Flying aboard the Lockheed Constellation part 1

An interesting look at Connie flight operations, particularly the intensive maintenance required. Confidence inspiring? Judge for yourself

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• aviation
• history
• Super
• constellation
• lockheed
• twa

[divisioneight]

What a difference then: folks flew dressed respectably, not in their pajamas. Folks had leg room, and did not have to have their knees jammed for three hours in "coach". The food was a meal served to you, not a bag of chips tossed to you across two seats. The folks acted in a courteous and decent manner, not like overgrown children with earphones turned up to an annoying buzz. There was conversation in lieu of complaining and the flight there was the event, not merely the way to get there.

[manhoot]

I agree. Goes to show how spoiled and demanding we are today. Now I see the flip flop crowd buzzing away on their blackberries, bitching, looking like they just rolled out of bed. Some stink. Others are so "put out" with a gee whiz attitude towards a wondrous event.

Suffice it to say, I don't enjoy flying not because of the plane, but because of the people.

[pretjim2011]

@dutchgoing

Very true. Back in the 1950's a return ticket from Europe to Australia was the price of a 3-bedroom house! Jet powered aircraft were so much more efficient that in the 1960s there was a massive explosion(no pun intended) of package tours from the UK to the Mediterranean. The prices were so low that it was cheaper to go for 2 weeks in Spain all inclusive, than a week in Blackpool. Made international travel a no-brainer after that. Now a holiday abroad is considered the norm in the UK

[pretjim2011]

Wonderful to fly in and very comfortable. As a young lad, I was even allowed to fly one for 5 minutes over the Mediterranean - surprisingly heavy controls, pilots must have needed muscles as well as brains back then. When you flew with KLM you were given souvenir gifts of silver (plated!) key rings, wine bottle stoppers and, believe it or not, small plated double-bladed penknives embossed with the KLM logo! Obviously no fear of terrorists back in the good old days of flying!

[reneecalling]

I wonder if airlines have their planes under the same rigid standards today?

[Blanchefort2]

Total coolness. I remember my first flight as a nine year old way back in 1973. In economy claas we could choose between a fishmeal and a meatmeal for lunch. Nowadays they sell you some instant soup and a dry sandwich.

[dutchgoing]

@divisioneight And hardly anybody could afford to fly.

[mlynch001]

Kelly Johnson was a genius!

[MerleOberon]

@ImperialRetrovision Yes, all true, there weren't even bathrooms then, because no one needed them....

[MrRonnieG]

All one needs to do is look at the circumstances surrounding AA191 to know that forklifts around airplanes is not a good idea.

[johneddy98033]

@flygweilo, did BOAC operation the Constellation? If so, which versions did they use?

[dpvisser]

So nice to see a video of flying back in the hey-day, when it was a pleasure and a privilege to fly. I still cringe when I get on a plane and I see how people dress: overly baggy clothing that is hanging on their knees, men in women's lingerie, scruffy shorts and dirty sandals. I'm glad I was still able to take part in those days as a young child. Now...I don't care which airline you are with, you are treated as livestock and all you want to do is get the hell off the plane safely.