Super Constellation Flight with Authur Godfrey part 2

[SoSayethTheMan]

3 engines out was done in an unloaded ...different story loaded. Still pretty impressive. My Uncle worked on these ships for Qantas back in the day. Messed his lungs up with all the solvents and such required to overhaul those radials.

[SoSayethTheMan]

Ohhh those were the days...Some pilots used to puff a pipe on the trip. That had to thicken up the air I bet !

[penumbra155]

Although I do have to say that I wonder what the reaction was of the passengers when they looked out the windows and saw three idle propellers. Nice of Eastern to demonstrate the a/c's capabilities without giving any thought to passenger safety. Yes, I know, the passengers were filmed in a studio...still, makes you wonder what Eastern was thinking...

[TheDrago500]

l'âge d'or de l'aviation .....le plus bel avion qui ait existé, des pilotes sympas et relax,des passagers calmes,des hôtesses agréables ,le paradis !

[chanctonbury63]

Product placement in the first 10 secs!!

[legenois]

The Super constellation, the most beautiful plane in the World.

[TailSpin46]

Now that's a REAL airplane. Jets are ok for get'n someplace fast but it has to have 4 round engines to be a REAL airplane. I love the Connie!!!

[robertchutney]

What a commercials for Chesterfield! What a bullshit!!

[MrRonnieG]

Godfrey, for years of radio & television, pushed Chesterfield Cigs but severed the relationship with them when it was discovered he had lung cancer. True.

[MrRonnieG]

Arthur Godfrey was one of the biggest television personalities (and a private pilot) of the early 1950's but the poor old boy fell into some really stinky T.V. shit when he tried to fire (live, on camera) an EXTREMELY popular singer that performed, regularly, on his show (Juluis LaRosa), thinking he (Godfrey) was bigger than the medium itself. In '54 he lost his own pilot license for 6 months after buzzing the Teterboro Airport Tower in his privately owned DC-3.

[MrRonnieG]

I understand the flight engineer died at the page of 49 from lung cancer.

[MrRonnieG]

How about fat ass Arthur flying the Connie with 2 out, and 3 out, but when they go to a cockpit scene he's got all 4 throttles wide open?????????? It's a really really really great film with 3 out and the Connie just bootin' along like she didn't even need the screws turning on the rest of 'em ~ but GET YOUR TECH SHIT STRAIGHT Artie!! And last ~ what's with the hats?????? It ain't like the sun's beatin' down on your chrome ball head!!!! Geeeeeeeeeeeez, I need a beer.

[nolifemerc]

would you smoke in a concealed compartment filled with oil and gasolin? no, then why do you smoke in a plane? the aircrafth industry is even so retatred they intall electrical eqvipment without an on off switch, it cost the life of 350 people a 20 dollar switch.

[penumbra155]

@nolifemerc No, I wouldn't smoke in a "SEALED" compartment filled with oil and gasoline, nor would they and nor are they. The gas and oil are in tanks in the wings. The crew is in the cockpit...DUH! Time for you to hop on the short bus and get back to school. Generally speaking, unless you are at the controls of a flying gas station like a KC-130, you are in no greater danger smoking in the cabin or cockpit of an aircraft than you are in your own car.

[nolifemerc]

would you smoke in a consilded conpartment filled with oil and gasolin? no, then why do you smoke in a plane?

[Chained2Alice]

'Oh boy, this is the life'

[appleglory]

My god.

[Ney8666]

Belo video, para mim um dos aviões mais bonito já construido.

[erbhotrod6100]

Our seats in the Air Force were facing to the back

[666Iluminatis666]

WONDERFULL VIDEO

[XBoeingCapt]

godfrey, what a ham......lets see if we can induce an emergency; feather 1,2,3...what a maroon....dick merrill didn't look to happy about that maneuver.

[GolfPlayer96]

"Now it`s time for a Chesterfield!" Hahah thats so funny!

Thx for uploading this! :)

[kwalliander]

Those were the days, when airline pilots could buy and fly their own DC3 with their salary ...

[TheMightyHartley]

@kwalliander This is Arthur Godfrey, a well-known radio and TV personality - he wasn't really an airline pilot for Eastern (although he was an experienced pilot).

The DC3 was his, but it was given to him as a gift.

[irish89055]

"the girls".... i think by this time they didn't need to be RN's.... Indubitably...lol

[chloe7829]

those were the days of flying, passengers would actually dress up, suit & ties for men, dresses and hi heels for the ladies. Meals were tasty and they had a menu to choose from, wine and cocktails in first class were on the house, a glass of wine was a buck. And (gasp) families were allowed with the passengers right up to the gates and wave bye bye. the cabin crews actually welcomed you on board and smiled.

signed ex Pan Amer

[xraycortina]

@chloe7829 It did cost a LOT more to fly in those days, so the passengers would have been fairly affluent. Flying is often now the cheapest option; I flew from France to London this year for less than $50 + 2 hours. The train would have cost at least 3 times that sum. To compare routes in the US, New York to Miami by air (in 2 weeks time) would be $110 + 3 hours, or by train for $125 + 27 hours. NY to LA $134 + 6 hours (air) or $197 + 67 hours. No wonder the skies are full...

[universanjar]

smoking in a cockpit? LOL!! FYI Godfrey died by lung cancer anyway

[IronPump89]

lol thats so awesome. these pilots rocked

What a nice plane

[flemmong]

Care for a smoke? - Well those were the days!

However safety is also a good reason why not to

[rennertz]

Weiß jemand, was Captain Frank Lang macht und wie es ihm geht?

[travsuz]

Wow...a real meal. 

[22fret]

Also sponsored by Chesterfield, as it seems... ;-) Nevertheless, great video.

[irish89055]

he was a real piece of work...

[MrElSatan]

lol smoking in the cockpit!

[bagelboi66]

Smoking a cigarette while flying the plane??? I'm so sure....

[zyxquark]

Didn't he die of a cigarette related disease? I know he had lung cancer and miraculously recovered (miraculous for back then). Seems like he may have died from emphysema. I know garry moore did and I tend to conflate the two. I agree with the guy below--everyone seems so relaxed and laid back. what happened? the media?

[Sia4playboy]

Phew! I thought the air hostess was going to drop the tray on the passenger's head!

[barthoedemaker]

Those pilots enjoyed it back in the days, the same as the pilots todays enjoy the super connie.

[Paulancar]

Ja, ja, ja, ja The crew is smoking!

Thats times.

[problem49]

Back in the day Godfrey was one of the most trusted, beloved public figures in America. He even recorded a reassuring PSA to be broadcast in the event of an actual nuclear attack. He loved cigarettes so much that he routinely signed autographs "Best wishes by the carton."

[valdetripa]

Both the Lockheed L-1049-C, and the Boeing Strato Cuise, had problems of failure in the engines. The plane, Boeing has had several propellers and engines torn by imbalance caused by the propellers. The most serious accident occurred in Brazil in 1952

[valdetripa]

The situation turned more serious on April 29, 1952. On

that date a P.A.W.A. Stratocruiser N1039U crashed in dense

Brazilian jungle with no survivors. Although the main

wreckage was located, No. 2 engine and propeller were

never found. Examination of the remaining pieces of No. 2

engines mount showed its failure was due to application of

forces beyond which it was designed. The cause of the

engine separation was probably an unbalanced propeller.

[valdetripa]

In the commercial L-1049 C, as Meryll off the three engines, the plane should be no passengers, that the drag provided by the helices of the three engines was stopped too long, it must also have very low power single engine that was working. But without a doubt the connie was the most elegant aircraft ever bu

[valdetripa]

The first company to use the Connie in Brazil, was Panair OF BRAZIL, an airplane crash on July 28, 1950, the city of Sapucaia do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, the crash killed all 51 people traveling in the aircraft, which crashed into a hill in a series of communication errors crew with the tower of the airport of Porto Alegre.

[valdetripa]

In Brazil, VARIG bought three four-engine Lockheed L-1049 g and Super Constellation on 2 August 1955, the first flight to New York took off from Rio de Janeiro, with stops in Belem, Port of Spain and Ciudad Trujillo. Later the route was expanded to the south, starting in Buenos Aires

[steelgil]

Wow, I just noticed this the second time I watched this video. Look closely at Dick Merrill's mouth when Authur says "now it's time for a Chesterfield". It looks like Dick is saying it right at the same time..Very strange.

[MadDogDucati]

the co-pilot looks about 85 years old and he doesn't even smoke!

[jscharpf]

lol yeah it's almost like he was mouthing the words so he would be ready for his line.

[jscharpf]

Dinner served with metal knives and forks lol. Back in the day..

[POTThaesslich]

you should fly Business or First these days, they still have metal knives and forks

[lsnows]

Yeah, not to mention the flight crew smoking!!

[walkandlookup]

like to see a overhauled Connie + turboprop wold b nice

[PreacherSly]

what's that thing the guy pulls down from the ceiling in the control tower at about 4:12?

[pedalz1115]

that's a signalling lamp to flash at pilots if their radios failed. Although it is not used anymore regularly as there are lost comms procedures they are still found in all the towers I've visited.

[jscharpf]

thanks!

[d0rkiishchris]

its a light gun signal. Its aimed at airplanes that don't have radios. Which may have been common in the 40s. Now its mandatory, but you will still find them in towers when an airplane has a radio failure.

[PreacherSly]

explanes why the pilots are so calm and the pilot mentions food.....smells like dinner....LOL

[PreacherSly]

chesterfield, dick? No sir, but I'll have a joint.

[choirboyfromhell1]

@PreacherSly LMAOROFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[linowilly]

Chesterfield? Wasn't that WC Field's sons name?

[canyonair]

Yeah flies good on one engine. At sea level, no passengers, and minimum fuel.

[jawajawa350]

A)We've finished our climb... now it's time for a Chesterfeild... Dick??

D)I don't smoke Arthur ... for crying out loud I've been flying with you for the past 12 years... can't you remember I don't smoke?

A)(under his breath)'hey wise guy, one more comment like that and you can find a new airline to work for') What?? ...ha ha ha... I thought he wouldnt wrap his tongue around that one twice!

Sorry folks... it's a great film, just too many comedy possibilities! I'll try to stop.

[jawajawa350]

Ok watch this! Okay Hugh, feather four! Oh shit... time for another chesterfeild!

[TonyAirlines]

That "silver falcon" was a Martin 4-0-4, right?

[320k]

@TonyAirlines The Wikipedia article for the 404 mentions Silver Falcon, so I think so.

Funny, I thought it was a Convair.

[kokeTD]

was the connie able to maintain level flight on one engine! That is so cool

[bucanas4]

Bravo,Thanks for posting.

[1954shadow]

What a gem this is! Thanks for posting.

[alejandroomi]

I tell you, the Super Constellation was a real gem - and how about Eastern Airlines! I miss them so much...

As the old Disney World Easter Airlines ride jingle said: IF YOU HAVE WINGS, IF YOU HAVE WINGS, IF YOU HAVE WINGS, HAVE WINGS, HAVE WINGS!

[XB70Playboy]

I'm surprised of all the engines they left running it was engine #4.. It should have been engine 3. They came much closer to having a Vmc incident by doing what they did. I was a little surprised when they shut down 1 and 2. Then 3? Surely we know a little better than that today. Aerodynamic knowledge increases exponentially every decade. It's really amazing. The captain must have been a B-24 or 17 pilot back in WWII. Very cool.

[SuperCubPA18]

They knew about VMC and P-factor! Why they did not feather 4, then 3, then 2, I do not know. They also had a bit of flap deployed to decrease the VMC. What I thought was cool/odd was the 3-point in the DC-3.

[man4mac]

best video I've seen in a good while

[82abnoff]

Oh well.

[DougRodrigues]

A cigarette commercial. VFR. No transponder. No approach control. No ATIS. Everything changed after the collision of two airliners over the Grand Canyon in about 1956, I believe. Interesting...my old Cessna had more modern navigation gear than this Connie. I did get to fly as passenger in a Super Connie in 1962. Noise level was louder than any other plane I ever flew in.

[82abnoff]

As an old investment guy, I knew Casey and Crandell at AA. I knew Borman with EA. I know about a DC10 and a L1011. What I did not know is how a human can be human.

[HRMOKeefe]

Dad flew for Eastern

in the 1970s Dick Merrill picked us up at Dulles in his Queen Air and flew us to Fredrickberg Shannon Airport for the Father's Day Fly in, he hand flew it all the way and stuck his altitudes +- 10 feet all the way

I bought this DVD on E bay a few years ago,

[ruiforuifo]

Fantastic!! Tks for sharing it!!

[eal1011]

Old days planes have three pilots very costly, now all planes have two due to advance technology and keep the cost down. Constellation was one of the very best planes. Sadly end of ERA when L-1011 ended the commercial market.

[anhacus]

Did you see the passengers? Why they seemed liked human beings. They were sitting quietly, thoughtfully, and maybe they were enjoying themselves, and not an ounce of hate in them. I remember those days.

[barthoedemaker]

@anhacus yeah I know bro, can't say of today's...

[lsnows]

@anhacus Yup. Those were days when you actually had to have some class to travel by plane! I still remember when people dressed up to fly. lol

[hoppes9]

@anhacus especially since they don't look like they're crammed in there like cattle.

[tpcrb]

The most forgotten man in television.

His custom DC3 was supposed to be really nice, off the hook inside.

Wonder what became of it?

[workforcetrust]

I wonder if a pilot nowadays would dare to fly an 4 engine aircraft on one engine only for commercial purpose. Eastern Airlines did. Good job Mr. Godfrey!

[HRMOKeefe]

Dont think they did that on a scheduled flight, but maybe!

[imallearsru]

Georgeous plane, a work of art. My favourite commercial plane of all time. She had such beautiful lines.

[kunery]

At least in the Connie you apparently got to choose how many engines you used. In the Boeing Stratocruiser (same era) it seemed to be a rare thing to have all four engines running at the same time!

An old saying about airplanes is "if it looks nice it'll fly nice." The Connie was a truly beautiful airplane, while the Stratocruiser looked as bad as it flew.

Thanks for super film!

[Mateo1796]

Gracias por este magnífico video. Es verdaderamente maravilloso.

Thank you for posting this beautiful video. It´s really really beautiful.Thank you very much Bomberguy.

[username334]

on one engine

[NewarkAce]

What an Air-O-Plane - Back in the day when when we made the entire plane here in the USA - From the fabric on the seats - the entire skin-wing-fusilage -- Not so today - The Boeing have Jap wings -- Yes those were the days

[wcstflyer]

Eddie Rickenbacker had Eastern Airlines most famous pilot (Dick Merrill) in the right seat to make sure Authur Godfrey didn't bend that 1049C Constellation. There seem to be a lot of inside jokes from the 1950's like the one about Chesterfield cigarettes and rival TV host Jack Paar.

[ringofstarrs]

I love you for posting this!

[oldtilter]

Just fill it up with ethyll Arthur..lol

[680F]

WOW! This makes me long for those days when commercial flying was so different.

You walked up to the airplane and climbed the portable stairway. You did not have to take your shoes off or going through metal detectors and you family and friends could walk you to the departure gate.

Today an airline CEO would be shot for allowing a celebrity in the left seat feathering three engines.

Also, very good explanation of the cockpit gage and omni range navigation; this was a lot of fun.

[fi5e]

Why do we have all that tremendous reserve of power? Cause my friend, power means safety!

hehe (7:53)

[slrman]

Very nice, indeed. For some reason, I think this may have been a fluff piece for Eastern Airlines and Chesterfield cigarettes. Why I think that, I can't say. LMAO!

Thanks for posting this. Great job.

[Andybucker]

I cannot imagine wearing a hat and the jacket in the cockpit. We usually remove even our ties...But this is not important. What a nostalgic video!!

[df20001]

If you had a camera aimed at you, you'd be in full uniform and on your best behavior, without a doubt. This seems to be a marketing fluff shoot for Eastern, so appearance was no doubt a primary directive.

[papac2815]

I was in the Army in the early 60's comming home from a tour of Thailand - I never will forget the Super Connie I flew in - 14 hops to LA - Saigon, Manila, Wake, Midway, Honolulu - and those engines sounded so powerful and when they released the brake and reved up the engines to full power for the take-off it really pushed you back into the seat - It was off the ground before it was halfway down the runway!!

[Andybucker]

That's true, it indeed feels like one is being pressed into the seat during the takeoff, with such airliners. It doesn't feel like this anymore with planes powered by turbofans.

[Klakoman]

I still believe that the Super Connie is the most beautiful airplane ever built. I recall flying as a passenger on a TWA Super Connie from St Louis to Los Angles. That was in 1951 when I was five years old and that began my life-long passion for flying.

The first part of the video had Eddy Rickenbacker who was America's top fighter pilot ace in World War One and also the then President of Eastern Airlines. Next to the parked Super Connie was his WWI SPAD VII type fighter plane.

[fordlandau]

what a guy that Arthur!..have a Chesterfield..and the cows give 100 octane milk ! a real man !!

thanks for this outstanding posting

[redravensounds]

That was incredible!!! My earliest memories are listening to Arthur Godfrey, he used to advertise graham crackers. I had NO idea that he was a pilot nor that he was type rated in the Connie. But then again, I was 4 or 5 years old! He definitely was acting as PIC, and he was handling the aircraft beautifully.

Mr. Godfrey's Navion was a beautiful aircraft too.

Again, thank you so, for the memories.

Cindy

[irish89055]

100 octane milk... i think they were in a simulator maybe.. but he prob was certified for the connie.. but this was puff piece by eddy rickenbackers boys..

[shirl328]

I remember the Authur Godfrey show, he was a nice fellow. I always enjoyed his T.V. show.

[russellcase]

Very impressive pro active flying video. I'm so surprised to find this today in 2007. Interestingly, he is truly promoting all types of air travel, public and private.

[sawallach]

"watch this"... two of the most feared words in aviation!

[EricFarewell]

Way too cool, thanks so much for sharing this!!

[jeanlouistulou]

Thank you so much for posting this gem!. In IBERIA, in the middle fifties, they used the Super G variation with the tip tanks and a superbe decoration. What a pity the jets came in too soon...

[Ericwm]

I flew NY to Amsterdam round-trip on the KLM Super Connie, first in 1953 as a six-month old baby, and then in 1959 when I was six. I still remember bits of the 1959 flight. The transatlantic flight time back then was 12-14 hours. They passed out chewing gum to help you pop your ears from the primitive cabin pressure system. I was born in 1953 and am proud to have flown in the Connie as a passenger as a kid...

[shnewsman]

I did some of my primary training at Leesburg Airport (now Leesburg Executive KJYO) in the early 70s. We used to see Godfrey all the time there. He wasn't in great health then but still flew his Baron. He was a natural pilot; great stick. It was a different time in the Connie days, for sure.

[ronaldavid]

That ancient pelican in the right seat is the famous Captain Dick Merrill who safely piloted a single engine Vultee VI in the first round-trip non-stop crossing of the North Atlantic in September of 1936. He made four R/Ts in all and kept the wings filled with ping pong balls for flotation in the event of an ocean landing. "Captain Dick" was Chief Pilot for EAL when this film was made. - Ron David

[cheetajet]

Look at the "Silver Falcon" 404....LOVE it...

[michaeluae]

What a gem, thanks for sharing this

[lowlevelpilot2000]

What a cool vid....cheers

[Lockbar]

God Damn! The co-pilot is old enough to be Wilber Wright!

[yopacific]

My favorite plane, the Super Connie. What a great time to be a passenger.

[sirchjustus]

It was also a great time to be an American...

[convaircrazy]

'Time for a Chesterfield'...wow :)

[bbxx44]

Thanks for posting this. It is great to be able to view this aviation history.

[fordroad]

Yes Sir many thanks for this posting a great view of the Connie. The view of the flight attendants and the gallery. Keep them comin partner.