Lockheed Constellation first public flight

[jcharlesbinder]

Lambert Field, St. Louis, Mo., 1950's, my pals and I used to stand just outside the fences at the ends of the runways to experience the thrill of these magnificent birds landing right above our heads. Pity our fathers we begged for a ride to the airport whenever the Cardinals and Harry Carey were out of town.

[TheIhredpower]

The most beautiful passenger airplane ever made.

[AquaticRapture]

Starting at 4:00 into the movie; I LOVE the flames shooting out the exhausts!

Such an amazing aircraft.

DAT SOUND

[MrFentonguy]

A beautiful airship

[soaringvulture]

Another work of art from Kelly Johnson. The Constellation is a thing of beauty that also functions magnificently. Like Kelly's P-38, U2 and SR-71 to name a few. He wasn't an engineer, he was Michelangelo reborn in the air age.

[slh950]

its funny how Lockheed went from this plane to the L-1011 tristar, with no 1960's/ 707 rival in between

[johneddy98033]

Trans-Canada Airlines, today known as Air Canada, flew the Super Constellation on its trans-Atlantic flights from 1954 to the 1960s. One example, registered as CF-RNR, now stands at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

[macprohawaii]

Someone going to fly this plane to Hawaii so I can see it?

[JetRanger0007]

I own 8 of these Lockheed Constellations, and I fly them all the time, sometimes I can't decide which one I wanna Fly , I keep em' all in my private hanger right here at my home !

[mbandarra3]

Excellent...thanks for posting !

[buelloldman]

How I miss that sound from my youth.

[usspike]

Gorgeous Super Connie!

If I were a weathy businessman who needed a private plane to travel, forget the Cessna Citation or Learjet. I'll take a Constellation!

[AVMamfortas]

Designed in England by A.V.Roe just before WW2, the plans were stored in a hangar until after the war, while AVR built bombers. At the end of the war the hagar was opened and all the plans were gone. Hmmmmm.

[cmpilot]

One of the most beautiful airplanes ever to fly, and the specs (speed, range, records) are fantastic!

[dpohunter]

I was very lucky to get a ride on her when she was still stateside back in 1997: a half-hour "sightseeing" flight out of Camarillo California. What a beautiful noise! Thanks for posting.

[wlb50]

Still one of the most beautiful transports...

[ksandom40]

What happened with the left rear gear at 4:18 and 5:08? While all the other gear makes a smooth retraction, the left rear gear goes most of the way in, then comes back out, and and goes back in again. Is this a sign of a problem? (like getting stuck) or simply a work around for something specific to the left side? Or maybe one side has had it's hydraulics/controller replaced?

[schlusselmensch]

@ksandom40 Probably has something to do with some relaxation in hydraulic pressure as each gear locks up. The pressure required to retract and stow landing gear varies wildly due to retraction mechanism geometry. You will often see this on various aircraft when you are doing gear tests on stands and running the cylinders through cycle slowly. You will often see Constellations do this in footage, some do the left, some do the right.

[Rcrby525]

why are planes referred to "she"?

[penumbra155]

My father flew Connies when he was VAW-11's Operation's Officer back in the late 50's out of NAS Argentia, Newfoundland. He'd flown just about every piston-powered combat aircraft in the Navy's inventory during his career (including the F4F, F6F, F4U, SBD, SB2C and AD1) and of them all, the Connie was the aircraft he loved the best.

[buffey]

Beautifully done. My all time favorite aircraft and it was on a TWA Connie out of PHL that had my first flight. All the way to New York no less! lol Immediately after take off the captain had to shut down #3 so we return to Philadelphia. Made it to New York via a Convair 440, by was of Newark first. Wound up missing our Lufthansa 707 flight to Frankfurt. Got there with a brand new Swissair DC-8 through Zurich. Quite a memorable time.

[shadowvoc]

turned 65 yesterday that Hiroshima was bombed. Day 09 is nagasaki. These planes are wonderful, but they remind me of death.

[irish89055]

a wonderful sound...

[tboltjohn]

The takeoff at 5:01, beautiful classic sustained roar.

[Treetop64]

Spine compression at  4:40.

[Brongo65]

Interesting history!

[mbandarra3]

What a beauty!

[straighttailpilot]

sexiest airliner EVER made! everytime I see it its like the concorde of 1944! Amazing. Howard hughes just got in it read the manual and flew it all by himself. no engineers or nothing. simply amazing.

[tvr390se]

Sexiest airliner ever. :) I'd give my left nut to science for a chance to fly one.

[beernpizzalover]

@tvr390se Same here!

[DeviSamit]

Flew on these a lot as a boy. Gorgeous plane, wonderful to fly in at night especially, when the engine exhausts spit out blue flames. First time I saw that, it scared me, I thought the engines were on fire. And 20,000 feet was low enough that when you flew over the Grand Canyon, it still looked impressive.

[newsnetuk]

What a great plane. Just look at her on those take off runs - she can't wait to get into the sky.

...And those engines

...And that sound!

.....God knows how many cylinders - with every exhaust pouring out pure flame. She was born to fly.

[caseyjones2222]

I was able to walk around one once, it had a telephone in a box on the nose gear. Beautiful airplane but I'll never forget the telephone.

[BelieveNoGod]

Beautiful plane. I love this.

What are Breitling using this plane for ? Only for show, or do they us it for company's employees ? :)

[mofaraider]

2:38 swiss flags =)

[tazeus]

@mofaraider the flag of the Canton of Bern =)

[xgi36]

Still the most beautiful plane in the world, during the cold war (1950,s) we flew these on the Pacific Barrier , part of the North American DEW line , from Midway over Kodiak and return

[ThunderAppeal]

A carrier plane that flew higher and faster than the bombers and fighter planes of the day? Those indeed were the days.

[bignitro50]

Holly crap look at the flames comming out of the engines at takeoff!! thats some power.

[arias1772]

hands down i believe lockheed in general have the most beautiful planes. this, sr-71, c-5. the list goes on

[jelf48]

@arias1772

...most certainly includes the P-38!

[HuasoPodrido]

I have to take exception to the C-5, it looks and flys like a pregnant guppy.

[ShiekUrBooty]

I sport skydived out of Save A Connie's TWA Super Connie at the UIN airport during World Freefall Convention.

It was an experience I'll never forget.

[an147]

The golden years of aviation!

[1fornone]

...such an elegant machine

[1954shadow]

There is a 'Connie' here at the downtown airport in Kansas City, MO. It is in its own museum, can fly, but, needs work on one engine, so, no flights for now.

[fergyflier]

Great Connie flicks!

Cessna pilot

[einenrauchen]

I wonder what Orville Wright felt when Howard Hughes let him take the controls of this machine back in 1944...

[groundpounder35]

@einenrauchen Oh wow did that really happen? Must have been cool for him.

[flyingislander]

beautiful shape...they should make a remake...but with jet engines...or turbo prop

[ad356]

dont screw with it. the radial engines are incredible

[raptor22stealth]

I'm convinced that a remake of the Constellation with modern turboprops (and fly-by-wire, and modern avionics, and also a modern passenger cabin) could be an excellent short-to-medium-range plane, for flights with up to a medium demand :)

[joefacc]

I was thinking the same thing, although I would stick with the piston powered engines for the whole sound experience. With modern computer engine management systems like those in modern cars, they could be made to be much more efficient and cleaner then back in the 40's. Also, I would try to keep it looking (cabin) like back in the 40's. Modern upgrades would ruin the whole experience. Compared to the boring planes of today, that would be a cool plane.

[CaptainAndrew1991]

joefacc's channel:

Age: 46

Figures... -_- The old folks have no respect for the new planes.

[flexyco]

And rightly so. Those modern computerized flying vacuum cleaners have no character nor soul. Nothing beats the sound of four giant props connected to four giant radials.

[CaptainAndrew1991]

@flexyco If they have no 'character' or 'soul' what do they have? Certainly, these planes must be defined in some way. Your lone opinion doesn't make new planes boring or generic by any means. I think all planes are beautiful in their own way, and if you fail to see that then I am truly sorry for you.

[straighttailpilot]

@CaptainAndrew1991 I think he means just like A 1950 corvette has much more soul and character than the 2010 version. Its all about getting back to the roots. I am sure 90 Percent of all pilots would rather fly a connie than a Airbus a380 I think thats what he means. Its like Sean Tucker said. carbon fiber and 300 thousand dollar monoplanes have no soul! he prefers the biplane dope and fabric. its about returning to the basics of flight. nowadays its all push button. its all about easier

[jendoslavek]

2:53 the whels are well moveing:-/

[thibaulthalpern]

I can't help but see a flying sperm when I see the silhouette of that plane :)

[PERIZ99]

Pretty impressive..!

[mayonpi]

As a kid in the late 1950's I remember seeing Connies fly out of Port Columbus, Ohio. TWA was still transitioning to 707's. I'd watch them from the terminal observation deck, covering my ears from the roar of the engines. A beautiful aircraft.

[suspendmeassholes]

Man I wonder what it was like to be alive during that time.

[StereoSpace]

It felt like freedom.

[workforcetrust]

The most beautiful four engine plane ever. Thanks for the Breitling video, which is great.

[miguelmouta]

UNESCO should consider this plane, as well as the DC-3, as Patrimonies of Mankind.

[82abnoff]

I did fly on one. I also flew on a DC4, when an engine caught fire. My old friend flew a Connie from Mex to Spain. He may have about 25,000 hrs.

I will not fly an american carrier. First Class with Dom and Belug will always be nice.

[lejink]

love the sound of thoes old engines

[seq165432]

That's a beautiful old plane, for sure - but what an incredibly complicated power plant... too many moving parts! It seems that at the end of the piston era - the engines were becoming something of a hybrid between piston and jet with all the turbo-super charging and stuff. Somewhere I think I read that the engine alone weighs nearly a ton LESS without all the exhaust energy recovery equipment.

It certainly wouldn't be the same plane - but I wonder what it would be like with 4 turbo-props?

[billykish]

Listen up, ladies and gents.

We used to fly these Supwer Connies on Recon missions during LBJ's war on the American soldiers9AKA Viet Nam) they were called C-121's and yes, they were, are the same aircraft. Had R3350 engines with three ( If I remember correctly) power recovery trubines per engine. Pumpin out 3500 horsepower per engine, take off military power. Fast cruise of 365 mph. They were fast, comfortable, solid and could stay airborne longer then the crews like them too.

Stew

[verdaineg]

I was an EC-121D Crew Chief in the 552nd AEW&C wing in 1971 and 1972. We did heavy maintenance in Korea but flew our combat missions out of Thailand. This was a fun bird to work on and a great ride.

Dane

[skink5150]

Arguably the most beautiful piston engined airliner ever built .

[WebTravel08]

thanks for posting this video. she truly is a beautiful plane.

[skyraider550094]

I used to work on and crew a "Connie". You may have it. "M.A.T.S." Connie, N749TW, "buzz number" 8609.

[verdaineg]

Howdy Skyraider. I was a Connie Crew Chief but on the EC's We flew out of Thailand and she was the platform used to test and prove the theory of AWACS. She was a great old gal and I miss her.

[fassstEddie]

In 1956 I had just got my leave from Navy Recruit Base San Diego. I honestly have forgotten how I got from there to Dallas but on the return I went over to the Dallas NAS and hitched a ride on a MATS Supper Connie heading back to SD.

I was the only passenger on board.

[mindstage]

In 1998, I was honored to fly in the cockpit jump seat of the L-1049H Super Connie owned by Save-A-Connie in Kansas City, MO.

This is without question one of the most graceful and comfortable airliners ever built. As the co-pilot that day said, "In the age of the Connie, flying was an event, and design meant something. Today, we fly Greyhound busses with wings."

[ridedirtba]

I'm from KCMO and i've seen her take off and land only a few times and it is truly a beautiful site. How would a person get a flight on her?

[mindstage]

I was researching an article for an aviation magazine, that's how I got the ride. However, I think you can join the Save a Connie group and volunteer as a guide for air show duty.

[bon1608]

Does anyone know if this was the 3 rudder plane with seating at the very rear were you could look out the back?

Thanks

Bob

[mindstage]

No, there was no provision for that on a Connie. You may be thinking of the B-24 bomber that had a tail gun station.

[tpcrb]

If you sit in the front rows/window seats of the passenger cabin you can look forward ahead down the runway

[hortojc]

My God...what a thing of beauty... saw one of these in Casablanca, Morocco around 1959..one of the prettiest planes ever built.

[ElAviator72]

Look at those exhaust pipes belching flame as she takes off...what a thing of beauty! And that flyby noise can't be any higher than a modern jet.

[PuzzlingEvidenceTV]

I was in EC-121's during the little party in Viet Nam, and we had to egress from the back door with a rope! Traveling on Connies is far from elegant or glamorous - it was hard work. My stinky angels - it was heaven. I grew up around them, and watched their final Navy days. I was very, very fortunate. Nothing will ever have that class again.

[fnordly]

Interesting that the look of this 1939 design reminds me of images from the 1939 Worlds Fair. The Connie has an almost 'art deco' modernist look. I would love to build a model of this plane.

[fordlandau]

brilliant vid thank so much ...I love the dissolve from the b/w newsreel to the colour modern day section !...do these restored planes still have the issues of runaway propellors and engine vent cowling errors that caused so many problems in the 40s and 50s ?

[chrigel1234]

I once helped loading luggage into the Connie during the ferry flight to Switzerland. Everything must go through two small doors underneath the plane. We only had about 30 pieces of luggage but it gave an impression how hard the work must have been for the luggage guys in the old days. Every item must be lifted by hand and stowed carefully.

[Nza420]

yeah, now "careful" isn't even in their vocabulary..

[Quadsly1]

Haveing being an early teen when they were still flyig, I was "Lucky Enough to see many landings and take offs from "The Atlanta Airport of these Beuties"! (Now know as Hartsfield/Jackson International Airport). I lived at the end of the East, West Main runway at the time. It was "Standard Practice then", to Feather the 2 inboard engines, completely shutdown, and land with the 2 outer engines!! I now know that they were saving time on the engines! Beutiful Planes cannot Describe Them! Quadsly

[YoungJim409]

It looks like its going 200 KIAS standing still. Howard Hughes + Kelly Johnson = slightly nutty magic.

[iamarine]

actually the Connie's landing speed is approx. 100 mph. I think it is one of the most beautiful planes ever built. I "fly" the Connie online for my virtual airline. I have already recreated the Connie's first transatlantic flight from Washington to Paris with refuel stops in Gander and Shannon.

[chugly11]

Awesome vid!! thanks for sharing,  *favorite* 5/5

[paralleler]

I was fortunate enough to be able to ride this Connie over San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge back in the mid-nineties; the plane was known as "Camarillo Connie" back then. We took off from Moffet Field, hopped over SFO, did a sweeping left turn to the west over their water front & wrapped up by chasing our shadow over the Sunset District. We did this in the late afternoon -- OMG, the reflection of the Golden Gate in the polished propellers was AWESOME! Unfortunately no camera. Many thanks!

[SmiertSpionem]

Wow, Howard Hughes was a demanding but inspired nutcase.

[chrigel1234]

The designer of this aircraft was Kelly Johnson from Lockheed... Hughes just told them the desired specifications.

[SmiertSpionem]

I see, thanks. It featured in a brief scene in 'The Aviator'.

[granskare]

When I went nb 1957 to Turkey via Tripoli, it was a C121 out of Charleston AFB, facing backward in af style at the time. Nice airplane and I like that you managed to find these fine vids so I will be kept busy for a long time :)

[fordlandau]

Superb vid ..thank you..didnt realise they were flying early as 1943..so they got a good 20 yrs out of the design..better than the Boeing Stratocruiser!

[whizbang47]

Thirty years. Don't forget they flew the Eastern

shuttle, Boston-LGA-DC until 1967 or '68. By comparison, the B-377 airplanes, with those "corncob" engines were a maintenance headache.

[anhacus]

I tip my hat to all the A&P men who maintained those aircraft all those years, because very few crashed. Indeed, they were very conscientious.

[chg657]

Connie pilots used to smirk & say "It takes a REAL MAN to handle 3 pieces of tail at once..." Arguably, one of the prettiest large planes ever produced.

[Proplinerman]

It's based at Basel in Switzerland and does pleasure flights mainly from Swiss airports in the late spring and summer.

[trdfsh]

Flame can be seen streaming from the exhaust stacks during that one take off -- bitchin'!

What airfields is that Breitling flying out of?

[DartDakota]

It could be argued that the Connie was the best thing that Howard Hughes was responsible for.

At the time he had the controlling share of TWA, Transcontinental & Western Air, only later was it Trans World Airlines.

On June 22, 1939, Hughes Tool Co. ordered 40 Lockheed Constellations.

Hughes and Jack Frye (President TWA) flew the Constellation (C-69 USAAF #43-10310) from Burbank to Washington, D.C. in an unofficial record 6 hours 58 minutes. That's the flight shown on the clip.

[Bomberguy]

Considering all the crap you go through at the airport these days, it isn't any faster to fly from Burbank to Washington today than 63 years ago!!!

[fordlandau]

That is so very true and with vastly more mental pain and stress than our fortunate predecessors had. for them a flight in the

50s was style, excitment and glamour. My parents flew round the world in the 1960s purely on QANTAS 707s and they were treated like Royalty the whole way! Just gettin got to board a plane today is damned hard work !

I love Connies and we have a working one in Austrlia too!

[Shazzasaloon91]

Great video, thanks for posting! I love the way the wheels fold up one at a time.

[fordlandau]

I noticed that too..port side is last!

[Shazzasaloon91]

Great video, thanks for posting! I love the way the wheels fold up one at time.

[goagz]

This is superb well one and thank you.

[hopper1]

What a beautiful aircraft! Thanks for sharing the video.

[oisiaa]

Good video, I recognize the second half from one of Manfred Poznanski's videos.

[fordroad]

A great posting in the current today sequence the flames from the exhausts indicated the motors were on full throttle.