Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation's C-54 "Spirit of Freedom" start up and take off from Hagerstown Regional Airport, Hagerstown, Maryland. September
My Father in Law flew in C-54's pretty much all over the Pacific during WW 2 and after. Loved the aircraft. He was a Master Navigator. I have many of the maps he used time and time again. Those maps are full of erasure marks of trips taken from Hawaii to far flung places that included Kwajalein, New Guinea,The Solomons and Japan. He brought US troops into Japan and brought out Allied POWS. Greatest Generation...
I hated working on the 54s in the Air Force. The radios were under the Cockpit floor. You had to crawl in through a hatch near the nose. Lay on your back and work off your right side. Then you had to pull the radio onto your stomach. Then pull your self out by your heels.
I was mechanic and flt. engineer on C-54's during the Korean War, 1950,51. Never a worry, loved the plane. Flew all over the Far East and in and out of Korea many times. Even North Korea once. TDY several times, Kimpo, Suwon, Taejon. Even remember the tail no. of my plane: 4272681. I'm 94 now. Wonder how many oil changes I have left. Don''t forget the Down Locks.
I have another funny story to add about C-54’s. My dad told me this one. He had an Army tour as an advisor to Saudi Arabia in ‘57/‘58. The Americans stationed there got mail, supplies, etc, delivered by USAF C-54’s flying out of Libya I think. No alcohol was allowed in Arabia at the time. And as soon as a C-54 landed, it was boarded and inspected by Saudi customs officials. But as soon as the doors opened, 4 airmen would jump out with fire extinguishers to stand by each engine. God forbid an engine ever caught fire. One extinguisher was filled with rum, one with vodka, one with whiskey and one with gin.
While the engines are sitting there idling.... I could almost play that in an audio loop for white noise while I sleep...it is so relaxing for some reason(to me).
My mother, sister and I flew from La Guardia to Rhein Main in 1960 on a military chart flight. We landed at Keflavik Air Base in Iceland to refuel . We landed in the dark so I didn’t see any of Iceland except the transient terminal. We landed again in Shannon, Ireland for more fuel. I’m guessing we have very unfavorable winds requiring 2 refueling stops. Finally into Rhein Main. I was also fortunate, although completely unaware of the significance (I was 6 at the time), of flying on a TWA Super Connie coming back from Germany in 1954. I’m so glad a few of these iconic aircraft are still flying .
There's something magical about the sound of the radial piston aircraft. Because I'm near the Yankee Air Museum, I see the Yankee Lady in flight occasionally, and always stop what I'm doing to admire her.
This reminds so much of childhood. Taking dad to Wright Patterson AFB to catch a flight out. I those days if you were civil service, you could fly military.
My Father in Law flew in C-54's pretty much all over the Pacific during WW 2 and after. Loved the aircraft. He was a Master Navigator. I have many of the maps he used time and time again. Those maps are full of erasure marks of trips taken from Hawaii to far flung places that included Kwajalein, New Guinea,The Solomons and Japan. He brought US troops into Japan and brought out Allied POWS. Greatest Generation...
I hated working on the 54s in the Air Force. The radios were under the Cockpit floor. You had to crawl in through a hatch near the nose. Lay on your back and work off your right side. Then you had to pull the radio onto your stomach. Then pull your self out by your heels.
Bravo, no crappy music dubbed over those wonderful Pratt and whitney's. Well done
Love the sound of four radial engines.
I was mechanic and flt. engineer on C-54's during the Korean War, 1950,51. Never a worry, loved the plane. Flew all over the Far East and in and out of Korea many times. Even North Korea once. TDY several times, Kimpo, Suwon, Taejon. Even remember the tail no. of my plane: 4272681. I'm 94 now. Wonder how many oil changes I have left. Don''t forget the Down Locks.
Dang nabbit.....i was born 75 years to late! what sounds and smells( was at Osh this year)... gas oil and music...
God those Pratt & Whitney radials. No sound like it in the world. Absolutely mechanical music.Thank you for posting this!
I dread the day the radial engined aircraft sing no more.
I worked C 54 C 118 C 124 C231 while in the Air Force. These are real planes that worked hard .
I have another funny story to add about C-54’s. My dad told me this one. He had an Army tour as an advisor to Saudi Arabia in ‘57/‘58. The Americans stationed there got mail, supplies, etc, delivered by USAF C-54’s flying out of Libya I think. No alcohol was allowed in Arabia at the time. And as soon as a C-54 landed, it was boarded and inspected by Saudi customs officials. But as soon as the doors opened, 4 airmen would jump out with fire extinguishers to stand by each engine. God forbid an engine ever caught fire. One extinguisher was filled with rum, one with vodka, one with whiskey and one with gin.
Exceptionally well filmed and no music......just the music of the engines!
7:12
While the engines are sitting there idling.... I could almost play that in an audio loop for white noise while I sleep...it is so relaxing for some reason(to me).
Man that sounds good.
Lovely to hear these amazing old aircraft that moved the way for modern passenger flights.
That C-54 is an awesome looking craft. Perfect lines everywhere. Everything in proportion. Very nice. Thankyou.
My mother, sister and I flew from La Guardia to Rhein Main in 1960 on a military chart flight. We landed at Keflavik Air Base in Iceland to refuel . We landed in the dark so I didn’t see any of Iceland except the transient terminal. We landed again in Shannon, Ireland for more fuel. I’m guessing we have very unfavorable winds requiring 2 refueling stops. Finally into Rhein Main. I was also fortunate, although completely unaware of the significance (I was 6 at the time), of flying on a TWA Super Connie coming back from Germany in 1954. I’m so glad a few of these iconic aircraft are still flying .
There's something magical about the sound of the radial piston aircraft. Because I'm near the Yankee Air Museum, I see the Yankee Lady in flight occasionally, and always stop what I'm doing to admire her.
Nothing like the sound of smokey old radials coming to life.
This reminds so much of childhood. Taking dad to Wright Patterson AFB to catch a flight out. I those days if you were civil service, you could fly military.