High Flight recited by William Conrad

[bumblewick]

Interesting sidelight: William Conrad, the narrator flew an F4U Corsair during WWII.

[ShogoYahaagi]

The first portion of this used to be used as a TV sign off sometime during the late 70's or early 80's in Washington DC. I was always mesmerized by this, it always seemed so true and dream fulfilled. I never tired of listening to it.

Thank you for posting this.

[CraZySaVaUnT]

Truely one of the best narrations of that poem, High Flight. Aviation is my life long passion and just reading the poem gives me goose bumps and an awesome feeling. thankyou for posting this vid

[tertommy]

too kool!! 

[framed30]

this is what contrails should look like

[kapitancom]

nadherne..

[LateNightCable]

Beautiful film. Those who take issue with a bomber accompanying an inspiring poem, should take note that the B-36 never bombed a single thing, but it did deter conflict. In essence, fulfilling it's name and purpose : Peacemaker.

[rachiefoot]

My Daddy flew on this plane 5734 awesome to see this footage especially since I lost my Daddy in 2009. Thank you for posting it!!!

[rachiefoot]

My Daddy flew on this plane 5734 awesome to see this footage especially since I lost my Daddy in 2009. Thank you for posting it!!!

[captmark97]

William Conrad was a fighter pilot In World War II when he was still able to squeeze into the cockpit of an F-51 (Mustang). He was inspired to fly under the Golden Gate bridge, which was quite the fighter pilot thing to do in those days. But some one got his tail number so he was grounded and never went overseas to combat the Bad Guys. Can any of you William Conrad bashers match that?

[edbdiver]

The film footage and original music at the end are from the Jinny Stewrt film "Strategic Air Command". As an old SAC crewman, it's one of my favorites, if just for the aerial footage.

[mesquiteguy1221]

@edbdiver THANKS I thought I recognized the music. Not a bad video but was dissapointed with the A/C used in the video. But then it works because of the ending music

[AddieStarr]

brings back childhood memories of watching tv late into the night. I actually looked forward to this. :)

[Taimak77]

What was the initial background music? Before the 1930's style, violin concert.

[moparfury4]

No wonder it was called "Magnesium Overcast". One big sucker.

[bgibb101]

Conrad was a WW2 fighter pilot, so this was of personal interest to him also.

Rest in peace, Frank Cannon.

[Ojimy47]

The notion that William Conrad has done "a hundred things I have not dreamed" in the cockpit of an airplane I might have to fly the next day kind of turns my stomach...

[UTSCoachKen]

Thank you for posting this !

(Narrator sounds like Orsen Wells.)

[Ropponmatsu2]

"....And touched the face of god...."

....Brought to you by Gillette Razors.

[SaintVacuum]

Only William Conrad could make something so beautiful sound so cheesy.

[moseleysl]

This was well done. I grew up in Fort Worth, and one of the most vivid memories of my childhood is watching a squadron of B6s flying over the house low. The earth shook. We would hear them coming from miles away, and all the kids in the neighborhood would start the chant, B36! B36! B36! I wish Strategic Air Command would come out in DVD. Thanks for posting this video!

[fassstEddie]

I lived in Ft. Worth as a child, 1948-1950. My father worked at the Consolidated Vultee plant where they made the B-36. But I never saw one fly because we lived so far from Carsell AFB. I went to S. Ft. Worth , BH Carrol, and East Van Zandt Elementary schools. Our first house was near Seminary Hill, two blocks from Rosemont Park on Stanley Av. Fond memories of Ft. Worth in those two years.

[NVanWendy]

Nicely assembled. Can anyone answer a question about this aircraft that I've often wondered about:

Why the pusher engines? I can't think of another plane since the 30's that used them.

[AVhistorybuff]

Design specs called for extremely long range and very heavy loads. It was determined that a pusher configuration would result in minimal turbulence over the wings and thus less drag and more lift.

[NVanWendy]

That makes sense in an intuitive way (which is all I can say as a non-aeronautical-engineer type)! I wonder why it wasn't used on other prop planes since. If it helps with heavy lift, long range applications, why not use the idea on planes like Galaxys or Globemasters?

[HunterR909]

@AVhistorybuff You got this footage from the movie " Strategic Air Command " Starring Jimmy Stewart. and as for the reason for the six pusher Turboprops, and the outboard engines, it was all for speed and lift, Remember ths Bomber was a product of the 1950s the B36H Peacemaker.

[picguy145]

well..i think without the pushers it could only go about 230knots top speed. With the pushers it could go about 430knots for brief bursts. maybe this will help.

[KENZ51]

There are several Pusher Prop aircraft in use today. Many are Canard Wing aircraft such as the Long EZ, Velocity, one that has since been shut down is the Starship one. many others too.

[NVanWendy]

Quite right, of course, KENZ. I was thinking of big planes, I guess, and wondering why, if this idea about lower turbulence was correct, no other multis were pushers. I'm sure there's some good aero engineer-type answer out there.

[KENZ51]

ok, I know what ya mean! A few years ago I recall Mcdonnell Douglas trying it on a few MD 80's, One problem with it though is that when Maint. Techs. have to tweak stuff like fuel control units at Takeoff Power! Not a good idea! lol !

[ancientastronomer]

I seem to recall a conversation from years ago with an Engineer regarding this very problem with the B-36. It seems to me that he explained the primary problem as "Cooling". They just could'nt seem to maintain enough Air-Flow around the Engines. @ High Altitudes, Air was cold but thin. Whereas @ Low Altitudes, Air was dense, but warm. I am not saying that this was the final word on the subject. Only that this is what I seem to recall from a conversation from 20 or so Yrs. ago.

[NVanWendy]

@ancientastronomer Wow! A reply to an 8-month-old post! You have inspired me to do some research, 'cause I have a bad cold and little else to do!

I'll be back.

[NVanWendy]

@ancientastronomer Back already. It seems keeping a nice smooth airflow over the (up to 7.5 foot thick) wings, thereby maximizing lift, was the key. Probably a special consideration when toting nukes at over 50,000 feet. To quote an article:

This unusual configuration prevented propeller turbulence from interfering with airflow over the wing, but also lead to chronic engine-overheating due to insufficient airflow around the engines, resulting in numerous in-flight engine fires.

[pubmasterj]

@NVanWendy TYhe aircraft is a Convair B-36Peacemaker Bomber First flown Aug 8, 1946 and retired Feb 12, 1959

[Seesfar1]

@NVanWendy ,

They used pusher engines first B-36D, then they put the jet engines later on the B-36H. My parents helped build these The D Models which took 24 hours each, Pretty fast for something that huge.

[mrutsne]

This video combines the splendor of the B-36, the beauty of the poem, "High Flight", and the artistry of William Conrad. On a personal note, as a former crew member on this magnificent aircraft, memories surface reminding me of the opportunity afforded a 20 year old in the early 50's for which I am thankful to this day.

[Waltma]

This is one of the most affecting readings of the poem I have ever heard, and the visual is inspiring. As a survivor of almost four years as a mechanic servicing this type of aircraft from Carswell AFB during the first half of the 1950s, it brought back a thousand memories.