be to see our Australian Connie side by side with your US Connie! These must be the last airworthy examples in the world surely 👍
Absolutely THE most beautiful aircraft ever. My first Connie flight was in July, 1956 when I was 7 ... TWA from Chicago Midway to LAX. To pilot one of those magnificent crafts has to be just amazing. After private flying for 34 years I hung it up 4 years ago, but was at Sun 'n Fun 2024 and have sure plans to be there next year 🙂
Thank you for sharing a very very beautiful aircraft in our Aviation History.😊❤😊
That was a lesson in cockpit resource management right there. And their decision making process was superb, especially under stress.
Great CRM throughout, getting everybody's input.
My dad served in AWACS Connie “Triple Nickel”, in the 1950s. He and my brother stumbled on it on display at Wright Patterson Air Museum, in the 1980s!
Memories........spent my life in aviation. When I was a kid in Pa. every day around 5 pm a Connie flew over my house and I always looked up. Worked for a freight airline...A&P mech.....Zantop....DC-6s....C-46s etc......but no airplane can match the beauty of a Connie. Once had an acquaintance who flew the Connie with the Pa-ANG. Last name Denlinger.
When I was a little kid in the early 60s, we would see Connie's on the LAX flight path over Downey, they had a roar to them and iconic tri tail!.
Similar experience here for me, the airport was in downtown KCMO, my house as a kid in the early 60s, was in the flight path on the east side in Independence, MO. Would see a Connie now and then and lots of turbo prop aircraft, fly overhead, an awesome thing for a little kid.
My first ever flight in Sep1964. A Euravia Connie Liverpool to Palma Mallorca.
Never forget it.
On Christmas Day 1959, I was in CIC on a DER (radar picket destroyer escort) somewhere between Adak, AL and Midway, while the CIC staff was singing Christmas carols to the WV-2s (Navy radar picket version of Super Connies) passing overhead on the old DEW line. I've had a soft spot in my heart for Super Connies ever since.
Connie flew low over our House years ago the sound of it coming and going was just amazing. It was gone b4 I got a good look at her. The sound of the 4 motors doing their thing is just awesome
Those four piston pounders sure sound fantastic. A nice professional job from the crew in handling the situation too.
Great job, Wonderful to see her fly.
May God Bless Connie and the team that watches out for her.
In my opinion, the Connie is the most beautiful plane ever built!
Just wow!
Amazingly beautiful aircraft.
Still one of the coolest looking aircraft to come out of the Kelly Johnson Skunk Works! Oh, and only one taxiway light lost it's life in the making of this documentary.
Amazingly beautiful. Lisa, JD had a gray shirt then red shirt, then gray shirt when towing out. Us buffs keep track of everything.
What caused the issues?
Probably the camera;-)