When I went to work on the B1 program at North American in 1981, I worked with people who started there on the F100 program. I stayed after work every day for at least an hour, trying to keep my mouth shut, listening to the old timers talk shop. What I learned from them was priceless. What happens at Chino, and other places around the world, is keeping the skills and artistry of past generations alive in the present day. It would be great to see someone in their twenties working alongside the “old timers” on these projects. Thanks for the great video. Thanks to everyone associated with the aircraft at Chino, awesome place.
Connies were the most beautiful piston age airliner ever built. It looks like this one will be better than new in many aspects, and not as complex to manage as compared to the original. I can't wait to see it back where it belongs... the sky.
Carl Scholl, Steve Hinton and Kermit Weeks all together. Fantasy of Flight is correct, Kermit and you are fulfilling the Fantasy of a bunch of Warbird enthusiasts with this video. Thank You. Thank You, Thank You. Oshkosh or Bust!
For about a year Connies were flying a scheduled route into KIPT. I had the pleasure of watching them drone in and out for a while. I never was up in one but marveled at the smoky start ups and takeoffs. My first ride was a trip to KPHL in a DC-3 and I have a photo of my Sister and me standing on the rear stairs as we boarded in 1955. After that I was hooked.
Magnificent ! The Connie is THE most Beautiful of the big prop liners. I grew up in the 1960's about 3 miles from Burbank Airport, (everybody called it Lockheed) and loved watching the Connie's, Flying Tiger DC4's & DC6's, even the PSA Lockheed Electra's. Man, what a time!
Loved the picture of the way the original cockpit looked. This was the first 4 engine plane I "flew" 75 years ago. I still remember the experience of turning the yoke gently to the right, leveling off, and then back to the left (of course I was sitting in my father's lap). Good thing all the passengers didn't know a 4-year-old was making those slight course corrections.
I saw the Connie sitting on the corner near the B-17 with the tail off wrapped in plastic and stopped to talk to the guy taking panels off and thought it would never fly again, wow was I wrong, the amount of work that went into that boggles the mind.
Back in the 80s I used to be a copilot on C-46 flying cargo through the Caribbean, with a company called AMSA , we used to have a Connie , I got to flight in it , one of the most memorable experience in my life, also a big operator of Connies at the time was AEROCHAGO , I got to flit on those too , our base was in the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. Love to see someone working on one of the most beautiful airplanes ever made.
Chapeau bas , j'admire que des passionnés se défoncent pour redonner vie à ces legendes volantes d'une autre époque. Le B24 qui est massif au sol , mais hautement efficace en l'air , le magnifique constellation de la Lufthansa , ce doit être un 1649 ? Le A26 Invader et probablement le B25 . Je suis impressionné ! Merci à vous ! Bonne continuation et prenez grand soin de ces joyaux ce sont des pieces uniques , c'est notre patrimoine à tous .😮😮😮
I stopped by the museum in Valle on my way back from the Grand Canyon about 15 years ago. Went through this bird, was sad that it was just rotting outside in the Arizona sun. So glad to see it being so well restored to fly again.
OMG!! My mouth hung open during that entire tour. Unbelievable the attention to detail and craftsmanship is stunning. Thanks Kermit for showing off the most beautiful airliner ever made.
The most beautiful commercial plane after the Concorde. I flew on one from Belem, Brazil to Miami in 1961. I was 11. I would love to hear those incredible engines roar again up close. Good luck with your project!
I was able to fly on a Air Force Connie from California to Hawaii in 1960 when my father was resigned to Hickam AFB. I was 12 year's old and it has always been one of my favorite aircraft. Thank you for the tour.
Former President Dwight Eisenhower's Constellation is 15 minutes away from my house at Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, Virginia. It is being restored to its original glory for public viewing. The one in this video certainly looks nice. I remember seeing them on the ground at major airports here on the east coast as a child flying around in my dad's 1958 J-35 Beech Bonanza.
This plane was at the aviation museum at Ft. Rucker, Alabama for many years. In the early 70s we as teens used to get on board and hangout in it. It was sitting outside with easy access and not much security. It was great watching this video and brought back many memories of an iconic plane. I actually flew on one of these Constellation TWA planes to Okinawa in 1961. My dad was being sent to Vietnam while our family had to live on base in Okinawa. We flew to Honolulu and then a fuel stop at Wake Island on the way to Okinawa.
Was very fortunate to fly in the MATS connie when it did it’s uk tour back in 98. Remember bashing through the cloud tops standing between the pilot and co pilot, happy times! Stunning aeroplane!
Thank all of you for keeping these old birds flying. Kelly Johnson did a wonderful job designing that thing, it would be a shame to see it go away. It is oh so beautiful! The Connie and the Lanc are my favorites for four engine jobs and it is so satisfying to see them still flying!
that has got to be the most elegant plane i've ever seen. you never see the cockpit match the exterior design, somehow this one does. so if i got it right, rod lewis bought this from them and then payed them to restore it. good on all of them. i can't wait to see this fly. the quality of the restoration of something of this magnitude blows my mind. every component looks brand new.
There were EC-121s at Hanscom Field and Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts and I saw them fly overhead almost every day back in the 50s. I never thoughts there'd be a time when there was only a couple left in existence.
I live in Kingman, AZ. One never knows what may show up here at the airport, so my 10X50s are right handy. It has been years but I put my quick response to the test one November when I heard the sound of a multi engine radial aircraft in the distance. I was thrilled to see a Connie in the distance. I assumed it would land here but alas, no joy. It was another two years before I read the story of the what and where of that flight. I SAW Y'ALL!!
What a project, can't wait to see it finished.This has got to be one of the sexiest airliner aircraft ever designed, with the exception of Concord of course 👍👍👍
What a great group of classics, a Connie, Kermit and Steve. I met Kermit in Kalamazoo Mi and Steve in Tucson Az years ago. Great video, keep them coming please
Being able to see priceless aircraft up close is one thing. The thing I love most about your channel is the little tidbits and factoids about some of these aircraft I would never see otherwise. One of my favorite series was your visit to Vintage V12s. I really enjoy the nuts and bolts of it all.
Man does that bring back memories! I had almost 1900 hours in "Willy Victors" back the early '60's. Vw 2 in Newfoundland. When there and just before I left we upgraded to R3350's -42 with 150 more HP. The last one I flew in was 145940 the next to the last "CONNIE" made. Thanks for the memories.
I flew on one when I was a kid. I will never forget looking down and seeing the towns and cars go by. We were low enough to see a lot of detail. So COOL!
So many years of reading about what you folks have been up to, to now being able to look over your shoulder at that beautiful restoration work! Thanks so much for presenting it!
In 1986 or so I was getting my private pilot license at Long Beach, California. One day I was flying solo in a Piper Warrior doing slow turns around a point and using the Long Beach breakwall as my reference. As I made a turn to the left all the sudden I see this huge shiny plane above me coming in my direction. It was the Constellation that was being rebuilt at the Long Beach Airport by Lockheed employees. Pretty awesome!
Thank you for posting this great video. Nice to see this project. Finally a Connie will fly again. After Lufthansa‘s desaster and termination of their project, the Swiss (Breitling) one grounded it is great to see one getting ready to fly again. Thanks again!
Just a note to say how much I enjoy your channel........Very interesting contents of all kinds of aircraft and how you've got to fly most of them........Kudos to you Kermit.....
Pride spilling over! I drove by the Connie at Flight just days ago and noticed activity on it. My spirit is lifted every time I see your videos Kermit.
Thanks for another great video Kermit. What an honor to see that Connie. And McArthur’s at that. These Connie’s touch my heart. What an aircraft. It was a pleasure to see it. Getting close to seeing it do its magic, fly. Just wonderful. Thanks so much Kermit. Retired Air Force veteran.
I have the original airplane radio from that plane. My dad was a flight engineer on that plane when they decommissioned it. He got the radio out of it and talked all over the world for years. He always wanted it to go back to the airplane or to a museum. I’m trying to find somebody to take it. You have done amazing work on that plane. Thank you for sharing.
Well ! How exciting is that ! And 3 legends under one roof ! The total commitment to get this 4 engined beauty back where she belongs is staggering and the fuel consumption is trivial compared to the money pit these aircraft cost to restore . I guess you really came to see your B26 .......Thanks Kermit
Talking about a legendary aircraft owned by the legendary Rod Lewis…watching a tour with two other legend..Steven Hinton and Kermit Weeks..good start of the weekend.
It's a shame how few are left considering how much they were a part of the heartbeat of air transportation in that bygone era when props ruled the commercial airways.
When I was but a pup, my dad, a WWII vet, used to take me to a local airport, outdoor second floor observation area, when the Connies came and went, in the midwest. They were spectacular as far as looks and sound... always made me think they were nearly ready to just leap off those tall struts straight into the air. Best times were early evening, watching them fire up, flames shooting over/under the wings as they taxied out to the runway. Then the whole show, as if someone called lights, action, camera! Permanently burned into my memory. He'd take me to Krispy Kreme after for some donuts!
Maurice gave myself and three bicycle riding brothers a tour in Auburn around 2010, his lovely wife engaged us staring through the fence surrounding the plane and asked if we would like a tour. A day we haven't forgotten!
When I went to work on the B1 program at North American in 1981, I worked with people who started there on the F100 program. I stayed after work every day for at least an hour, trying to keep my mouth shut, listening to the old timers talk shop. What I learned from them was priceless.
What happens at Chino, and other places around the world, is keeping the skills and artistry of past generations alive in the present day. It would be great to see someone in their twenties working alongside the “old timers” on these projects.
Thanks for the great video. Thanks to everyone associated with the aircraft at Chino, awesome place.
Connies were the most beautiful piston age airliner ever built. It looks like this one will be better than new in many aspects, and not as complex to manage as compared to the original. I can't wait to see it back where it belongs... the sky.
COOL to the MAX Kermit.... and Thank You Steve, lot's of History would be lost without "Planes-of-Fame" 🤗👍👍👍.
Most beautiful airplane that was ever built. I got to flying in one in 1968 I was six years old.
That Connie is already gorgeous. Can't wait to see the finished product!
Carl Scholl, Steve Hinton and Kermit Weeks all together. Fantasy of Flight is correct, Kermit and you are fulfilling the Fantasy of a bunch of Warbird enthusiasts with this video. Thank You. Thank You, Thank You. Oshkosh or Bust!
For about a year Connies were flying a scheduled route into KIPT. I had the pleasure of watching them drone in and out for a while. I never was up in one but marveled at the smoky start ups and takeoffs. My first ride was a trip to KPHL in a DC-3 and I have a photo of my Sister and me standing on the rear stairs as we boarded in 1955. After that I was hooked.
Magnificent ! The Connie is THE most Beautiful of the big prop liners.
I grew up in the 1960's about 3 miles from Burbank Airport, (everybody called it Lockheed) and loved watching the Connie's, Flying Tiger DC4's & DC6's, even the PSA Lockheed Electra's. Man, what a time!
Loved the picture of the way the original cockpit looked. This was the first 4 engine plane I "flew" 75 years ago.
I still remember the experience of turning the yoke gently to the right, leveling off, and then back to the left (of course I was sitting in my father's lap). Good thing all the passengers didn't know a 4-year-old was making those slight course corrections.
The Connie was the first airliner I ever flew in as a child. Beautiful airliner. Nothing prettier.
I saw the Connie sitting on the corner near the B-17 with the tail off wrapped in plastic and stopped to talk to the guy taking panels off and thought it would never fly again, wow was I wrong, the amount of work that went into that boggles the mind.
Thanks Kermit for the tour of the mighty Lockheed Constellation.....
Shoe🇺🇸
The work they are putting into this plane is breathtaking! Absolutely stunning! Such a gorgeous airplane!
Back in the 80s I used to be a copilot on C-46 flying cargo through the Caribbean, with a company called AMSA , we used to have a Connie , I got to flight in it , one of the most memorable experience in my life, also a big operator of Connies at the time was AEROCHAGO , I got to flit on those too , our base was in the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. Love to see someone working on one of the most beautiful airplanes ever made.
WOW. This is amazing! A private tour with Steve Hinton? Are you kidding me?!! Thanks again for making these.
Steve so nearly bought it at Reno , in the Red Baron...... lucky he's still around, such a legend.
Steve is just a unending Fountain of knowledge 👍🏻🙂👍🏻
Chapeau bas , j'admire que des passionnés se défoncent pour redonner vie à ces legendes volantes d'une autre époque.
Le B24 qui est massif au sol , mais hautement efficace en l'air , le magnifique constellation de la Lufthansa , ce doit être un 1649 ?
Le A26 Invader et probablement le B25 .
Je suis impressionné !
Merci à vous !
Bonne continuation et prenez grand soin de ces joyaux ce sont des pieces uniques , c'est notre patrimoine à tous .😮😮😮
Kermit and Steve doing a walk round a Connie, what a treat!
Steve.
I remember seeing the Connie in Valle, Az. What a beautiful project. Love Kermie Cam!
I stopped by the museum in Valle on my way back from the Grand Canyon about 15 years ago. Went through this bird, was sad that it was just rotting outside in the Arizona sun. So glad to see it being so well restored to fly again.
OMG!! My mouth hung open during that entire tour. Unbelievable the attention to detail and craftsmanship is stunning. Thanks Kermit for showing off the most beautiful airliner ever made.
The most beautiful commercial plane after the Concorde. I flew on one from Belem, Brazil to Miami in 1961. I was 11. I would love to hear those incredible engines roar again up close. Good luck with your project!
My first flight when I was four years old was on Constellation in Delta Airlines livery. Wonderful memories, and more coming. Thank you.
I was able to fly on a Air Force Connie from California to Hawaii in 1960 when my father was resigned to Hickam AFB. I was 12 year's old and it has always been one of my favorite aircraft. Thank you for the tour.
Thank you, Kermit, for updating us Connie Lovers on the Bataan project! Gotta save as many Connies as possible! 👏💖👍👍
Former President Dwight Eisenhower's Constellation is 15 minutes away from my house at Dynamic Aviation in Bridgewater, Virginia. It is being restored to its original glory for public viewing.
The one in this video certainly looks nice. I remember seeing them on the ground at major airports here on the east coast as a child flying around in my dad's 1958 J-35 Beech Bonanza.
The intent is to fly this plane again also, but from what I have heard not much is happening. Lack of money.
That is not a refurb, that is a reconstruction! Absolutely Beautiful! I want to see this bird fly!
I love flying, love aviation and love this channel. Thanks Kermit for keeping us enthused!
This plane was at the aviation museum at Ft. Rucker, Alabama for many years. In the early 70s we as teens used to get on board and hangout in it. It was sitting outside with easy access and not much security. It was great watching this video and brought back many memories of an iconic plane. I actually flew on one of these Constellation TWA planes to Okinawa in 1961. My dad was being sent to Vietnam while our family had to live on base in Okinawa. We flew to Honolulu and then a fuel stop at Wake Island on the way to Okinawa.
Great that another one will soon fly again! Thanks for this, Kermit.
What a wonderful job that they are doing on a very Historical Aircraft. Thank You Mr. Kermit,
another Great Video. 🙃
Kermit, you rock! What great planes you bring to us.
Was very fortunate to fly in the MATS connie when it did it’s uk tour back in 98. Remember bashing through the cloud tops standing between the pilot and co pilot, happy times! Stunning aeroplane!
What happened to MATS Connie
It’s grounded and sat outside in South Korea, it’s rather sad.
@@jonhiggins504 thought she was in the US
Thank all of you for keeping these old birds flying. Kelly Johnson did a wonderful job designing that thing, it would be a shame to see it go away. It is oh so beautiful! The Connie and the Lanc are my favorites for four engine jobs and it is so satisfying to see them still flying!
Thanks for the tour Kermit. And thanks for the intro to Mr Hinton without his test pilot gear on.
Mesmerizing and what a time machine to another era. She was and is a super model.
that has got to be the most elegant plane i've ever seen. you never see the cockpit match the exterior design, somehow this one does. so if i got it right, rod lewis bought this from them and then payed them to restore it. good on all of them. i can't wait to see this fly. the quality of the restoration of something of this magnitude blows my mind. every component looks brand new.
There were EC-121s at Hanscom Field and Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts and I saw them fly overhead almost every day back in the 50s. I never thoughts there'd be a time when there was only a couple left in existence.
Who need's a Lear Jet when you can have a Connie. What a beautiful resto, she's going perform as good as she looks. Thanks for sharing Mr. Weeks.
I live in Kingman, AZ. One never knows what may show up here at the airport, so my 10X50s are right handy. It has been years but I put my quick response to the test one November when I heard the sound of a multi engine radial aircraft in the distance. I was thrilled to see a Connie in the distance. I assumed it would land here but alas, no joy. It was another two years before I read the story of the what and where of that flight. I SAW Y'ALL!!
What a project, can't wait to see it finished.This has got to be one of the sexiest airliner aircraft ever designed, with the exception of Concord of course 👍👍👍
THE most elegant and beautiful airliner ever made! ❤️
The Constellation a thing of beauty !!!
What a great group of classics, a Connie, Kermit and Steve. I met Kermit in Kalamazoo Mi and Steve in Tucson Az years ago. Great video, keep them coming please
Absolutely gorgeous
Being able to see priceless aircraft up close is one thing. The thing I love most about your channel is the little tidbits and factoids about some of these aircraft I would never see otherwise. One of my favorite series was your visit to Vintage V12s. I really enjoy the nuts and bolts of it all.
Fun to hear that Mark Magin put some cameras in it. Love working with him.
Man does that bring back memories! I had almost 1900 hours in "Willy Victors" back the early '60's. Vw 2 in Newfoundland. When there and just before I left we upgraded to R3350's -42 with 150 more HP. The last one I flew in was 145940 the next to the last "CONNIE" made. Thanks for the memories.
I’m so excited to see a Connie being restored! My dad flew these for Tigers in the 60s.
Man, this will be great to see in the air again.
So glad that Steve is saving this beautiful and historic plane. Cant wait to see it fly after the resto.
I flew on one when I was a kid. I will never forget looking down and seeing the towns and cars go by. We were low enough to see a lot of detail. So COOL!
So many years of reading about what you folks have been up to, to now being able to look over your shoulder at that beautiful restoration work! Thanks so much for presenting it!
In 1986 or so I was getting my private pilot license at Long Beach, California. One day I was flying solo in a Piper Warrior doing slow turns around a point and using the Long Beach breakwall as my reference. As I made a turn to the left all the sudden I see this huge shiny plane above me coming in my direction. It was the Constellation that was being rebuilt at the Long Beach Airport by Lockheed employees. Pretty awesome!
I'm not a big aviation geek but its great these old birds are being saved! Love the channel too.=)
Ohh keep watching..before you know it you will be a geek too 😂🎉!
prettiest airplane ever. this is joyous to see.
Thank you for posting this great video. Nice to see this project. Finally a Connie will fly again. After Lufthansa‘s desaster and termination of their project, the Swiss (Breitling) one grounded it is great to see one getting ready to fly again. Thanks again!
There is one flying in Australia
@@sg-yq8pm Thank you for the information!
Does anyone remember Steve when he did Roaring Glory Warbirds ? Man that was a great series!! That Constellation is a beautiful plane.
Glad to see another Connie will be in the sky soon. We're lucky enough to have one flying here in OZ.
What an amazing aircraft. I could only dream of flying in one of these. Thanks for sharing.
Sharing this vid with our Connie Crew VH-EAG 🇦🇺
My dad almost certainly helped build the original VH-EAG at Lockheed in the early Fifties.
@@dalecomer5951 Lucky guy.
Just a note to say how much I enjoy your channel........Very interesting contents of all kinds of aircraft and how you've got to fly most of them........Kudos to you Kermit.....
Thank you very much!
One hellava lot of aviation history, knowledge, and talent there-and the old Connie is nice also👍
Pride spilling over! I drove by the Connie at Flight just days ago and noticed activity on it. My spirit is lifted every time I see your videos Kermit.
IKE was in the Marana Air Park in Marana AZ. just north of Tucson
Thanks for another great video Kermit.
What an honor to see that Connie. And McArthur’s at that. These Connie’s touch my heart. What an aircraft. It was a pleasure to see it. Getting close to seeing it do its magic, fly. Just wonderful.
Thanks so much Kermit.
Retired Air Force veteran.
This is INSANE. Can't wait to see this BEAUTIFUL bird back in flight!
I have the original airplane radio from that plane. My dad was a flight engineer on that plane when they decommissioned it. He got the radio out of it and talked all over the world for years. He always wanted it to go back to the airplane or to a museum. I’m trying to find somebody to take it. You have done amazing work on that plane. Thank you for sharing.
That's what we call cubic dollars! to restore a a Connie, WOW. Thanks for sharing.
Now Kermit you are ticking my boxes now, can't wait to here this Bird Fire up..
The most beautiful plane ever!
Just an elegant aircraft!
America seems like paradise for pilots and aviation lovers. Flying the Lockheed Constellation would be the dream of my life.
My dad's favorite airplane. Flew for MATS in the 50s. (military air transport service)
There are hobbies and then there are projects like this.
So this bird is going to fly again. That's sweet
All of Rod Lewis planes in his collection fly.
Coral Gables 🌴🇺🇸 Remarkable re do. Thank you for sharing. 🏄
Fantastic to see this bird so close to ready! I remember when they parked it. Good to see Steve!
Thank you for sharing Mr. Weeks. Always a pleasure to watch your videos.
Greetings from Denmark
WOW! I am in awe!!! Bravo gentlemen BRAVO!
Well ! How exciting is that ! And 3 legends under one roof ! The total commitment to get this 4 engined beauty back where she belongs is staggering and the fuel consumption is trivial compared to the money pit these aircraft cost to restore . I guess you really came to see your B26 .......Thanks Kermit
My Mother flew to Canada from England on a Constellation a very long time ago. Beautiful aircraft!
What a fantastic restoration of a beautiful aeroplane
Talking about a legendary aircraft owned by the legendary Rod Lewis…watching a tour with two other legend..Steven Hinton and Kermit Weeks..good start of the weekend.
It's a shame how few are left considering how much they were a part of the heartbeat of air transportation in that bygone era when props ruled the commercial airways.
When I was but a pup, my dad, a WWII vet, used to take me to a local airport, outdoor second floor observation area, when the Connies came and went, in the midwest. They were spectacular as far as looks and sound... always made me think they were nearly ready to just leap off those tall struts straight into the air. Best times were early evening, watching them fire up, flames shooting over/under the wings as they taxied out to the runway. Then the whole show, as if someone called lights, action, camera! Permanently burned into my memory. He'd take me to Krispy Kreme after for some donuts!
This was great, start to finish! "Something about a nice tail.." Too much fun!
Maurice gave myself and three bicycle riding brothers a tour in Auburn around 2010, his lovely wife engaged us staring through the fence surrounding the plane and asked if we would like a tour. A day we haven't forgotten!
I flew on a Connie with tiger Airlines from Saigon to kuala Lumpur in the 60s. What a cool plane!🙏
thank you for taken me along
What a beautiful aircraft! You're a very lucky man Kermit, you get to play with all the cool toys!
Two aged iconic legends inside an aged iconic legend
What a project! Way cool!!
Amazing work. I worked on these as an electrician in the Navy in the late 60’s. VQ2 Rota, Spain.
this is simply beautiful.
Beautiful job. Brings back many memories when I worked on the Camarillo Connie in the early 90s.
Greatest looking plane that ever flew🤩
Unbelievable on how beautiful this airplane is!!!
I am amazed at your project and craftsmanship ! Super cool -
Steve still takes steps two at a time into the Connie. An aviation hero!!