On my 5th birthday in1958, my mom, sister, and I flew on a Connie from Japan to Travis AFB California. I remember (I'm sure that my mom helped me with the some of the details of this story when I was older) we had to stop twice to refuel, at Midway and Honolulu. A stewardess told the flight crew that it was my birthday. The pilot sent word that I could come into the cockpit and sit on his lap and fly the plane. The stewardess had just brought me a little carton of chocolate ice cream. Being kept cold with dry ice, it was frozen solid as a rock. I was determined to get a bite of chocolate ice cream. After a few minutes I finally got my spoon of ice cream. And now I was going to fly the plane! To my dismay and regret even to this day, my chance had passed. We had turbulence the rest of the way to Hawaii and the pilot called off his offer. I could have chocolate ice cream anytime but I lost my once in a lifetime opportunity to fly a Constellation. We did cross the international dateline so I had my 5th birthday 2 days in a row.
I live not to far from a regional airport (500 yards away) 3 weeks ago I watched for the first time in my life a Constellation taxi and takeoff and a landing all in the space of an hour. 😊😉
How splendid to see this wonderful aircraft in such dedicated hands. As a kid growing up in Kenya in the 50s, Sundays entertainment for my dad and me was to go to Nairobi airport to see how many attempts the Air France Connie would have to take off ! (Hot and high), after removal of freight it would finally get airborne and limp out to the west till is reached the Rift Valley where the land dropped away 1000+ feet, then turn north and burn off weight on the way to Khartoum and beyond. Fond, distant memories of a bygone time.
Thanks gentlemen for sharing this. At 69 the Connie was very much a plane that I remember from my early years. I've been enamored with her since I was 8. Truly the Queen of the skies. She is still in my opinion the most beautiful airliner to ever take wing.
Worked on Connies at Skyways, located at Stanstead Airport, England. (We had 6 of them) They were one of my favorite aircraft. Also worked on Bristol Britannia's at Aviation Traders, same airport. Was lucky enough to also work on Douglas DC3, DC4 s and DC 6, Carvair's . Rebuilt several crashed aircraft including Cessna 310 and quite a few others, Not boasting, just trying to lend credence when I say that the Connie was the Queen of all the aircraft I worked on. A beautiful aircraft that looked like it was built to FLY! Well done guys, for getting that beautiful Connie flying again! A sight to behold! Thank You
Oh boy .... Now 82, and am retired aviator .... some thirty years of it. Most ratings. Professional ... AND an old Navy vet. Rode twice on C-121s ... once to far east, Philippines and once ... returning ... in about 1960. Many, many hours' long flights each. One clear recollection ... on the way over, a/c commander came on horn and in his 'intro' speech, warned pax that during climb out, at around FL150 or so ... they were going to reduce power on engines to shift the superchargers into high gear. Well, that happened .... ! I was sitting in a window seat beside nr. 3 with some civiian engineer guy next to me. Not aviator type. When they did the turbo shift, huge, long trailing flames shot out of the engine for a few seconds. This guy nearly crunched me struggling to get out of his seat in a panic .... claiming the engine 'was on fire'!!! Finally got him calmed down ... and back in his seat. Laughing my ass off all the while. Long rides .. incredible machines ... beautiful machines. The cross-pacific rides were the norm ... many, long hours of flying ... and memories and pride I will never forget. Thanks for such a lovely video. Brought great memories.
Thought the engines were on fire? What memories! Me, too! It was 1952 in a USAF C-54 from Travis to Tokyo by way of Hickam and Midway. Plane load of wives and kids. About forty seats, but moms were also holding small kids in their laps--for HOURS! I had a seat, but Mom held my younger brother. In those days, most people had never flown in an airplane, certainly not over the Pacific. Hours out of Travis, we had to return for a mechanical issue and bag-dragged over to another airplane. Once at Hickam, we were delayed for another maintenance issue. By then, all the moms were antsy about whether these planes were safe. Finally, we departed Hickam at sunset. With the humidity, the air conditioning vents in the cabin were spewing some fog that looked like smoke. Outside, the orange sunset reflected off the nacelles, and there was exhaust, also. Some woman screamed "FIRE" and it was complete bedlam. All the moms were screaming, packing the aisle, and and pulling out life preservers. The plane was rocking. It was like that movie, "Airplane." The crew chief and someone from the cockpit came back and started hollering orders and physically pushed women back into their seats. I was only four, but I remember the scene!! I just sat in my seat, totally amazed that grown-ups were acting iike kids. I clasped my hands and started praying because, well, it just seemed to be the thing to do! What a long, long, long forever trip. Mom was always a real trooper, but, boy, she was wiped out by the time we arrived in Tokyo.
I worked on Connie's daily during the late 50's and 60's in MIA, Eastern Air Lines. Everything from 749's through 1049G's. Flew many miles on them. I loved every day at work. Best airplanes ever built. Thanks for posting this.
Here former pilot of the Argentine Air Force. I turn 66 in May. Awesome background sir, full of good memories. I love these kinds of comments, sort of "The Time Tunnel" series . I also love the "Slim and Sleek" concept of the Lockheed Constellation. I bet it would have won the Best Aerodynamic Design of the Entire Aviation Era. Good job to everyone.
Outstanding! As a retired US Army CH-47 Chinook Flight Engineer, I can appreciate the blood sweat and tears that went into making this flight a reality, great job guys!
I happened to be at Chino when she came in, not knowing anything about it. My dad was with me and I remember yelling "dad! Dad! It's a Connie! Damn, a Connie"! like some overexcited eight year old. Dad finally spotted her, and he was just as excited as I was🤣 You always remember something like that. RIP dad we miss you♥️
I was at Chino with my youngest son, and at the ACO 2 weapons console (second radar scope on the port side) I found one of my old cigars still stashed from 1978. I have 2500 hours on the Connie, and a few hundred on A/C 548.
I'm 78 and can remember Macarthur and Ike, Yeager and many more. I remember when they started breaking the sound bearer, used to break the windows in most of the stores in my hometown Of Pittsfield MA. some of the planes out of Westover AFB I presumed? I also remember seeing lots of Dirigibles flying over head also. back in the late 40's and early 50's. lost days to today's youth. every generation has their heros and times. those were mine. thanks for sharing part of my past history.
I saw this Connie when my husband and I where coming back from the Grand Canyon! I made him stop because I wanted to stop and see her! I love these old planes. I asked about in the museum and they explained that it was privately own and the owner was going to come get it soon. They told the history of it, being General Mac Arthur's plane. I was really hoping to be able to go and walk through it. But I could not. I am glad to just now see this you tube video! Love the Connie's!
My best friends and I are both airline pilots. His dad was a captain for Northwest Airlines and retired in 1998 out of 747’s. Prior to NW he flew these military Consultations. Years ago there was a Super Connie at Sandford Florida’s airport. I met the owner who had saved that one from scraping. That aircraft is now owned by a museum and is being parted out to those willing to pay. Sadly it will never fly again. I, like so many others have a handful of favorite aircraft, aircraft that I would love to have flown. The Connie is one on that list. To me, the Connie is the pinnacle of radial airliner / transport aircraft. It was / is beautiful. I relate it to the queen marry; the Milwaukee Road Class F-7 passenger steam engine; the custom Coach luxury cars of the 1920’ and 30’s...
We were flying from Northern PA to Miami on Eastern. We had trouble and landed at National in Va. Eastern didn't have a replacement so we were stranded. Then suddenly after a couple of hours, we were told they were releasing their Executive plane to complete the trip. It was a Connie. Great interior as modified and they had modified the back of the plane to appear like a club car of a train. What a plane!!!..............free drinks and food all the way to Miami. I will never forget that beautiful lady and how Eastern treated us so very special. Thank you for this wonderful history video and your dedication in bringing back a proud and beautiful aircraft.
I have around 2500 hours on the Connie (EC-121) with the 552nd and the 79th. And here's a little known fact... the very first "non-medical" female combat crew flight crew members flew on the Connie with the 79th out of Homestead AFB beginning in 1976. They were every bit as capable as any man, and they smelled a hell of a lot better after a 14 hour flight. The Connie is the finest three engine aircraft ever built.
We had a Connie fly down to Kwajalein island and load up scientists and engineers to fly to Australia to vacations. The good thing they had engineers on board - they were landing and the nose gear would not drop. The engineers calculated the speed and pull-up to flip the nose out and it worked ! They landed, plane serviced and all had a good time to come back to the island for long hours of work.
As a 7 year old in 1960 I used to watch the Connie's and 707's on long final to LAX from my front lawn in Whittier. A constant parade of awesome airliners.
My old landlord was a Conie ilot for Eastern Airlines through the forties, & fifties. He told me he flew every variant they had. My son and I had a 6ft wingspan RC J3 and it was not until he saw it that he opened up and told us of his past, as he learned how to fly in a J3. On day he brought over a small box of amazing photos of him when he flew Conies or Eastern especially the gold eagle line. And yes, she 's the most beautiful airliner ever made.
I have 630 hours in an EC-121 with Fleet Air Recon Squadron Two over the Med in 1968-70. What a marvelous airplane! I remember the squealing hydraulics, having to wipe the oil off the bottom of the plane and, with tip tanks, flying one mission for 25 hours. I found out the aircraft I served on was built in 1949 one year after I was born!
I was a Naval aviator also flying the EC121...... from 1964-1967 VW-13 Argentia, NL, VQ-2 Rota, Spain, then TAD to VQ-1 Atsugi, Japan, (Det.) In Danang, RVN
My family flew to Charlston AFB from Ramey AFB in a Connie in 1961. What a beautiful plane. The seats all faced backwards except the window exits where they faced each other. Perfect for a family of 5.
That photo of the 2016 touchdown at Chino put a big grin on my face. Thank you again gentlemen for sharing that lovely old girls trip with us earthbound mortals. Ah the Connie. What a beautiful lady.
...that was frkkn awesome!!👌...sittin' here waitin' for th' Starship to take off from Boca Chica (17/04/2023 13:05 GMT)...and this Constellation restoration & 1st flight was a great time filler...Congratulations to ALL who were involved with the massive undertaking of letting her fly again!👏 Bravo!✈
I've seen three or four of these old girls in my sixty seven years, unfortunately never in the air. This is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of mechanical art ever made. She was a Ferrari, thats for sure!
The engineer banging on him control panel was truly old school.. ;-D! Well done by all on this project at Lewis Air Legends, the Connie sure is a beautiful airplane. Only thing not need here is the 'inspirational' soundtrack in the background.
I was on board this Constellation while traveling in Arizona. I spotted it from the road and stopped to check it out. I found the interior to be plush considering it was military. On the same site is a marvelous indoor museum with more planes and cars too. That stop was a highlight on my 2000 mile road trip, more so for me than the Grand Canyon.
Sweet aircraft! My Dad was a USAF vet, and in 1958 we flew to Lajes Field in the Azores on a C-118. But, when we flew back in 1959, it was on a C-121. Very nice ride, but we hit some turbulence and caused me to spill my lunch all over my feet!
I really enjoyed watching this. My father was part of the 193rd in Middletown pa. They flew the Connie for years. The plane flew over my neighborhood when they were flying around york pa. I'm glad these folks are keeping the Connie alive
After seeing a lifetime of absolutely beautiful aircraft, I cannot conceive a more stunning example of compounded curves than the venerable Lockheed Constellation.
As a pilot, part of my bucket list is having the opportunity to fly these kind of planes. My grandfather was a radio operator on the C-47 during WW2. Every time I fly, I always think about him and like to think that he's smiling down at me from heaven.
I visited this plane more than once when it was at Fort Rucker. In addition, I was born in Germany and flew across the Atlantic Ocean in a Connie when I was a young child on a MATS flight when my father's division was moved from Germany to Fort Lewis, Washington. Glad to see this one back in flight.
To the men and women who got the constellation back up in the air again, thank you for what you did. They were absolutely beautiful airplanes just absolutely beautiful. Anyways you guys I subscribe to your podcast
Thank you for this video! This aircraft is near and dear to me. In the early 60's, it was based at Hickam AFB, and assigned to the US Army Pacific (USARPAC). My dad was the deputy CG of the command so he had many trips on this to Southeast Asia. I remember the first time I saw her, I was about 16. Dad was coming back from a SEATO exercise. She was polished aluminum then (with MAC markings). Quite a sight as she taxied up and parked. The props no sooner quit turning then a group of airmen with rags started wiping her nacelles down (something about radials leaking oil). I never got to ride on her but I have sat in those two front seats. I had just come home from Vietnam (helicopter pilot) when I heard the Army had acquired her but didn't get to see her at Rucker. Thanks again for the video.
AMAZING video!! It takes a lot of teamwork and good communication to keep this AWESOME aircraft in the air. I'd love to be able to see this aircraft and explore it. Keep up the GREAT work my friend!! Thank you for sharing this footage with us fellow Aviation enthusiasts. Looking forward to seeing more video's from ya. 👍👍
That was my thought. I sat forward in my seat, focused on the instruments as best I could from here, hands on head, saying "Oh My Gosh!". Hollywood could not have scripted a more intense couple of minutes.
Thanks , Men !! These guys doing what they enjoy. We love what you do. The Connie, the most beautiful aircraft to grace our skies. I grew up in Burbank, Ca in the 50 and 60's. The sounds of Connies I can still, to this day, hear.
I now live in Seattle, but grew up in LA. When I was young I'd ride my MC out to Chino and spend the whole day there. Back than you could walk around any where and could see the yellow flying wing just before you started to restore it. I would spend an hour or two inside the B17 that was out front. Some day soon my son & I plan to go to your fantastic Chino airport. Great work, Dan
What a beautiful plane and I agree with all the other comments that she was the Queen of the skies. At 74, I believe there was a tv shoe that featured the Conies, and plastic models were made for us young dreamers could only think about flying in one. Congratulations to all of you for keeping history alive, as with aircraft, steam locomotives, antique boats and other pieces of machinery that made marks in history, a big thank you for all of you and crew for bringing that beautiful Conie back to life. I hope one day to see one somewhere fly overhead and experience the sight and sound of that magnificent aircraft. Cheers, best to all for all you do. Thank you for sharing that wonderful first flight. Dave
Yes yes and yes to all the comments about this wonderful aeroplane, but what really me impresses me is the communication, the tight teamwork and friendship of this whole crew. 👌 Hats off to you guys. ☆☆☆☆☆
81 years old, 8 years in the USAF as a Recep maintenance technician and flight mechanic, 37 years in the industry, Beech, Cessna, Northrop and Boeing and my favorite airplane of all is the C121. Thank you for sharing. My only flight in a Connie was in 1961 from Wichita to Kansas City on TWA. Lovd it.
Now here’s a video I could never tire of watching, a beautiful Connie starting, flying and landing, my wish is to see and hear one in the flesh one day, and just gaze in awe of such a gorgeous aircraft.
Beautiful bird.. Reminds me of 4 years at IAF #6 Sqn in 1970-74 where my father was an aircrew of the Superconnie. He flew the longest endurance record on the Superconnie during 1971 war.
I had 1000+ hours as an aircrewman on VQ-2 EC-121M reconnaissance aircraft. Loved those old 3350s! If I recall correctly, to star the engines the ground personnel would count 8 blades and signal the pilot who would then tell the engineer who'd engage the ignition to start the engine.
Wow, what a great crew and team of people. You can really tell how professional everyone in the cockpit is with working together. It's really awesome to see this perspective of a first flight, let alone in something like a Constellation. Now that Bataan is restored, here's to a long second life! Congrats to everyone involved, can't wait to catch a glimpse of this beautiful plane in the air someday!
1957. I was twelve. We started in Stuttgart but not on Connie. Two engines. I can't remember where we changed planes. Frankfurt? London? But change we did. From there on Reykjavik Iceland and then on to Gander Newfoundland and from there to Idlewild (JFK). We sat fairly close to the front since I can very clearly remember gawking at the engines spitting fire and flames with a loud roar after the sun went down and the sky was turning from red to dark blue. The Iceland airport felt very tired. In the mid 80's flew through there again and I have to say it was like a time warp. One of the "halls" where they sold gloves and scarfs etc looked still identical. All shiny varnished wood panelling on the walls. Felt strange. Idlewild was a mess. Construction going on. We walked through howling wind and rain on some plywood sheets to get indoors. Can I remember more? No. But the night part of the flight is still etched in my memory. The sky was beautiful and we just roared through it. Strangely I believe in the late '90s may even have been after 9/11 I saw another Connie in Eugene Oregon. I have been told that I am mistaken, but I was not since I only saw it after reading about it in the Eugene Register Guard newspaper. As strange as it may seem the owner supposedly flew up for some pie from a restaraunt near Valley River Center!!! Hard to believe but that is what it said. So we went to the airport and there sure enough it sat. About 15 minutes later, a lady walked to the plane went up, turned around and waved to someone at the private part of the terminal. The door closed. About 5 minutes later the engines started up and it slowy went down the runway to the other end. What surprised me cleary was how awkward it seemed! Because of the props the landing gear seemed very tall and delicate. Long story short, it turned (I could not see that) at the end and must have taken off. We had gotten tired of waiting and had gone home before the take off. Could I have been mistaken? Nuts. No way. And the newspaper certainly did not make up the story.
Had the privilege way back in the day in 1962 of flying as a kid with my parents, dad in the USAF, from Yokota to Midway then on to Honolulu in a MATS Connie - seats faced backwards - I sat in the Starboard window seat behind the wing - love this plane !!
MOST AWESOME PLANE! THE CLOSING VIDEO MAKES ME TEAR BECAUSE I AM OVERWHELMED BY THE SPECTACLE. REAL TREASURE ! GORGEOUS. MOST BEAUTIFUL PROPELLER PASSENGER CRAFT OF ALL TIME! CONNIE IS A LIVING LEGEND!
I flew the Lockheed Electra for 1000 hours (Falcon Cargo). This was before CRM was invented. My captains motto was ” Flight safety that is to have fun on the flight deck,!” These guys are having fun on the flight deck!
My father was a career Naval aviator and flew from '42-'64. He started off flying F4Fs, F6Fs, F4Us, SBDs, SB2Cs and AD1s but somewhere around '54 or so they started transitioning him to multi-engine. By '54 he was getting familiarized with AC-121s out of NAS Pax River and by '58 he and the family moved up to NAS Argentia, New Foundland where he was Ops Officer with VAW-11 flying Atlantic barrier missions up until 1960, which was when I came along. Although the F4U would always be his all-time favorite bird, he loved his Connie, especially her long-legged nose landing gear. Dad ended up logging something like 21,000 flight hours, easily a third of which were flying Connies. Like he said, while the Corsair was his all-time favorite, the Connie came in a close second. Funny story....one of the international airlines, I can't recall if it was Pan Am or TWA, offered him a captaincy flying the New York to Paris (or maybe it was London) route when he retired. He said no thanks. Many years later, after I had done a tour in the Navy myself as an aviation ASW technician with S-3As and understood the financial implications of what an offer like that meant, I asked him why he turned it down. He simply said "I was way overdo for a major mishap". He also added that after 21,000 hours, flying just wasn't fun anymore. "You've got a smart Dad", I thought to myself.
@@CaesarInVa sorry but I do not remember yourndad but,the name lefever sure does ring a bell. I can't remember all the dates of when I was in argentia but I'm I seem to remember lefever as co for all 3 years of my stay in newfoundland
@@edremeika9788 Sorry about the delayed reply, I just saw your comment. I get the feeling, based on conversations I picked up sitting at the dining room table, that Lefever was a real SOB. BTW, one of my most treasured possessions is a caricature portrait of my dad, sitting atop a Connie, wearing a green and white polka-dot flannel shirt, cigar in mouth, reading an answer book to TV trivia questions with a thought bubble of a Hawaiian hula girl over his head and icebergs in the background. If you shoot me your email address, I'll take a picture of it and send it to you.
I remember flying in an RAF Hercules into Keflavik in Iceland, and taxing up to 5he ramp next to a C-121 ecm, Navy radar equipped constellation, I was off that herc even as the engines were turning, walked up to the ground crew showed my engineering officers f1250, and before I knew it I had a great tou4 of a great aircraft, only to be spoilt by my raf crew saying we had refuelled and were ready to depart to UK, now that was a lifetime moment….😊😊😊
Very cool! Love the video! The music kinda distracted me from “being there” while watching. I really wanted to hear those awesome engines start without music
In November 1946, we began a transatlantic flight from the city of El Salvador that began with a flight on a Pan American Airways plane, a DC-4 or DC-7 to New York. There we took a TWA Constelation (new) to Madrid, Spain. We were my parents, Mercedes and Vicente, their 5 children and a cousin, José Narciso Saguer Saprissa.
I had the fortune to fly from Baltimore to Chicago in the cockpit of one of these beauties. Invited by the captain, possibly because I was traveling in full Navy "regalia" on my way home from the naval base. Amazing experience.
I enjoyed the video very much bit the music was over the top. Presumably, it was targeted for aviation nerds so the sound of those engines was the real music. I was annoyed that I couldn't hear the struggle because of the loud crescendo blasting it out. Feh!
On my 5th birthday in1958, my mom, sister, and I flew on a Connie from Japan to Travis AFB California. I remember (I'm sure that my mom helped me with the some of the details of this story when I was older) we had to stop twice to refuel, at Midway and Honolulu. A stewardess told the flight crew that it was my birthday. The pilot sent word that I could come into the cockpit and sit on his lap and fly the plane. The stewardess had just brought me a little carton of chocolate ice cream. Being kept cold with dry ice, it was frozen solid as a rock. I was determined to get a bite of chocolate ice cream. After a few minutes I finally got my spoon of ice cream. And now I was going to fly the plane! To my dismay and regret even to this day, my chance had passed. We had turbulence the rest of the way to Hawaii and the pilot called off his offer. I could have chocolate ice cream anytime but I lost my once in a lifetime opportunity to fly a Constellation. We did cross the international dateline so I had my 5th birthday 2 days in a row.
Refuel in Anchorage is better, because the Earth is.....
Great story, thanks for sharing.
I remember hanging on to my Nannie’s hand as we walked out to the tarmac in the rain to fly to Germany.
Wonderful memories
I live not to far from a regional airport (500 yards away) 3 weeks ago I watched for the first time in my life a Constellation taxi and takeoff and a landing all in the space of an hour. 😊😉
How splendid to see this wonderful aircraft in such dedicated hands. As a kid growing up in Kenya in the 50s, Sundays entertainment for my dad and me was to go to Nairobi airport to see how many attempts the Air France Connie would have to take off ! (Hot and high), after removal of freight it would finally get airborne and limp out to the west till is reached the Rift Valley where the land dropped away 1000+ feet, then turn north and burn off weight on the way to Khartoum and beyond. Fond, distant memories of a bygone time.
Thanks gentlemen for sharing this. At 69 the Connie was very much a plane that I remember from my early years. I've been enamored with her since I was 8. Truly the Queen of the skies. She is still in my opinion the most beautiful airliner to ever take wing.
YES Sir. In my youngers days I worked on them during my time at Lufthansa Base here in Hamburg, Germany and I'll never forget the "Queen of the Skies"
I agree
As far as prop driven aircraft, she is indeed the prettiest bird to ever leave the tarmac. The P-38 is right there too.
@@deborahchesser7375 Agreed. There is something about the P-38 that I’m drawn to.
A bunch of good ol boys having fun; thank you Rod Lewis for saving these old birds for us to enjoy👍
Hands down the most beautiful 4 engine piston aircraft ever to fly. Just a joy to look at! Thanks for the peek!
The Connie and the B17 are my absolute fav’s.
@@armstronglance i gotta agree with you on that.♥️
You ever even the Dehavilands?
@@guyjonson6364 I have nothing against DH's. They're beautiful. But not this elegant.
@@vintagejake The Connie has a singular beauty and grace. She will remain in my eyes the most beautiful prop liner to ever fly.
Worked on Connies at Skyways, located at Stanstead Airport, England. (We had 6 of them) They were one of my favorite aircraft. Also worked on Bristol Britannia's at Aviation Traders, same airport. Was lucky enough to also work on Douglas DC3, DC4 s and DC 6, Carvair's . Rebuilt several crashed aircraft including Cessna 310 and quite a few others, Not boasting, just trying to lend credence when I say that the Connie was the Queen of all the aircraft I worked on. A beautiful aircraft that looked like it was built to FLY! Well done guys, for getting that beautiful Connie flying again! A sight to behold! Thank You
Oh boy .... Now 82, and am retired aviator .... some thirty years of it. Most ratings. Professional ... AND an old Navy vet. Rode twice on C-121s ... once to far east, Philippines and once ... returning ... in about 1960. Many, many hours' long flights each. One clear recollection ... on the way over, a/c commander came on horn and in his 'intro' speech, warned pax that during climb out, at around FL150 or so ... they were going to reduce power on engines to shift the superchargers into high gear. Well, that happened .... ! I was sitting in a window seat beside nr. 3 with some civiian engineer guy next to me. Not aviator type. When they did the turbo shift, huge, long trailing flames shot out of the engine for a few seconds. This guy nearly crunched me struggling to get out of his seat in a panic .... claiming the engine 'was on fire'!!! Finally got him calmed down ... and back in his seat. Laughing my ass off all the while. Long rides .. incredible machines ... beautiful machines. The cross-pacific rides were the norm ... many, long hours of flying ... and memories and pride I will never forget. Thanks for such a lovely video. Brought great memories.
Thanks for the memories. Thank you also for your service.
Great story! Thanks for sharing!
Thought the engines were on fire? What memories! Me, too! It was 1952 in a USAF C-54 from Travis to Tokyo by way of Hickam and Midway. Plane load of wives and kids. About forty seats, but moms were also holding small kids in their laps--for HOURS! I had a seat, but Mom held my younger brother. In those days, most people had never flown in an airplane, certainly not over the Pacific. Hours out of Travis, we had to return for a mechanical issue and bag-dragged over to another airplane. Once at Hickam, we were delayed for another maintenance issue. By then, all the moms were antsy about whether these planes were safe. Finally, we departed Hickam at sunset. With the humidity, the air conditioning vents in the cabin were spewing some fog that looked like smoke. Outside, the orange sunset reflected off the nacelles, and there was exhaust, also. Some woman screamed "FIRE" and it was complete bedlam. All the moms were screaming, packing the aisle, and and pulling out life preservers. The plane was rocking. It was like that movie, "Airplane." The crew chief and someone from the cockpit came back and started hollering orders and physically pushed women back into their seats. I was only four, but I remember the scene!! I just sat in my seat, totally amazed that grown-ups were acting iike kids. I clasped my hands and started praying because, well, it just seemed to be the thing to do! What a long, long, long forever trip. Mom was always a real trooper, but, boy, she was wiped out by the time we arrived in Tokyo.
Thank you for sharing and for your service
I worked on Connie's daily during the late 50's and 60's in MIA, Eastern Air Lines. Everything from 749's through 1049G's. Flew many miles on them. I loved every day at work. Best airplanes ever built. Thanks for posting this.
Here former pilot of the Argentine Air Force. I turn 66 in May. Awesome background sir, full of good memories. I love these kinds of comments, sort of "The Time Tunnel" series . I also love the "Slim and Sleek" concept of the Lockheed Constellation. I bet it would have won the Best Aerodynamic Design of the Entire Aviation Era. Good job to everyone.
Outstanding! As a retired US Army CH-47 Chinook Flight Engineer, I can appreciate the blood sweat and tears that went into making this flight a reality, great job guys!
I happened to be at Chino when she came in, not knowing anything about it. My dad was with me and I remember yelling "dad! Dad! It's a Connie! Damn, a Connie"! like some overexcited eight year old. Dad finally spotted her, and he was just as excited as I was🤣 You always remember something like that.
RIP dad we miss you♥️
I was at Chino with my youngest son, and at the ACO 2 weapons console (second radar scope on the port side) I found one of my old cigars still stashed from 1978. I have 2500 hours on the Connie, and a few hundred on A/C 548.
I'm 78 and can remember Macarthur and Ike, Yeager and many more. I remember when they started breaking the sound bearer, used to break the windows in most of the stores in my hometown Of Pittsfield MA. some of the planes out of Westover AFB I presumed? I also remember seeing lots of Dirigibles flying over head also. back in the late 40's and early 50's. lost days to today's youth. every generation has their heros and times. those were mine. thanks for sharing part of my past history.
Barrier not bearer :D
Its very good to know there are still good folks out there with a passion for these beautiful old airplanes. ♥️👍
I saw this Connie when my husband and I where coming back from the Grand Canyon! I made him stop because I wanted to stop and see her! I love these old planes. I asked about in the museum and they explained that it was privately own and the owner was going to come get it soon. They told the history of it, being General Mac Arthur's plane. I was really hoping to be able to go and walk through it. But I could not. I am glad to just now see this you tube video! Love the Connie's!
Bloody awesome.
Those boys did an amazing job.
So professional. A joy to watch.
My best friends and I are both airline pilots. His dad was a captain for Northwest Airlines and retired in 1998 out of 747’s. Prior to NW he flew these military Consultations. Years ago there was a Super Connie at Sandford Florida’s airport. I met the owner who had saved that one from scraping. That aircraft is now owned by a museum and is being parted out to those willing to pay. Sadly it will never fly again.
I, like so many others have a handful of favorite aircraft, aircraft that I would love to have flown. The Connie is one on that list. To me, the Connie is the pinnacle of radial airliner / transport aircraft. It was / is beautiful. I relate it to the queen marry; the Milwaukee Road Class F-7 passenger steam engine; the custom Coach luxury cars of the 1920’ and 30’s...
Was the owner Kermit Weeks? NWA also had a handful of 1049's. but I think they were in the fleet for only a few years.
We were flying from Northern PA to Miami on Eastern. We had trouble and landed at National in Va. Eastern didn't have a replacement so we were stranded. Then suddenly after a couple of hours, we were told they were releasing their Executive plane to complete the trip. It was a Connie. Great interior as modified and they had modified the back of the plane to appear like a club car of a train. What a plane!!!..............free drinks and food all the way to Miami. I will never forget that beautiful lady and how Eastern treated us so very special. Thank you for this wonderful history video and your dedication in bringing back a proud and beautiful aircraft.
What a beauty. She flies very well. Definitely one of the most beautiful planes ever produced. Great professional cockpit crew 👏 Awesome job!
cabin crew?
I have around 2500 hours on the Connie (EC-121) with the 552nd and the 79th. And here's a little known fact... the very first "non-medical" female combat crew flight crew members flew on the Connie with the 79th out of Homestead AFB beginning in 1976. They were every bit as capable as any man, and they smelled a hell of a lot better after a 14 hour flight. The Connie is the finest three engine aircraft ever built.
Three engines? How many fingers do you have, dummy?
We had a Connie fly down to Kwajalein island and load up scientists and engineers to fly to Australia to vacations. The good thing they had engineers on board - they were landing and the nose gear would not drop. The engineers calculated the speed and pull-up to flip the nose out and it worked ! They landed, plane serviced and all had a good time to come back to the island for long hours of work.
I remember my boss telling me about his time seeing the connie on the island, as well as the missile tests haha
As a 7 year old in 1960 I used to watch the Connie's and 707's on long final to LAX from my front lawn in Whittier. A constant parade of awesome airliners.
My old landlord was a Conie ilot for Eastern Airlines through the forties, & fifties. He told me he flew every variant they had. My son and I had a 6ft wingspan RC J3 and it was not until he saw it that he opened up and told us of his past, as he learned how to fly in a J3. On day he brought over a small box of amazing photos of him when he flew Conies or Eastern especially the gold eagle line. And yes, she 's the most beautiful airliner ever made.
Treasure those photos - we love the Connies!
What a great bunch of guys. Committed, generous and hard working. Admirable.
I have 630 hours in an EC-121 with Fleet Air Recon Squadron Two over the Med in 1968-70. What a marvelous airplane! I remember the squealing hydraulics, having to wipe the oil off the bottom of the plane and, with tip tanks, flying one mission for 25 hours. I found out the aircraft I served on was built in 1949 one year after I was born!
I was a Naval aviator also flying the EC121...... from 1964-1967
VW-13 Argentia, NL, VQ-2 Rota, Spain, then TAD to VQ-1 Atsugi, Japan, (Det.) In Danang, RVN
My family flew to Charlston AFB from Ramey AFB in a Connie in 1961. What a beautiful plane. The seats all faced backwards except the window exits where they faced each other. Perfect for a family of 5.
That photo of the 2016 touchdown at Chino put a big grin on my face. Thank you again gentlemen for sharing that lovely old girls trip with us earthbound mortals. Ah the Connie. What a beautiful lady.
The most beautiful airliner ever, absolute perfection! This is what air travel should still be like.
...that was frkkn awesome!!👌...sittin' here waitin' for th' Starship to take off from Boca Chica (17/04/2023 13:05 GMT)...and this Constellation restoration & 1st flight was a great time filler...Congratulations to ALL who were involved with the massive undertaking of letting her fly again!👏 Bravo!✈
Beautiful, just beautiful guys. Those old planes had a heart and soul, but they could be temperamenta. Congratulations on your fight.
I've seen three or four of these old girls in my sixty seven years, unfortunately never in the air.
This is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of mechanical art ever made. She was a Ferrari, thats for sure!
The engineer banging on him control panel was truly old school.. ;-D! Well done by all on this project at Lewis Air Legends, the Connie sure is a beautiful airplane. Only thing not need here is the 'inspirational' soundtrack in the background.
What a pleasure to read the wonder first hand stories below - thanks all for your recollections! The golden era of air travel! 💖
Thanks for saving this beauty. Besides of probably thousands of working hours - rolling the runway yourself shows true dedication. Well done!!
I was on board this Constellation while traveling in Arizona. I spotted it from the road and stopped to check it out.
I found the interior to be plush considering it was military.
On the same site is a marvelous indoor museum with more planes and cars too.
That stop was a highlight on my 2000 mile road trip, more so for me than the Grand Canyon.
Sweet aircraft! My Dad was a USAF vet, and in 1958 we flew to Lajes Field in the Azores on a C-118. But, when we flew back in 1959, it was on a C-121. Very nice ride, but we hit some turbulence and caused me to spill my lunch all over my feet!
I really enjoyed watching this. My father was part of the 193rd in Middletown pa. They flew the Connie for years. The plane flew over my neighborhood when they were flying around york pa. I'm glad these folks are keeping the Connie alive
After seeing a lifetime of absolutely beautiful aircraft, I cannot conceive a more stunning example of compounded curves than the venerable Lockheed Constellation.
As a pilot, part of my bucket list is having the opportunity to fly these kind of planes. My grandfather was a radio operator on the C-47 during WW2. Every time I fly, I always think about him and like to think that he's smiling down at me from heaven.
I hope you get to do it. I got my ATP on a DC-3 and flew more than 3,000hrs in the Caribbean. Also, Convairs, and the Ford Tri-Motor.
Im sure he is😊
I visited this plane more than once when it was at Fort Rucker. In addition, I was born in Germany and flew across the Atlantic Ocean in a Connie when I was a young child on a MATS flight when my father's division was moved from Germany to Fort Lewis, Washington. Glad to see this one back in flight.
IMHO the Connie is the most beautiful large aircraft ever built...absolutely inspired design. Long may she keep flying!
To the men and women who got the constellation back up in the air again, thank you for what you did. They were absolutely beautiful airplanes just absolutely beautiful. Anyways you guys I subscribe to your podcast
Best dam television iv'e ever seen, thank you so very much for bringing to us.
A gem and others like it would have otherwise never been widely seen without a large platform.
Most beautiful plane that ever slipped the surly bonds of earth. Have 1500 hours in the Connie. Like a Mozart concernt!
Thank you for this video! This aircraft is near and dear to me. In the early 60's, it was based at Hickam AFB, and assigned to the US Army Pacific (USARPAC). My dad was the deputy CG of the command so he had many trips on this to Southeast Asia. I remember the first time I saw her, I was about 16. Dad was coming back from a SEATO exercise. She was polished aluminum then (with MAC markings). Quite a sight as she taxied up and parked. The props no sooner quit turning then a group of airmen with rags started wiping her nacelles down (something about radials leaking oil). I never got to ride on her but I have sat in those two front seats. I had just come home from Vietnam (helicopter pilot) when I heard the Army had acquired her but didn't get to see her at Rucker. Thanks again for the video.
Thank you for sharing and for your service
@@nhschreiner Bucket list item: To see her airworthy and polished bright again!
She's a beauty, sitting still or cruising along!!
Steve’s Jack Ridley from The Right Stuff impression around 42min was priceless!
Love watching. The Connie is one of the most beautiful aircraft I have ever see. Thanks for bringing this on yt.
What a gorgeous plane.
I'm a guitarist, and I've played dozens of sold-out stadium shows, but you guys are the REAL rock stars in MY life! Thanks for your hard work !!
AMAZING video!! It takes a lot of teamwork and good communication to keep this AWESOME aircraft in the air. I'd love to be able to see this aircraft and explore it. Keep up the GREAT work my friend!! Thank you for sharing this footage with us fellow Aviation enthusiasts. Looking forward to seeing more video's from ya. 👍👍
This video is better than a theatrical movie!
That was my thought. I sat forward in my seat, focused on the instruments as best I could from here, hands on head, saying "Oh My Gosh!". Hollywood could not have scripted a more intense couple of minutes.
I remember this beautiful and most graceful looking Iconic plane flying over my home when I was 4. She still males me kind week in the knees today.
Holy Crap, never heard so much yak in a cockpit in all of my 60 years of flying!!!
Agreed, felt like 'nervous' chatter.
My thoughts exactly.
Losing a couple engines gets your attention quick but they worked the problem well. Cool heads
Ditto😊😊
You boys made a tear to my eye, thank you very,very much.
Love seeing the Connie's when they fly. Great job and video.
What a beautiful airplane. Magnificent!
Thanks , Men !! These guys doing what they enjoy. We love what you do. The Connie, the most beautiful aircraft to grace our skies. I grew up in Burbank, Ca in the 50 and 60's. The sounds of Connies I can still, to this day, hear.
I now live in Seattle, but grew up in LA. When I was young I'd ride my MC out to Chino and spend the whole day there. Back than you could walk around any where and could see the yellow flying wing just before you started to restore it. I would spend an hour or two inside the B17 that was out front. Some day soon my son & I plan to go to your fantastic Chino airport. Great work, Dan
What a beautiful plane and I agree with all the other comments that she was the Queen of the skies. At 74, I believe there was a tv shoe that featured the Conies, and plastic models were made for us young dreamers could only think about flying in one. Congratulations to all of you for keeping history alive, as with aircraft, steam locomotives, antique boats and other pieces of machinery that made marks in history, a big thank you for all of you and crew for bringing that beautiful Conie back to life. I hope one day to see one somewhere fly overhead and experience the sight and sound of that magnificent aircraft. Cheers, best to all for all you do. Thank you for sharing that wonderful first flight.
Dave
Yes yes and yes to all the comments about this wonderful aeroplane, but what really me impresses me is the communication, the tight teamwork and friendship of this whole crew. 👌
Hats off to you guys. ☆☆☆☆☆
Very nice brought back a lot of fun stories of time spent in RC121 Ds flying out of 552 at McClellan AFB thanks
81 years old, 8 years in the USAF as a Recep maintenance technician and flight mechanic, 37 years in the industry, Beech, Cessna, Northrop and Boeing and my favorite airplane of all is the C121.
Thank you for sharing. My only flight in a Connie was in 1961 from Wichita to Kansas City on TWA. Lovd it.
Now here’s a video I could never tire of watching, a beautiful Connie starting, flying and landing, my wish is to see and hear one in the flesh one day, and just gaze in awe of such a gorgeous aircraft.
What a great restoration project to be involved with & I'm envious of all involved. Good luck to all & be safe.
Beautiful bird..
Reminds me of 4 years at IAF #6 Sqn in 1970-74 where my father was an aircrew of the Superconnie. He flew the longest endurance record on the Superconnie during 1971 war.
I had a tour of this aircraft at Vale during our road trip of USA in 2012... Beautiful. I hope it goes back on display somewhere,,,,
I am so proud to be an American and a Retired Army Infantry NCO, I love how these men make this look almost easy. Great Americans!!
Thank you.
Thanks for letting us into your world...
Keep up the awesome work 💪
I had 1000+ hours as an aircrewman on VQ-2 EC-121M reconnaissance aircraft. Loved those old 3350s! If I recall correctly, to star the engines the ground personnel would count 8 blades and signal the pilot who would then tell the engineer who'd engage the ignition to start the engine.
I was in VQ2 from 1969 thru 1970 in Rota. I believe they went to P3s shortly after I left. Many hours on the Willy.
Beautiful aircraft. Like a Swan, effortlessly swimming along, lots happening underneath.
What a gorgeous bird!!!
Thank you for keeping it alive!
This was flying, I love these old aircraft, I wish we could bring some back just for those of us who would love to fly coast to coast in one...
Wow, what a great crew and team of people. You can really tell how professional everyone in the cockpit is with working together. It's really awesome to see this perspective of a first flight, let alone in something like a Constellation. Now that Bataan is restored, here's to a long second life! Congrats to everyone involved, can't wait to catch a glimpse of this beautiful plane in the air someday!
Wow I saw it at Rucker, never would've believed it would fly again, great job!
Constantly amazed by Steve's adventures.
1957. I was twelve. We started in Stuttgart but not on Connie. Two engines. I can't remember where we changed planes. Frankfurt? London? But change we did. From there on Reykjavik Iceland and then on to Gander Newfoundland and from there to Idlewild (JFK). We sat fairly close to the front since I can very clearly remember gawking at the engines spitting fire and flames with a loud roar after the sun went down and the sky was turning from red to dark blue. The Iceland airport felt very tired. In the mid 80's flew through there again and I have to say it was like a time warp. One of the "halls" where they sold gloves and scarfs etc looked still identical. All shiny varnished wood panelling on the walls. Felt strange. Idlewild was a mess. Construction going on. We walked through howling wind and rain on some plywood sheets to get indoors. Can I remember more? No. But the night part of the flight is still etched in my memory. The sky was beautiful and we just roared through it. Strangely I believe in the late '90s may even have been after 9/11 I saw another Connie in Eugene Oregon. I have been told that I am mistaken, but I was not since I only saw it after reading about it in the Eugene Register Guard newspaper. As strange as it may seem the owner supposedly flew up for some pie from a restaraunt near Valley River Center!!! Hard to believe but that is what it said. So we went to the airport and there sure enough it sat. About 15 minutes later, a lady walked to the plane went up, turned around and waved to someone at the private part of the terminal. The door closed. About 5 minutes later the engines started up and it slowy went down the runway to the other end. What surprised me cleary was how awkward it seemed! Because of the props the landing gear seemed very tall and delicate. Long story short, it turned (I could not see that) at the end and must have taken off. We had gotten tired of waiting and had gone home before the take off. Could I have been mistaken? Nuts. No way. And the newspaper certainly did not make up the story.
Had the privilege way back in the day in 1962 of flying as a kid with my parents, dad in the USAF, from Yokota to Midway then on to Honolulu in a MATS Connie - seats faced backwards - I sat in the Starboard window seat behind the wing - love this plane !!
Amazing! Just loved this!! 😊👍
MOST AWESOME PLANE! THE CLOSING VIDEO MAKES ME TEAR BECAUSE I AM OVERWHELMED BY THE SPECTACLE. REAL TREASURE ! GORGEOUS. MOST BEAUTIFUL PROPELLER PASSENGER CRAFT OF ALL TIME! CONNIE IS A LIVING LEGEND!
I flew the Lockheed Electra for 1000 hours (Falcon Cargo). This was before CRM was invented. My captains motto was ” Flight safety that is to have fun on the flight deck,!” These guys are having fun on the flight deck!
sorry i'm late, hope it is still flying. what a time machine.. FANTASTIC
My father was a career Naval aviator and flew from '42-'64. He started off flying F4Fs, F6Fs, F4Us, SBDs, SB2Cs and AD1s but somewhere around '54 or so they started transitioning him to multi-engine. By '54 he was getting familiarized with AC-121s out of NAS Pax River and by '58 he and the family moved up to NAS Argentia, New Foundland where he was Ops Officer with VAW-11 flying Atlantic barrier missions up until 1960, which was when I came along. Although the F4U would always be his all-time favorite bird, he loved his Connie, especially her long-legged nose landing gear. Dad ended up logging something like 21,000 flight hours, easily a third of which were flying Connies. Like he said, while the Corsair was his all-time favorite, the Connie came in a close second. Funny story....one of the international airlines, I can't recall if it was Pan Am or TWA, offered him a captaincy flying the New York to Paris (or maybe it was London) route when he retired. He said no thanks. Many years later, after I had done a tour in the Navy myself as an aviation ASW technician with S-3As and understood the financial implications of what an offer like that meant, I asked him why he turned it down. He simply said "I was way overdo for a major mishap". He also added that after 21,000 hours, flying just wasn't fun anymore. "You've got a smart Dad", I thought to myself.
Dear sir. I was in vw11 from 1956 to 1959. I was an at3 and also worked in ops.
@@edremeika9788 Hi Ed! Do you remember a Cdr. Bud Keister? That was my father. Was Captain Lefever your CO?
@@CaesarInVa sorry but I do not remember yourndad but,the name lefever sure does ring a bell. I can't remember all the dates of when I was in argentia but I'm I seem to remember lefever as co for all 3 years of my stay in newfoundland
@@edremeika9788 Sorry about the delayed reply, I just saw your comment. I get the feeling, based on conversations I picked up sitting at the dining room table, that Lefever was a real SOB. BTW, one of my most treasured possessions is a caricature portrait of my dad, sitting atop a Connie, wearing a green and white polka-dot flannel shirt, cigar in mouth, reading an answer book to TV trivia questions with a thought bubble of a Hawaiian hula girl over his head and icebergs in the background. If you shoot me your email address, I'll take a picture of it and send it to you.
I remember flying in an RAF Hercules into Keflavik in Iceland, and taxing up to 5he ramp next to a C-121 ecm, Navy radar equipped constellation, I was off that herc even as the engines were turning, walked up to the ground crew showed my engineering officers f1250, and before I knew it I had a great tou4 of a great aircraft, only to be spoilt by my raf crew saying we had refuelled and were ready to depart to UK, now that was a lifetime moment….😊😊😊
The best takeoff sequence ever!
Great work guys! Greetings from Norway!
Very cool! Love the video! The music kinda distracted me from “being there” while watching. I really wanted to hear those awesome engines start without music
In November 1946, we began a transatlantic flight from the city of El Salvador that began with a flight on a Pan American Airways plane, a DC-4 or DC-7 to New York. There we took a TWA Constelation (new) to Madrid, Spain. We were my parents, Mercedes and Vicente, their 5 children and a cousin, José Narciso Saguer Saprissa.
I had the fortune to fly from Baltimore to Chicago in the cockpit of one of these beauties. Invited by the captain, possibly because I was traveling in full Navy "regalia" on my way home from the naval base. Amazing experience.
I worked on the navigation equipment on the AWAC Connies back in the early 70s. McClellan AFB 1972.
I Love the engineer’s panel!!
Thars a Demon out thar about 200 knotts . . . . . . . . Loved it!
The great Steve Hinton. He is THE MAN when it comes to classic aviation. Aviators 200 years from now will read about this man.
apaituBESAR
Not his best showing TBH
please don't llet this beautiful birth dissappear for ever. thank you for the restoration efforts.
Great video of a legend!!
I always enjoy watching the first plane I ever flew on, going from Chicago to Lack Land AFB Texas, December 1st 1959!
I enjoyed the video very much bit the music was over the top. Presumably, it was targeted for aviation nerds so the sound of those engines was the real music. I was annoyed that I couldn't hear the struggle because of the loud crescendo blasting it out. Feh!
Right!! It drives me crazy when these videos put music over the sound of those engines. 🤬
The way that gear was going up I was afraid it wasn't gonna come back down!
Congratulations to the team !
Just like the P38 Lightning, I loved the plane at first sight!