Lockheed Constellation L749 N749NL Comeback

[Damir1able]

Lovely vid of my fav airliner :)

[dennyecho]

Long Live Her Majesty the Queen of the Sky's

[ford9572]

Eastern Airlines was still using Constellations for commuter/shuttle flights in the late '60s & early '70s, In 1968, An Eastern Constellation collided with an American Airlines 707-120 over New York's JFK Airport, The 707 was only cosmetically damaged, The "Connie" however was totaled.

[BrokenChinglish]

never get tired of watching it

the most beautiful airplane in the world

[KeskinTRS]

The best sounding airplane ever

[livvidd]

just beautiful

[eloyex]

such a NICCEEEEEEE airplane ... !! wish i could fly one of those ...

[BillyRosinet]

A mighty roar and it's off into the wild, blue yonder. Nothing like the sound of four radials pulling the coolest airliner ever built into the sky.

[oldsoftee]

A sculpture with wings! Truly beautiful!

[FergusMcDopey]

Go Connie Go! What a superb airplane. 

[WildeTanteAnna]

This one is from the royal dutch airlines. KLM.

The beautifullest Aircraft with radial engines ever build

[T5058932]

Memories Memories.

When I was serving in the Royal Air Force and based at RAF Northolt in west London

we had a Conni of the Indian Air Force visit every few months, it flew from India with documents etc. and returned with parts for their air force, we always parked it as far down the pan as possible (it leaked oil like a running tap they always loaded at least 4 barrels of oil to topup on route in flight they had system of pipes and a hand pump in the fuselage connected to the engines oil tank

[MrTazdevil007]

Grrreeeeaaaaaaat !! Thanks !!

[matthiashaenni]

WOW that is awesome!

[crockett616]

A thing of beauty.

[itsmegp46]

My mom flew this plane in 1948 from Athens Greece to NYC. It made 7 stops and took 36 hours.

[centurion180ad]

Props is the only way to fly, if it isn't a rocket.

[themaytagrepairman]

I've always wondered what it was like to fly on one of the old Prop driven planes.

[Wiseguy1408]

My first flight was on a connie, from Lawton, OK (Ft Sill) to Philadelphia, PA (Ft Dix, NJ) in Sep '63. Not being aware at the time that it was normal, I was a bit unnerved when I noticed how far up and down the wingtips were moving.

[RJfan]

5 people couldn't like this because they know that the MATS constellation was sacrificed to make this thing fly

[PeterNGloor]

@RJfan

It doesn't fly, does it. Or can you give me a date when it did in 2010 or 2011?

[RJfan]

@PeterNGloor the MATS constellation, which was once airworthy is now on static display thanks to Korean airlines

[twal1011]

How could 5 people not like this?

[32volador]

A KARALMAT me gustaria me dijeras el nombre de tu padre,yo fui piloto de causa en esa epocade los conni,años 68,69,70 y despues vole el AUSA con una CONNI en vuelos de carga saludos

[ford9572]

She's a BEAUTY!!!

[YAM2691]

What a gorgeous plane! Thanks for posting!

[fldudepit]

THE SEXIEST PASSENGER AIRPLANE EVER MADE!!!

[Hermankol]

Jammer, dat deze Connie nu niet meer vliegt; geen geld, geen piloot..

Sorry, that this Connie does not fly anymore; no money, no pilot..

[karalmat]

MI PAPA.FUE MECANICO EN URUGUAY Y TRABAJO EN CAUSA CON ESTOS AVIONES ES MUY EMOCIONANTE ..,,PODER VER ESTE RESTAURADO...!!!!!

[zumomomoponyo]

マッカーサー元帥がこれに乗って来日されたそうで・・・

実に美しいです。

マッカーサーファンが急増した理由の一つだったりするのでしょう­か。

[walkandlookup]

flying poetry



[twannock]

She is sooo hot!

[ketchyawl]

Damn that's a gorgeous airplane: ought to be a living being.

[WerkinMojo]

TOTALLY EXCELLENT!!!! Check out the ConnieSurvivors "Chacalutta Connie" article. Three of N749NL’s four Wright Cyclone 749 C18BD1 engines came from a Lockheed Super Constellation registered as N6011C, the "Star of MIssouri", in a place far away from the Netherlands; the northern desert of Chile!

[daanvanderspek]

@WerkinMojo That can be true! This Connie came from Arizona where it was restored was enough to get her passed the airworthiness checks and they flew it to Holland. If you ever get to the Netherlands visit the AVIODROME and you can watch a movie about her.

[Pileits]

Gorgeous Connie!

[tim60s321]

FABULOUS and thank God no music over the engines!!!

[bonsema1]

dat is pas toewijding aan de hobby. En ook goed in het vinden voor al dat sponsorhip geld dat die Connie opslokte . Toch wel goed dat dit de enige luchtvaardige L.749 ter wereld is . Er zijn nog 2 luchtvaardige L 1049 ´s , 1 x in Zwitserland en 1 x in Australie

[toysnow]

Definitely the most beautiful airliner ever!

[avengingmime]

Gorgeous plane with a LOT of personality!

[chelonfire]

Hermosa ave,cuantos años adelante estaba esta fantastica maquina...

[megatwingo]

Very nice plane. A fine restoration. Thumbs up!

[ford9572]

Howard Hughes solo flew one of the first Constellations ever built (In TWA livery) he had a news cameraman go with him & take footage of him at the controls as well as footage looking out some of the cabin windows, I've seen this, It's pretty cool!!

[Fidursu]

Sooooo beautiful!!!

[mekydro]

Indeed a thing of beauty

[irish89055]

apparently these didn't have p&w 4360's.... I remember seeing connies at Washington National airport in the early 60's... side by side..

[irish89055]

what a lovely sound... are those P&W 4360's ??

[martinsuper73]

One of the most beautiful looking and coolest sounding planes ever made. A+

[ford9572]

@multicorncake So did my Dad, Summer of '57, TWA "Super Connie" Boston Logan to Los Angeles International.

[multicorncake]

I flew on one of these, back in the day.

[Speedster159]

There is one here in the Philippines parked in a field at RPLL(Ninoy Aquino International Airport) in deteriorating conditions...

[ford9572]

@cowsrock94, OK, So the plane may be old and not as efficient as the ones being made today, But it looks and sounds great!! It's a living piece of history for everyone to enjoy.

[livesteam]

@ cowsrock .... What's wrong with nostalgia. You must admit it was a beautiful aircraft. Sweeping lines, etc. ... These Acft must be kept flying as a testimony to our children.

[livesteam]

I think it was the most beautiful passenger aircraft ever. I remember seeing it in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport taking off back in the 1950s. Later I used to see the in Brussels in the 60s flying under the colours of "Flying Tigers"

[AntonioDelKast]

1:25 You see a man who waved his hand out the window?

[AntonioDelKast]

1:55 cool sound!

[cowsrock94]

what is the point of flying such an old, inefficient plane besides nostalgia?

[billace90]

It just doesn't get any better. What a beauty. I had the privilege to travel in one of them back in 1958. Awesome video.

[zonavelha]

love the plane , more vids



[gojira2006]

What a fabulous airplane . . . !

[ford9572]

Howard Hughes helped design the "Connie" and he also flew one in TWA markings solo I think.

[SuperLais09]

Eu não entraria nesse avião velho por nada. parece mais uma Maria Fumaça. Deus me livre!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrElSatan]

@SuperLais09 kkkkkkkk foi engraçado,só uma observação,essa aeronave teve inumeros casos de pane de motor,mas sempre pousou em segurança,dificil era ver ele com todos os motores funcionando! kkkkkkkkkkk

[jackalmate]

Really nice to fly in...smooth,stable...a bit noisier than jets, but Super Connie had 5,000 mi plus range...

[Hamilton940]

Beautiful. I fell in love with Connies almost 20 years ago when I saw my fist sitting at the end of the parade ground on Vandenberg AFB. All these years and I still havn't seen one fly in person. Great video.

[viewingut]

4 idiots hit the wrong button!

[macmen007]

See "  Macmen007 " for GEN MacArthur's plane

[comlien]

What a nice plane!

[arkansastrash320]

Beautifull machine indeed !!!

[pontiacgpuk]

Beauty personified! More curves than Jane Russell!!

[SgtGrant23]

r-3350'S Sound amazing

[Sylmarman]

Lockheed built a beautiful play. My Grandfather help build this plane,, great plane!

[djbaze1998]

@DonVanZon, the airport name is EHAM/AMS, can someone tell me which runway this is??

[djbaze1998]

@djbaze1998 btw the VOR at EHAM is SPL, not the IATA name

[Aexsaergkatae]

Piece of aviation history!

[DutchFord86]

A beautyful piece of machinery.

[sosome57]

One of my most favorite aircraft! I love the sound of radial engines. I was definitely born in the wrong era - well, not entirely. Jet powered multi-engined aircraft were not in wide supply when I was born. This is such a sexy airplane. Just has the prettiest lines of any aircraft. Thanks for posting this. It's great.

[enigma800]

Beautiful bird! WOW!

[hugothebear]

I remember one of these grounded and used as a bar in Malta - quite a few years back now but I remember how spacious it seemed inside - I wonder if it still there or what has happened to it

[phoenixshade3]

Ahh, the World's Greatest Trimotor...

I jest, of course... I love this plane, and dream of flying on one, someday.

[NVanWendy]

Definitely a unique design and the ultimate one of its age. My Dad, who traveled on business back then, said their only problem was being very LOUD inside!

[sankitoelkiton]

bbc news, report, "concorde" return again, actually enginers examined the motors incluid they have a "web" say "saved the concorde/

sankitoelkiton

[Handymanherb]

Dad flew on them for 12 years as a EC-121 Radar operator and I got to go through them a few times a year at air shows, I love that big radial sound times 4

[UncleNathan]

What a beautiful sight! I hope that one day the economy will make excursion flights possible for the general public!!!

[jonesy97]

It just "sprung" into the air. Like it wanted to fly. One of the most bueatiful a/c ever built.

[hrbear]

Was Connie doing transatlantic flights?

[MrElSatan]

thank you for the video!

[N9497S]

As a Air Force Retiree , I for one have flown on these Connies ( C-121 ) from Charleston AFB S.C. and it's true , It is one beautiful Aircraft. and WWR, I too have some video's of this Airplane in U Tube under N9497S FS2004 Flight Sim. would like to see some of your video's if you have any . And If I remember correctly , these 3350 compounds had PRT's Power Recovery Turbines That's why at 1000 ft , You would hear the engines throtle back to Idle as to shift in the PRT's .

[seafury500]

Turbo-compound engines... he wasn't that far off :)

[alienhuman]

The most beautiful passenger plane ever built. The KLM retro livery was perfect for the Connie, equaling the classic TWA colors of the day.

[piwanabongo]

The sound of a jet starting up is sterile and insipid compared to a Wright twin radial that is a mechanical symphony of sound, smoke and fire.

[djbaze1998]

I saw this whole 50 minutes movie at Aviodrome, and it was very cool to see it all happening!

[Ottonturk]

5+++++++)))how could they return it to life?

[Ottonturk]

5+++++) How could they return it to life?

[getplaning]

What music. I still get goosebumps when I hear those radial engines come to life.

[ford9572]

The SWEET sound of radial engines starting up is the sound of a true and sincere "Romance Of The Skies"!! It is such a PASSIONATE and POWERFUL sound that you can't help but thoroughly enjoy every note of it from idling to full throttle!!

[ford9572]

Such a BEAUTIFUL, SLEEK, SEXY & POWERFUL machine!!!! Too bad they don't make 'em like that anymore!!!

[chimbica91]

SHOW....

[a090006]

that is a very beautifull airplane!!

[antonio43]

lucky to have flown on one round trip RIO JFK RIO in 1959 ,22 hours each way with one stop in Dominican Republic ,CIUDAD TRUJILLO then..great airplane beautiful design

[ford9572]

No turboprop EVER sounded this good!!! These were REAL beauties back in their heydey!!!!

[bebajoro77]

Lovely to see (and hear) one again. Thanks for posting this without some naff soundtrack to muffle the radial rumble - very nice!

[ford9572]

Those are WRIGHTS!!!!

[ford9572]

Such a BEAUTIFUL and SLEEK airplane!!!! LOVE the POWERFUL ROAR of those old Pratt & Whitney radial engines!!!! MUCH BETTER sounding than a PUNY little, single engined Lycoming powered Cessna!!!

[tobagotb10]

The sound of my childhood.

With al those computers out there, we can't design things like these any more. This was all done on a drawingboard with pencil and paper, and draftsmen in long white dust coats and problably not even one universitiy degree.

[19elgato46]

The prettiest and sleekest plane ever built. You can hear and feel the power of those big radial engines.

[MNBluestater]

Wow , what a beautiful airplane.

[speedskiff2]

saw one on final into Newark Airport with right outboard engine feathered and trailing smoke around 1960. NJTP came to a complete stop.

[whitewingsrich]

I love this plane!!! I think the Connie is without doubt the most beautiful turboprop aircraft ever. i have only ever seen one, and that was at RAF Fairford, still inn MATS colours. It is an aircraft of pure elegance. They all are The Connie, the Super Connie they are all gourgeous aircraft. I have downloaded them for my flight sim and they are pretty much all i fly on it. I love them

[DonVanZon]

Thank you wwr, (and one tip: Asure yourself never ever mistakingly calling out 'turboprop' again to these mighty radial piston engine driven beautiful flying machines ;- )

[Goggostreetview]

@DonVanZon "Semi-Turboprob", because each engine has 3 exhaust turbines (turbo-compound), which assist drive the propeller.

[kblackav8or]

Sure sounds nice. I think there was some testing in the US of a Connie with turbines at one point. More comfortable airplane then the electra from what I understand though not as fast.

[lionheart270866]

@whitewingsrich

Turboprop? That could be an expensive mod

2800 radials my friend, thats why the cowlings are so fat and round.

nothing like the sound of a radial vs a turboprop.

Go hear a dash 7 or 8 at the airport to give you an idea of the sound difference

[daytenmillion]

@lionheart270866 No, these engines are even larger than the P&W 2800- Constellations used Curtiis-Wright R-3350 engines. The Super Connie used R-3350-TC Turbocompound versions.

[daytenmillion]

@daytenmillion I made a typo! I meant Curtiss-Wright R-3350. And, yes, conversion to turbines would be expensive but I believe the US Navy did convert one or two of them.

[DAUNTLESSDIVERS]

@daytenmillion They sure did. They made four of them. R7V-2. Used the P&W T-34.

[KeyToSucceed]

@DAUNTLESSDIVERS Hi, it is a P & W 3460 (cubic inch)

[nagmashdriver]

@whitewingsrich

I think what you meant to say instead of "turboprop" was "turbo compound". Please correct me if I'm wrong. In any event, yes, the Connie IS one of the most elegant of all the airliners!

[mistersmith6000]

@whitewingsrich Very beautiful aircraft, but how different it looks to the super connie, which is much, much longer. Can't work out which I like better

[HuasoPodrido]

@whitewingsrich , hummm....turboprop! now that would be an idea for the Connie and the lack of engine parts!

[azkiid]

@HuasoPodrido Some Super Connies were converted to tubo prop for military use  and research & develoment in the 1950s

[0289XYZ]

@whitewingsrich Those are PISTON engines. Curtiss-Wright 3350cid

[pwnedmodder]

@whitewingsrich The only connie ive seen is the TWA "Star of America"

[ballucanb1]

@whitewingsrich When I was a kid I remember walking to our local airport to see the TWA connie land I wouldn't leave the airport until I heard it start and waited for it to fly away.

I never got enough of those engine sounds, by the time I was old enough to get a job at the airport all had changed to jets.

[youherre]

To all, this is Super, this is history in aviation. My younger trans ocean flight days are back again. At that time we flew regular with KLM. from Nw. Guinea to the Netherlands.

Regards,

Herman Siebenhaar

[RobOnBusiness]

Perhaps you knew my dad - Jan Berkman , dispatcher,with KLM from about '53-'61, stationed in Schiphol, Gander, New York, Miami, and finally, Montreal.

[youherre]

Dear Rob, no, I / we lived at that time in Nw. Guinea and the in Netherlands. Perhaps you / your dad knows Mr. Edema, he was in charge in Nw. Guinea, Seroei. He / the family left in the '60 for the USA. I am searching now for their address. Perhaps you / someone can help. Regards,

Herman Siebenhaar

[daytenmillion]

I hope there will always be people somewhere in the world who will keep these machines flying, even if only for exhibition. By the way, whose music is that? My little son loves it and wants the record.

[ThierryLouis]

BEAUTIFUL!!!

[mistermellow001]

If I was filthy rich I'd buy one of these just to look at it. What a beautiful plane.

[MrElSatan]

@mistermellow001 to look and fly with friends and girlfriend!

[DrifterThai]

beautiful plane

[befbritbiker]

knolbpilot......think it was a DC8 DC8s you were on as KLM was a all Douglas company post war until tht 747 arrived

DC8s pretty amazing too btw !!

[dugmar01]

Gorgeous aircraft.

[kolbpilot]

I was lucky enough to fly on KLM 707's in the late 60's & that was good enough. But to get to fly on a 'Connie', especially a KLM 'Connie' when it was in service, that had to the "Golden era" of aviation!

[klesmer]

I need to brush up on my Connie history. I don't remember if 749's had turbo compound 3350's. This one does not.

[hudson501]

The PRT's (power recovery turbines) were first used on the Wright 3350 engines of the civil 1049C Super Constellations.

[klesmer]

Thanks, I guess I just didn't pay that much attention to the 749s.

[paulrandig]

The most beautiful commercial plane ever...

[CalvinandHobbesUSA]

@paulrandig. Equal with the Boeing 747

[pontiacgpuk]

I have fond memories of flying in an Air France Connie back in 1961. It was one of their last in service. It was just pure luxury. All those curves! Not a straight line anywhere. Gorgeous!!

[shlomofeuerwerk]

I flew on a KLM Connie from Milan to Amsterdam in the 1960s. Gorgeous plane.

[NathanH5]

Do you have the same video without the music??!! I was very upset at not being able to hear this plane fade out into the distance. There is no need to play disc jockey and foul the wonderful sound of this magnificent Connie. Otherwise a great video. Shame that this beauty is not currently flying!! I gave it top rating anyhow.

[alienbreed99]

WOW!!...dont worry guys..as soon as i win euromillions im gonna buy it and fly it where ever you want!! :) Just superb

[Koseiko2008]

Does this one (like "Traditional Flights of Lufthansa with their Ju-52/3m) offer flights for the public?

[DonVanZon]

. . unfortunately this video was the last flight since. Currently it lacks funding to even have it out on flying displays. The only one currently taking passengers is The Breitling L1049 out of Switserland, after becoming a 'member' first. Word is around LH wants to add one to the classic fleet too . . . we'll see in times of economic dispair.

[an147]

I love the Connie. Nice video.

[gata0705]

Nice Vid, the fying dutchman

[mayonpi]

A wonderful aircraft. I often wonder what it would be like to refit a Connie with four modern turboprops, like they did with a few DC3's and the P51 (Enforcer modifications) back in the 80's . . . . If you ever want to walk through this aircraft, there's a nice one at the Air Force Museum at Dayton, Ohio. It's the Columbine, Eisenhour's Air Force One.

[s2kx2]

I was fortunate enough to make three round trips from LAX to PIT as a child on the Connie. The first time was an L-749 the next trip was on an

L-1049 and the last was on an L-1049 G. All were with TWA and they are all burned in my memory. GOD I love this airplane. Thanks Lockheed and Kelly Johnson1 :)

[bagelboi66]

Such a beautiful ship. Awe-inspiring.

[canvasguy]

That is what i call a piece of history its beautiful...

[s2kx2]

Most beautiful multi engine aircraft ever built!

[seau2007]

Well........maybe next to the P51 mustang :>)

[bagelboi66]

That is one beautiful aircraft.

[DC10fr8er]

I stand corrected, It was the super Constellation my father flew back then.

[DC10fr8er]

My father flew the Constellation back in the 50's for Linea Aeropostal Venezolana. This is one of the most beautiful birds ever built.

[squadman33]

Great tribute to a classy design

[clippercargo]

As a young boy at age 8, my first flight on a Super Connie was pure delight...yes, what a wonderful, sweet and a superb airplane...wish I could fly one of them now...that was 52 years ago!

[AirbusSpotter]

I saw this beast yesterday @ aviodrome, beautiful plane!!!!

[tboltjohn]

How this sound of a Connie was all about Kansas City Municipal Airport (MKC) in the 1950's, mostly TWA's. Pure romance that jet roar can't match.

[anhacus]

That's precisely it.

[ladyburn73]

Saw and heard one flying over my head today. What a beautiful airplane with a great sound you don't find in modern airplanes anymore!

[anhacus]

Would fly over my house in Jersey City out of LaGuardia, and maybe Idlewild Airport, before it became Kennedy. An unbelievably beautiful sound that I've never forgotten.

[N9155E]

a kingdom for a flight!

[Guardtheheart]

That is very very thrilling!!! She is soo beautiful...thanks for posting and well done!

[teaser1950]

This are one of the most beautifull things in Earth.....Im crying.

[YoungJim409]

Kelly Johnson may well have been the greatest aeronautical engineer who ever lived.

[55121234]

wrong know it all you are probably not even a pilot.

[whithouse]

I think you're a bit confused. There is a difference between a Constellation and Super Constellation. The Superconnie has indeed a longer fuselage. Just google for more info with the words "lockheed constellation" and "Wiki".

[erad5]

That's awesome, both sight and sound! A new connie is airborne once more, and the last time I've seen one was at the last El Toro Airshow in 1997 when I was 7. This one is one of the earlier variants it seems, due to the lack of a nose radar, but then again, I could be wrong.. Nice post!