The Constellation

[D2Cat]

A bit of aviation history.

 

[dlsmith]

The most beautiful four engine aircraft ever built.
I got a ride in one at an airshow in 1974, I believe it was.
I'll never forget that ride.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

nice... REAl planes have PROPS on their engines !!!!

 

[fried1765]

A bit of aviation history.

A wonderful old airplane!
Of my 30,000+ hours pilot time, just under 2,000 hours were in the US Navy Super Connie.
IMHO the most elegant large transport style airplane ever built.
Ours had large radomes top and bottom, and wing tip tanks, but were still very majestic looking aircraft.
Flew one for 15+45, .... but that was not even near the Connie record.

 

[D2Cat]

A wonderful old airplane!
Of my 30,000+ hours pilot time, just under 2,000 hours were in the US Navy Super Connie.
IMHO the most elegant large transport style airplane ever built.
Ours had large radomes top and bottom, but were still very majestic looking aircraft.

If you read the comments after the video you'll many folks agree, most well designed, beautiful aircraft.

 

[Flintknapper]

It is without a doubt a beautiful aircraft. One of those rare instances where 'form' is as pleasing as the 'function'.

 

[Lil Foot]

Gorgeous airplane, Thanks for posting!

 

[fried1765]

If you read the comments after the video you'll many folks agree, most well designed, beautiful aircraft.

Howard Hughes loved beautiful airplanes and beautiful women.
Hughes bought a total of 146 Connies for TWA, but they began operating only a relatively short time before the Boeing 707, Convair 880, and Douglas DC-8 arrived on the airline scene.
The Connie was a magnificent airplane, but a particularly poorly timed business decision for TWA.

 

[JeffL]

When I was very young my dad was stationed in Okinawa prob '58-'59 and returned 18 months later. Our travel was by Constellation, we called it a C-121, The trip went from SF Cal to Hawaii to refuel, to Wake Island to refuel then on to Okinawa. 36 hour flight time. I will never forget the sound of the four engines/props. I have loved engines ever sense. So much so I made engines my career.