Lockheed Constellation "Connie" takeoff and flight

Howard Hughes commissioned, but did not design, the Constellation. That job fell to Kelly Johnson, who also designed the SR-71A Blackbird, the F-104, the P-38, etc. At times Hughes admitted he didn't design the plane, but he wasn't above accepting credit for it, either.

This was a privately owned plane out of Marana, Arizona. Sadly, the airframe ran out of hours and the plane is now a gate guard at an airport in South Korea

The nose landing gear seems a little discomforting to see!

I didn't know there were still any MATS around let alone SuperConnie in that good of shape! Keep em flying!

Great big band sound! Who is that?

The music was great but out of place. The only music should have been made by those 4 massive radials. How can you love props and blank out the sound of the engines with a band?

Normally, I hate the music of youtube video's. But this video with this music is great. Reminded me of hanging out with my dads WWII Lockheed friends back in the early 70's. My dad worked on these back in the 40's/50's at Lockheed in Burbank. Use to talk trash about all his Douglas friends in Long Beach.

I want th hear the engines and not the music!

The DC-3 was just a dolled up utilitarian cargo plane. The Constellation was made to be appealing to the senses. I never appreciated the impact the Constellation had on aviation specifically and possibly the imagination of returned soldiers and the general population of the era. When one puts it all in to perspective they start to realize the significance of style the Constellation inspired.

I saw The Aviator and have to wonder how much influence did Howard Hughes really have on the Connie, compared with how it was portrayed in the movie. That plane is really something, it has a unique style and class and it can stand on its own without any fan fare. But you definitely captured an essence there with this video and the music. It says alot about the era and what they may have been thinking when passengers first laid their eyes on that beautiful bird waiting for them on the tarmac.