The Lockheed Constellation - My Favourite

[veritassemper]

I am sure that it is not a secret that this aeroplane is my favourite of all passenger aircraft. The design and the resulting shape is exquisite!<br /><br />When I was a boy and even as a young adult, I tried as hard as possble to get to the 'old' Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire on the coast. Connies were not unfamiliar and I was transfixed watching them starting up and rolling to the runway. Once these four beautiful engines were revved for take-off the sound was pure music!<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />If my memory is not failing me, I am pretty sure the plane used to squeal as if the brakes were being applied. In any event, here is a link for the moment which is very good. I will post other links when I get back to this. It's time here to hit the sack, so bon nuit and enjoy:-<br /><br />http://www.aviation-history.com/lockheed/1049.html<br /><br />v s<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[halcyondays]

The best three-engined airliner ever built !

 

[billslugg]

My earliest memory was crawling in the aisle of a Connie on a Syracuse to Pittsburgh flight in May 1955 at age 2y 7m. The floor was covered with a black rubber mat with tiny v-shaped grooves that ran fore and aft. I remember heavy vibration. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[veritassemper]

Here is the Connie per Wikipedia:-<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Constellation<br /><br />What I would give to fly in one of them. It is still and always will be my favourite airliner.<br /><br />v s<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[veritassemper]

Here she is again on video:-<br /><br />http://www.flightlevel350.com/aviation_video.php?id=4001&vcm<br /><br />Sheer heaven<br /><br />v s<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[davf]

A beautiful aircraft indeed. While I can certainly admire the technological acheivement since, the days of the Connie were certainly the pinnicle of aviation romance.

 

[Smersh]

Yes I have to agree VS it was a beautiful aircraft.<br /><br />I remember seeing them land at Heathrow years ago (no, I'm not a plane-spotter with notebooks and telescopes etc ... LOL - I just remember seeing them!) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <h1 style="margin:0pt;font-size:12px">----------------------------------------------------- </h1><p><font color="#800000"><em>Lady Nancy Astor: "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea."<br />Churchill: "Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."</em></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Website / forums </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[veritassemper]

Here is a link to a lot of great information and images.<br /><br />http://www.airliners.net/articles/read.main?id=48<br /><br />How I wish we could get the images back again. This is one forum that would really benefit from them.<br /><br />v s<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[docm]

I have to agree that the Connie is one of the prettiest aircraft I've ever seen, and I'm old enough to have seen them often...usually with TWA & Pan Am tags. Freakin' beautiful. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[veritassemper]

Since I cannot upload any images, here is quite a selection from airliners.net :-<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/2rzbzz<br /><br />v s<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[billslugg]

Back in about 1959 when I was 7, I stayed with my Aunt Dot in Jackson Heights. Her roommate, Betty, was a stewardess with Pan Am at Idyllwild. They took me there for a behind the scenes tour. I remember seeing the 707's and the Connies. The Pan Am stewardesses had their little pill box hats on. Talk about romantic!! I was in love. With the airplanes that is! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>