As a kid, I flew jump seat New York to San Juan several times on Super G with my father in the left seat, while the Flight Engineer explained some of his gauges and controls to me. Dad was a check pilot for Eastern and took me on several such trips. He let me sit in the left seat and move the yoke and trim wheel (no passengers of course). He retired in 1983 as senior L1011 captain, and passed away in 2016. God bless you, Dad!
Wonderful memories indeed. The L1011 was also an amazing aircraft. Flew several up and down the east coast in the 70's-80's with EA and DL. In 90's STL-LGA with TW. Favorite memory was a Jan 1996 DL as I moved from SFO to ATL. I was leaving a tough situation, and starting with an amazing takeoff, life got much better for a long stretch of years. Appreciation for all who flew the Lockheed birds and kept them going.
I was an 11 yo passenger on one in 1960 between Belem, Brazil, and Miami. Unforgettable and unforgotten! After the Concord, this is still the most beautiful passenger airliner ever.
This beautiful propeller airplane reminds me of my childhood. Simply beautiful, also the sound of the engines. The airport smelled of aviation fuel and the security controls were much easier than today.
The pinnacle of piston aircraft technology all in one of the most gorgeous aircraft ever made. I was onboard one in 1957 flying from Honduras to Miami Fla. with my family. I remember it was equipped with sleeping berths in the rear for transatlantic flights though they were not used on our flight. Thanks for the upload.
When Hughes was test flying the second prototype of the Connie by flying across the US, they stopped in at Wright Field in Ohio and invited the 72 year old Orville Wright to fly on it, and it's said Hughes even let him take the controls. Orville was thrilled!
@SpaceAce100 The music thatwas played is called “Thus Spake Zarathustra.” It was the theme music for the movie 2001. It was the very first science fiction film set in orbital space with realistic effects.
My first plane ride was on a TWA Superconstellation from Geneva through Paris and Shannon to New York Idlewilde on December 30, 1957. I had window seat 9E. What memories!
I flew in one of these, in June of '58, from Frankfurt-Am-Mein, to London, then Shannon, then Gander Newfoundland, to La Guardia... It took 23 and a half hours, but I got to had out chewing gum, wings, and got to visit the cockpit... Fantastic, for a kid of seven!
Flew NYC to L.A. 1957. I was only 7 but I remember we got booties, jr wings, and a curtain for sleeping hours. I didn't know you could see fire in the exhaust and worried we'd all go down.
This is so awesome! My friends actually had a wedding reception at the airline history museum with that exact airplane! Blue LED lights were placed underneath the airplane and what a really amazing Ambience for a wedding reception.
What a beautiful sight and sound of those magnificent, Wright turbo-compound 18 cylinder round engines. I never flew on a Lockheed Constellation as a kid but I did have the chance to fly on a Douglas DC-7 a couple times when I was a youngster which had identical engines. Nothing can beat the sound of a radial engine!
Even starting those majestic engines was exciting. Hearing this sound takes me back to a time when we were real pilots, not just "managers" in front of a computer screen.
Then why oh why is there no Next Version Constellation with four jet engines? It could have easily been better than the 747, could it? Simply update everything in a Constellation, do switch to composites, and you'd end up with a Mega Super Constallation Jet. Why is it not there?!
Lovely looking aeroplane. My first recollection of my father (who died last year) is standing with him, holding his hand, at the end of the runway at Mascot Airport in Sydney in the late 1950s, watching a Qantas Conie running up her engines. I was about 3 at the time. In those days there were no fences around the runway and provided you were sensible you were left to just watch and enjoy.
Speaking of having easy access, I remember as a teenager taking dates up into some control towers just to learn what was going on. Knock on the door, someone would let you in. I guess these days , you'd get gunned down if you just started walking directly toward one of them. They were large airports where there was traffic, even at 10:00 at night. It's amazing what you can see. I just always just kept my mouth shut and watched. I was always invited back.
I remember when a young boy about 1948-9 my cousin and I would cycle from Acton to Heathrow to watch the aircraft take offs and landings, Connies, Yorks, Dacks and militaries. Better than collecting train numbers.
What a beautiful aircraft. And she sounds very beautiful also. Ain’t nothing like the sound of a recip engine. The last one I flew on was a c54/Dc6 out of Clark AB,PI, to Tainan AB, Taiwan for 2 week deploy on the alert pad, and then return to Clark. No luxury seats or stewardi, just the grand jump seats. Great aircraft!
The Connie certainly is a lovely plane, but I think you have to give the "most beautiful airliner" award to the Concorde. I'd even say she's the most beautiful aircraft ever built, other than a few sailplanes I can think of.
+Jeff Puha It's funny, I saw a documentary on the Concord 2 days ago and I was thinking the same thing. She is a stunningly beautiful plane but not as pretty as the Connie.
flew in the Lockheed Super-G Constellation from Cleveland to JFK on Sept. 16, 1964. My first plane ride. I will always remember those incredible propellers. What a magnificent aircraft.! thanks.
I flew a Connie and then a Super G from London to Malaya in the late 50s/early 60s. Nearly 3 days and nights of turbocharged reciprocating engines left one a quivering mess for a few days.. but she is a beauty. Later I flew the Bristol Britannia, the whispering giant. It was like night and day. Barely 2 days, big and roomy, quiet and smooth. A great turboprop. Loved it. So glad to be past WWII type turbocharged reciprocating engines. The last two times I flew was on the Comet. So fast and smooth. I was lucky not to be on the one which disintegrated.
The most beautiful passengers plane just second to super lean supersonic Concorde. Air France had a Constellation fleet flying from Mexico City to Paris. Thanks for the memory.
My grandparents flew down to their retirement home in Florida in an Eastern Airlines Connie in 1955. It was their first and last airplane flight of their lives. I have photos that I came across the other day, coincidentally. I remember their occasional favorable remarks of their flight from Chicago O'Hare down to St. Petersburg, Fl. This was back when the airport in St. Pete was receiving large commercial aircraft flights. Tampa International took over those duties in the 1960s. Another recollection is in the movie, "Giant", during the airport scene. Howard Hughes was the owner of TWA at that time. As the camera panned the field you could see Hughes proudly showing off his Super G in the background. I guess that I would be proud, too. I consider the Lockheed Super Constellation as being the most beautiful aircraft ever designed. This holds true with all of its configurations, which were many, military and civilian. I guess that I'm hopelessly biased.
Wright R-3300 was a great engine from what I've read about them. Initially from 100 hrs between overhauls to nearly 3000hrs in later years is incredible. Take off power at 2900rpms @ 69"mp would give appx 3700hp. Awesome power. Incredible airplane and still one of the most iconic designs ever made.
Although I never flew her, even as a passenger, I love her so very much and I find her so majestic and impressive and the sound of her engines is simply amazing and absolutely gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing this fantastic video here and lovely greetings from Captain Sarah Sutter (Boeing 747-400F / 747-400BCF) 🙋💖😍✈️👍
I am in my 70 s and as a boy would be at my Dads business on the far northwest side of Chicago not far from O Hare airport and hear these and other propeller airliners taking off.There is a wonderful sound to all four engines working together.In the 90s we flew from Chicago to Malcom Island and back ( near the n.w. territory in Canada) on a company sponsored fishing trip.We flew on a Convair 580 produced in 1956 .The very rough weather over Mn. on the way back made me feel green behind the gills
Way back on November 17th, 1957 when my family and I immigrated from Ireland to Vancouver, BC, Canada we flew over on a TCA (Trans Canada Airlines) Super Constellation. I was only 6 years old at the time but I still remember a lot about the wonderful experience I had. The Super Constellation to this day is my favorite passenger airplane with the Boeing 727 a close second.
Such a graceful looking aircraft. My father put our home movies on DVD over a decade ago and some Constellation footage made it onto the disc. The footage was taken in the very early 1960s. Gorgeous plane, the Constellation.
When I was a child I got to see Connie's do their start-up and take-offs from the Recife` airport back in the 60's. . . but never from quite that close up. I still consider this one of the most beautiful aircraft to ever fly. Thanks for posting!
Great video, thanks! I usually see all this happening only from the cockpit. These old airplanes are the best in appearance and sound. I enjoy that it takes longer to travel in those.
I was able to tour this aircraft at an Airshow in Indiana many years ago when TWA still existed. My understanding is she doesn't fly anymore, it's a shame. she belongs in the sky.
When I was three years old, I flew with one of those iconic birds to Berlin. I can still hear and feel the roar of the engines... The most beautiful commercial plane ever created!
Beautiful engine sound. I can smell the smoke and exhaust of burned and unturned fuel in the air. I just love this warm up. Thanks ! What a wonderful time to fly on this beauty.
I remember on the first week of the Mickey Mouse Club the featurette was "What I Want To Be." It showed a boy and girl who "trained and qualified" as TWA Junior Pilot and Junior Stewardess. The conclusion was a trans-America Constellation flight. Pretty neat show for a 7 y/o boy!! In 1954, my dad & mom took all 5 of us children from Detroit's Willow Run to Chicago Midway for a 4-day visit. We flew to Chicago on an American DC7 & returned by AA DC3. MAN, those piston driven fans sure did make a ruckus! On the unpressurized DC3, the stewardess passed out chewing gum. My 2 brothers and I each got Junior Pilot wings, and both girls got Junior Stewardess Wings. The last time I saw a perfectly restored M.A.T.S. (Military Air Transport Service) Connie, she was at Wayne County Airshow ground display at Willow Run. WOW! What a beauty!
I was on one of these flying back from Hawaii to San Francisco when I was about five years old, in 1955. Very comfortable seats. Unfortunately, my little sister didn't get up in time and yes, it was wet.
Absolutely Incredible Piece Of Footage !!!! Flew On `em as a kid. the sound , everything `bout them. the looks.the pleasure of flying. the sevice. Best looking aircraft around then & especially now.. none other.like it `` @ All !!. Thank You ! ! a sentimental ole from the olde School. !!!!
I've never flown in a Constellation (the only piston-driven aircraft I've ever been in was a Martin 404), but my father used to take me to Newark Airport during the 1960s so I could Constellations, Electras and Viscounts. I had a little plastic model of a Constellation. Those was great days and a lot of fun. My father had flown a P-38 in the Pacific Theater during WW II.
With radial engines, they use the starter to flex the cylinders a bit to get any oil collection out of the bottom ones, and to get some fuel moving to the pistons for ignitions. That's why radials smoke so much at initial startup. Nothing to do with age thankfully. And why they take ALOT more fuel than other piston engine types. Radials are perfectly good engine types. They have a superior power to weight ratio to inline or V or opposed cylinder engines. But they are considerably heavy, need a rather large aerodynamic profile, and need more maintenance. Which is why only larger planes used them.
My father has over 3,000 hours in 37Charlie when it was flown by Slick Airways . Saw it last summer in Kansas City and they let me sit in the left seat. What memories. Gary Stubbs
Like so many other posters ...what a beauty! Flew Connies once -- 1959 -- TWA from Albuquerque to Las Vegas ... but high winds and dust sent us to Los Angeles, then back later. First ride a regular Connie, the second Super G. Huge seats, giant windows, and a view into the cockpit that made this boy giddy with joy! Toured the SAC Connie at EAA about 20 years ago -- refurb just underway. The flight engineer's desk is scary - watching 108 cylinders was a very high-stress job. I believe it!
In 11/56 my family and I flew on a TWA Super G from Detroit to LA with stops in Chicago (circled for 1.5 hours/bad weather), Kansas City, and Albuquerque. Flight took 11 hrs. Then flew non stop from San Fransisco to Detroit. Very fond memories for a 9 year old.
As a child I would watch those very TWA Constellations take off from Lambert Field (STL). Gorgeous planes. I finally got t fly on one in Ireland,, of all places!
the connie is rated as the most beautiful acft ever produced. I worked on th ec-121 at otis afb on cape cod from june 59 thru june 65 as an instrument tech, had many hours in them. knew that bird inside and out. she is an outstanding machine. on start up 12 blades was normal and #3 was first then #4, #2 and then #1
Fly twice on PIA super constellation from Lahore to Dacca. It was about 6 hours flight .I was about 10 but still remember the comfortable seat and ample leg space. What a marvellous flight with young and beautiful air hostesses not like today’s oldie goldie. My tribute to Americans for manufacturing such a beautiful flying bird.
Merveilleux avion élégant et racé , lorsque j'etais gosse j'allait les regarder car j'habitait près de l'aeroport de Dakar Yoff où mes parents travaillaient, mon père à l'epoque était aiguilleur du ciel et ma mère hôtesse d'accueuil à Air-France. La mise en route des moteurs etait une vraie symphonie, ils étaient reconnaissables entre tous, il y en plus beaucoup en l'air et c'est dommage car ils avaient une ligne superbe , ils etaient haut sur pattes. Il y en a eut un à Bâle-Mulhouse mais il est partit.
+Alan Brook-Feather Yes, very beautiful -- the most beautiful machine ever crafted b the hand of man. If I'd had a daughter, I'd have named her Connie.
I've always loved seeing this aircraft because my grandfather flew many of these and many transport airplanes, sadly he passed away a few years ago but it's nice to see the Super Constellation and AN--32s
I flew the Super G during the fifties while a college student in Philly to Pittsburgh where I lived. Memories are practically zero other than it was never on time but sure faster than the train or bus.
This brings back memories for me. This was a 'golden era' of aviation. Pilots were actually pilots. They actually flew the plane. These days, they've been reduced to not much more than computer observers. Also, every one of these planes and a flight engineer. His job (among others) was to monitor the various systems. The FE had the most intense job, by far. Pilots had it easy.
I remember fueling these for Eastern Air Lines in Miami. It was the late 50's before we started flying the Lockheed Electra. Our crew fueled the 749 and 1049C as well. First time I flew was on a Connie. I worked for the greatest airline in the world! Capt Eddie Rickenbacker was our boss! Wonderful memories,
My first flight was in mid-December 1959 on an Eastern Super C from Newark to Miami. We were in back where the seats changed from 2 / 3 to 2 / 2 owing to the fuselage narrowing. I remember everything about it as if it were last week.
How neat it was to see these great birds of the sky landing and taking off at the Harrisburg International Airport in Harrisburg,Pa when I was a young kid was so much fun.
I saw a familiar plane from the Flying Fortress type and it also had a cold start, it had 4 blades on each rotor and sounded so good. I love big old planes, B52 Flying Fortress and the Lockheed super constellation!
My dad was a flight engineer on these before he went to 707s and then L1011s. Based in NY and Boston. his name was Jack Denison. He took me with him a couple times riding in the cockpit to Dayton, OH. He called it Allegany Jumping.
My Dad flew on one of these beauties in the late ‘50s to Spain for his three year assignment with Campbell Soup Company. Wish I could purchase a ride for him.
my dad flew in one from NY to Madrid, Spain (one refueing stop in the Azores) in ‘57 on his way to his assignment with Campbell Soup Co.....in ‘59, he and his new bride flew back from Spain to NY in a Super Connie....30 years later, his son (yours truly) went to work at Lockheed in Burbank, CA.
Man you know your getting old when you remember flying on these things. We used to fly everywhere (USAF Family) 1 engine at a time, by the time the last one fired the other 3 were warmed up, by the time you taxi to the strip it was time to fly. Prayed to god you had the right fuel mixture!!
What a beautiful video. The Constellation series are indeed the most beautiful and aesthetic commercial airline ever made. In my opinion, another Lockheed aircraft is the most beautiful military aircraft ever made: The Lockheed P-38 Lightning!!!
The most beautiful and best, 4 piston engined, airliner ever flown. I saw a QANTAS model in Sydney as a boy and many years later, while working in the Australian Manned space flight centre at Honesuckle Creek, communicated with a NASA SC conducting test modes over our tracking station.
Beautiful airplane. As a kid I got to fly in a DC-3 and DC-6 (mom worked for a small airline, North West Airlines I believe) and we flew on stand by. When I was older I got the chance to fly in helicopters and visit far off countries. No waiting then.
I flew from Charleston to Terceria Island in the Azores in 1960. You know the first Air Force One is a Connie. Yep. We flew through a pop up horrid storm, great plane and an amazing pilot. Love me a C121 Connie
I love this aircraft because of my grandpa, he tells me that Lufthansa used to fly it to Central America (El Salvador) and he was young, and that watching that beauty land was something remarkable! Just a GORGEOUS AIRCRAFT!
While earning my Private Pilot's ticket in the mid 80's, I had an opportunity and enjoyed a close up and personal walk around with a Connie tied down at Van Nuys (CA) near Sanval. In the 50's my parents, and siblings flew back east on vacation in one of those beauties. She is still a personal favorite of mine to this day.
scavenom2008 well, back then a lot of luxuries were put into these planes: wood paneled cabin, privacy curtains, smoking allowed, free magazines, and extremely well made food (instead of the slop most airlines now give you). Not to mention legroom, window size (which has been shrunk due to safety in the wake of the Comet) and friendliness. The last hurrah for the old style of luxury was the Concorde, which wound up with a 10000$ ticket price... The reason for this luxury? To justify the ticket price: Piston airliners were fairly small, so they had to skyrocket the prices to make them profitable. It wasn’t until the age of the 707 and 747 that air travel became truly affordable.
@@TheEmeraldMenOfficial Most of this is nostalgia rather than actual luxury. Smoking being allowed is not at all a luxury, not to mention a safety hazard. And you somehow mention the Concorde as being an example of this so-called luxury despite the Concorde having absolutely tiny windows and an unremarkable interior.
Truly amazing AC! Flew from Rio de Janeiro to Love Field via Lima, Quito, Tocumen and Havana once. The runup was noisy and the exhaust from those engines burned bluish white.
My dad worked on many Connies over his 40 years with TWA. My first trip was on a Super G from KC to Illinois. I was about 10 years old at the time. I also flew on several old Martin's and then graduated into the jet age with the 707,s and on up. I still think the Connie was the sexiest one .
Sir, I agree with you. I don't know how to spell the next word properly, but aerodynamicists used the P-38 to learn the limits of aerodyanmic forces, and thus got beyond the speed of sound. The P-38 was not only beautiful but seminal. It is so cool to think it, the Connie, the U-2, the SR-71, the F-104, the L-188, all came from Kelly Johnson's mind. It must have been very trying, and fun to work with him. I knew some people who did have contact with him. They were all scared to fuck up.
The TWA Constellation, Mustang P51, and the Concorde are the most spectacular aircraft ever seen static and flying, the engine sound of these three is unbeleivable, makes your hair stand up!
orlandothx They were built to kill the enemy and the P-51 was good at its job. The oil cooler under the belly was designed in such a way that it actually added about 5-MPH to the top speed.
When I was a wee little boy, I think I was 4 or 5, a neighbor on the our street was a pilot for TWA back in the '50s that flew Super Connies. I'd never been on or in an airplane until that special day when he somehow, I dunno how, arraigned a tour of his home away from home. It was a walk thru, the engines were never fired up and it never left the ground but I remember being so impressed that I had been on an airplane! What a BEAUTIFUL airplane it was!!
Just a gorgeous piece of aluminum. I would add the Connie the the very short list of the most beautiful airframes every made along with the very bird-like 757, and the 787 with its incredible wings, Supermarine Spitfire . The DC-10, P-51 Mustang, and the artful Mosquito are second teamers
Mark Muffs still know going with my father tothe hangar to see thes aeroplanes he is now 90 years old and still knows a lot how this machine works every video i send him and is happy tnx for the shots
I grew up not far from the north/south runway at old Lockheed Airport back in the 60s and 70s. you always knew when a Flying Tiger Lines Cargo Connie was coming in for a landing. simply beautiful. I saw a lot of neat stuff landing at Lockheed.
To me, as advanced and elegant as today's airliners are, there are things about the propeller driven airliners that the jets cannot replace. Truly elegant burds!
