Erickson Douglas DC-7 Retirement Flight

[@warrensmith2902]

About 1965 I had my one ride in a DC-7. After helping the owner get the aircraft certified for passenger flight, he took us all up for a low level tour around the SF Bay Area. Great memory.

[@photoJDL]

Very cool!

[@robertporch8895]

As a kid i flew on one from Nashville to Atlanta in 1962. Such a thrill. I loved these prop driven planes.

[@NavyCWO]

I flew as a crewman on Navy Super Connies (EC-121M) with VQ-2. Had 1000+ hours in them. Loved those old smoky 3350 engines!

[@elijahvincent985]

Very bittersweet to see a final flight of a long-used plane. Still such a wonderful sight of the engines in action!

[@yukon4511]

Flew on a DC-7 when I was 3 years old, San Diego to Cinncinati with my mother. Flame covered the engire chord of the wing on startup. Impressive sight for a yound man.

[@myZisfantastic]

Thank you so much for this vid! In aviation nothing surpasses the symphony of these big reciprocating engines!

[@photoJDL]

thanks! glad you enjoyed it.

[@WolfandCatUnite]

yes

[@Liberator74]

Sounds like the engines on a skymaster 👂

[@flyingtigerline]

So beautiful !!! I flew on a DC-7C in 1962 from LAX to Gatwick.

[@horacioyrausquin4601]

I fell in love with flying at about 10 years old when I was sent to school in New York. In 1959, I would travel on KLMs Flying Dutchman from the Caribbean island of Curaçao 🇨🇼 to Idlewild (JFK). A 7 to 8 hour flight on KLMs DC7C. Every minute of flight was a treasure! 8 hours was not long enough for a smitten young boy! This lasted for 3 years before the plane was replaced by the DC8 jet! Although thrilling and exciting it has never replaced that DC7C! The start of the engines, the smell of the back fire smoke, the rattle of the cabin, the beginning spin of the blades, the roar of the engines, the roll of the plane and the lift of the cabin into the wild blue yonder! What a thrill. I still miss it! No, current, sleek jet provides the thrill of that KLM DC7C! The Flying Dutchman. If I could only turn back time for an eight hour flight on that magnificent bird! Yes! It’s fun to watch the video! Thanks 🙏💝 it brought back sweet memories. The KLM stewardess were very sweet. To keep me entertained they asked me to help them run meal trays in coach! Thus, I became a flight attendant until I retired, from the big jets!

[@photoJDL]

Thank you for sharing - what a great introduction to flying!

[@daviddee6877]

AWESOME!!!!!!! For 50 years I have dreamed of a chance to fly on a DC 7. I could never afford to buy a ride on the Eastern N836D. Now she is grounded, probably for good This is the exact type of trip I wanted to make. No music, no chatty crowd, no short KZbin video clips. An actual complete start to stop flight. You did this one right. I wore headphones and set the volume to approximate volume of the cabin. I was born too late to travel aboard the DC 4,6,7, Connie, Martin and piston Convair. Too late even for the first generation jets. I have been recording aircraft on cassette since 1972. What ever equipment you used ,it handled the volume and frequencies very well. I noted the red/orange of the takeoff exhaust flame. When 115/145 was available, it would have been blue. Not sure what you have this stored on, it would be great to have this on DVD as it could disappear from KZbin. THANK YOU for posting this, been dreaming of something like this for a long time.

[@dfirth224]

There are ways to record these videos to your computer. As a last resort you can always do a video screen capture complete with the sound track. There are computer programs for doing this. I like a program called "All My Tube" by Wondershare.

[@photoJDL]

I have several copies safely tucked away! It was shot with a GoPro9.

[@barbarney8688]

Buffalo Airways in Yellowknife Yukon Territorys in Canada they fly DC 4 and DC 3 still to this day when i was 9 years old the i lived in Redmond Oregon it was a tanker base they had DC 6 and the DC 7 was so cool watching them and we lived about 2 miles from the end of the runway so they were fly over head so cool to watch them

[@dreamlinertours]

We can only hope 836D will be resurrected at some point. IIRC it needs a new engine and a maintenance check.

[@Liberator74]

I have recorded C54?Skymaster engines kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHSwhYyjocmZiM0si=mQo78tEm3W_WpapQ

[@brucegibbins3792]

A wonderful sight and sound bringing back memories of a time the transition era when the last of the prop liners and the early Jets could still be seen over our suburban skies.

[@billwalbek1911]

Job well done. It will be a sad day indeed when this machine is gone forever. Thanks for sharing this classics last leg!

[@JohnvanderVeen-c3c]

In 1967 I flew from Amsterdam to Toronto and back in a DC7 from Schreiner Airways. The flight back was the last flight of Schreiner; the company was liquidated.

[@KidYuma1880]

Thanks for sharing this historical DC-7 on final flight with that great sound of radial engines. Thanks old girl, job well done and all captains & flight attendants that flew in her in it’s career as passenger flights.

[@craigpennington1251]

At night, you really can see those engine exhaust flames. Sometimes going all the back over the wings. Freaks a lot of folks out but all is ok. Miss flying on these and the Constellations. Thought that they would fly higher. Thanks for posting it.

[@photoJDL]

I would've given a lot to have been delayed long enough to fly through dusk to see that exhaust pop, but even in this you can still clearly see it. Wild. IIRC the pilots flew it pretty low...maybe 2 or 3k AGL.

[@andrewalexander9492]

For that reason, the DC-6's had all of the exhaust stacks routed to the outboard sides of the nacelles ... so passengers couldn't look out and see the flames. It wasn't feasible with the DC-7 because they had to have room for the 3 Power Recovery Turbines.

[@triple7man]

This is priceless. Thank you so much for sharing this

[@photoJDL]

thanks! glad you enjoyed it.

[@mpetry912]

the flight over crater lake was spectacular !

[@Too519]

magnificent aircraft and flight.raw beauty. thank you

[@AngelRail-mi4cq]

Nací en noviembre de 1956, poco después los aviones comerciales con propulsión a chorro comenzaron a desplazar a estas maravillas de motores a piston de las principales aerolineas.. Mi docena aproximada de vuelos, han sido en Boeing 727, Douglas DC 9 y Fokker F27.. Magníficos aviones todos ellos, pero siempre quedaré con las ganas de volar en un pistonero como Este, un Constelation etc.. Magnífico (Aunque triste video).. Muchas Gracias por compartirlo! Saludos desde España, rinconcito OE de Europa junto con Portugal, a todos los que llevamos está pasión aeronáutica en nuestras venas..

[@jameswest8280]

This is some really good sleep ASMR.

[@bazza945]

Thank you for the magnificent ride.

[@shaneconrad7816]

When aircraft were aircraft. Beautiful.

[@williamfletcher243]

Beautiful! Nice Crater Lake flyby too 😮

[@lucaswalker2538]

Excelent footage. Long time a go I flew in a plane like this. It brings back fond memories of my childhood. Thanks for sharing. Like

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

Love to watch the flames dancing out of #3. For those who feel this no big deal, remember that this was an air tanker, the last of a dying breed. Maintenance on this bird was a nightmare, as was the cost of fuel just to get this bird airborne. Four 18 cylinder engines that have not been manufactured since early 50s along with parts and all associated systems. Hats off to the mechs.

[@shadowsrwolf]

do not look in the yard then. They still have a mountain of spares and crated engines up there for them

[@Rocketman88002]

I have flown many of the old piston engined airplanes on most of the airlines that existed in the 50's. Chewing gum, barf bags, hostesses and sweet sounds came with every flight.

[@laxrider8818]

this is the most aviation ASMR video on youtube, thank you for sharing this

[@photoJDL]

thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. There's also an article on it, which you can read here: jdlmultimedia.com/?page_id=1820

[@ronjones1077]

Connie was my first ride Seattle to Anchorage 1960 at 10 years old. Got to fly on many classics over the years here in Alaska. DC 3, 4, 6, first jet 720B, DC 8, 9, 10, MD 80, Lockheed tri star. Many small twins and singles, Helicopters ( BLM fire fighting) and got to control several singles. Dad had a little Chief and I came close to buying a couple planes but never did. Love watching all of the history videos on old aircraft.

[@petergerner9957]

My family flew on US Army DC-6B on September 1962 from Munich Germany to Fort Dix, New Jersey with two stops for 17 hours. Two months the Army retired all DC-6s. Peter

[@XY_Dude]

Nice view! Cool exhaust fire when the pilot leaned out the mixture.

[@pixamite1]

Oh my God! Such awesomeness!!! Thank you for sharing this.

[@photoJDL]

thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. There's also an article on it, which you can read here: jdlmultimedia.com/?page_id=1820

[@robertporch8895]

This was almost like reliving the flight I took as a child.

[@williamgraves2009]

I flew as passenger about 5 round trips on a DC-7B of United Airlines. These trips were about 5 1/2 to 6 hours. I got to love the DC-7B.

[@mileswrich]

United never flew one DC-7B, they only had DC-7s. While the other DC-7 customers, AA, DL, and NA all ordered subsequent orders of DC-7Bs, United stuck with the DC-7. Eastern flew the most DC-7Bs, ordering 50 of them and flew them into 1965.

[@brenstratters2026]

I don't know what heaven is, but it must be very close to this!!

[@johnbender5356]

the pilot synched the engines beautifully

[@anthonyvallillo422]

That would have been the flight engineer - the most important man on the crew of an airplane such as this!

[@photoJDL]

This aircraft only operated with two crew up front, the FO effectively operating as the engineer.

[@anthonyvallillo422]

@@photoJDL No. The DC-7, as well as the DC-6 had a flight engineer, and he was the busiest person on the flight deck most of the time. He sat on a jump seat behind the throttles. Only the DC-4 lacked an FE. and the military ones mostly operated with a flight mechanic who sat in the same position and ran the engines as the FE later would.

[@photoJDL]

@@anthonyvallillo422 In this case, this literal aircraft did not have a flight engineer. I'm aware historically they did.

[@anthonyvallillo422]

@@photoJDL I stand corrected! Although I wonder how they got it past the FAA....

[@carlosorchard8621]

I was 5, Panagra 1956 - Santiago-SCL - NYC Idlewild, what a ride in 1st class with a bed, 5 stops, maybe more, can't remember.

[@photoJDL]

Very cool!

[@happyhome41]

Love this ! Thank you.

[@aschonland]

So great to find your channel Jeremy

[@photoJDL]

welcome! I don't really maintain it very much, but it's here.

[@htschmerdtz4465]

I remember fleeting images on a TWA Constellation transcontinental flight, when I was but four. Then as an older child, I watched the big Douglas, Lockheed and Boeing recips fly over my house on their way to Los Angeles International, wishing for another ride. Only the newest jets have reached the seat-mpg fuel efficiency of a DC 7C but they will never match the sound of those big Wright turbo-compound radials.

[@ronmorrison1964]

Yes, and being the son of a WW2 AF B29 captain who owned a Cessna 195 with a 245 hp Jacobs radial. I couldn't agree with you more.

[@photoJDL]

Such a gorgeous sound. Grateful to have had the chance to fly in one.

[@thedude69692009]

I agree I know the jets /turbofans are the future better speed altitude range etc. But the sound and feel of these old radial monsters specially at close to max power Is music to my ears shame most youth today will ever really experience it the feel in the chest the effect they left on you was a very unique experience wouldn't change for the world they are dying breed soon will all be gone or in museums at least got to say I got to see the golden age aircraft fly even at the end of thier flying lives can't get that sensation in a museum

[@htschmerdtz4465]

@@thedude69692009 It will never happen but think of a new-tech, compact, high-revving liquid cooled diesel radial, similar to what Rotax has done to legacy light aircraft piston engine companies.

[@semiprofessional8470]

@@htschmerdtz4465 only limited by props. The engine tech is there

[@hamiltontodd8579]

Being an airline brat growing up, I have many fond memories of flying on EAL Connies and DC-7B's from MIA to all points north. I loved getting a window seat right by the starboard or port engines (especially at night!).

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

Why at night ??? could you see the glow of the exhaust pipes or the puffs of flame coming out of them ????

[@photoJDL]

I not so secretly hoped the flight would go at dusk to really make those exhaust stacks pop on camera!

[@edrickoerner2758]

I'd take THIS sound-track on a loop, over background or 800-number "music" ANY day. I loved the Delta 7s... and all this bunk about 777s and such; the DC-7 cabin noise was far less annoying that those odious pitches and harmonics of big "fans"... didn't NEED noise-cancelling... a few minutes in the air, and I was ASLEEP.

[@Too519]

thank you so much

[@TeemarkConvair]

brought back my youth flying with the family to SFO few times a year. Dad was with AAL for36 years

[@photoJDL]

Glad you enjoyed it. There's also an article on it, which you can read here: jdlmultimedia.com/?page_id=1820

[@kennethmcclure29]

Sir nothing like the sound of double radial engines! Thanx Ken from gpt ms

[@kennethmcclure29]

I meant double row radial engines! Thanx Ken from gpt ms

[@photoJDL]

thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. There's also an article on it, which you can read here: jdlmultimedia.com/?page_id=1820

[@carterbishop2935]

awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@LTDan-hu5fq]

Wow what a Machine!!!! Awesome power

[@photoJDL]

Sure is!

[@JeffreyUncapher]

I grew up next to LAX and remember going to sleep to the sounds of the old piston engine planes and later to the sounds of jets. Nothing like the sounds of the 3350's of the DC-7 and Constellation. Dad travelled all the time and died on a UAL flight in 2002. I did 24 years, seven months, three days, five hours and ten seconds with UAL. Retired and loving seeing ol tin.

[@williamdixon1992]

I was a Flight Attendant for American Airlines based in Miami. I remember seeing a DC7 in American Airlines livery flying in and out of the Carribean islands. I believe it was carring freight. This was about 5 years ago.

[@photoJDL]

Nice! They had one in Eastern EAL livery flying about still up through 2010 or so. The plane would've been a common sight down that way for awhile. But I don't believe there have been any, freight or otherwise, since except this fire tanker. The EAL retired several years ago and is now at CLT, I think.

[@manifestgtr]

What’s that “horn click” sound during the initial taxi? That’s such an interesting sound…these old birds were so alive with mechanized magic.

[@JamesAMG]

I was also curious what that noise is. Went through all the posts and surprisingly not a single other mention of it.

[@DSAK55]

Came to America as child in one of these

[@arthurfrancodelimajunior1747]

Nice vídeo

[@EVELYNEMIL]

Absolutely phenomenal!!

[@robertglas5854]

Beautiful video!! Thanks for uploading it! I remember when I was young flying on these, Electras, Constelllation, DC3, when they were still in regular traffic and missed them when the jets came - boring, nothing to look at! 🤤

[@photoJDL]

thanks! glad you enjoyed it.

[@ericbitzer5247]

Sad to see these beautiful vintage aircraft take their last flight.

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

I remember as a child hearing these planes take off... we were probably a mile away and they sounded like a large organ forming a undulating mutual note that would last roughly 30 seconds to a minute.... I would stand transfixed thinking that someone was playing a large pipe organ and the one note sound was immense since it had travelled so far to reach my ear......

[@photoJDL]

it's such a cool sound - will miss those radials!

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

@@photoJDL I so agree... it is a place in time that has gone by....

[@davrober48]

I flew on them when I was young in the 50's . American and Eastern . Today they don't know what the meaning of elegance is .

[@Agwings1960]

The flight engineer, not the pilot, is the one who really operates that aircraft

[@photoJDL]

this was being flown with only two pilots, the FO effectively operating at the engineer.

[@Agwings1960]

@@photoJDL I realize that's the case, but overall, it's better to have two sets of eyes outside the cockpit, flying the aircraft and let a good flight engineer handle the engines and propellers, that;'s the way Douglas thought best and the way those aircraft were designed

[@mikecrane6096]

Are the exhaust ports flaming due to rich takeoff fuel mixture? A lot of un-burned fuel going overboard.

[@michaelmurray11189]

These turbo-compound radials use a higher octane fuel than what most GA prop planes use. Usually 130 octane instead of 100LL. This higher octane burns at a slower rate than the lower octane fuel. This slower burn is why one can see flames coming out of the tailpipes during takeoff, especially during the dusk and night time hours.

[@laxjetbear]

Where did you fly from/to? Is it being scrapped there?

[@myZisfantastic]

Took off from Medford, Landed at Madras muni I think! Crater lake at 33.2!

[@andron967]

I remember flying 9n these from Tulsa to Dallas then LA and back many times. And DC3 And DC6 and Electra. American Airlines. But ai gotta say I fell in love with the 707 first time those jet engines really lit up.

[@Kurtwaldheim2]

Was good friends with #1 American Airlines pilot Simon Peter Bittner. When I had to fly to San Francisco on a 707 I was afraid of first ride in a jet. Simon told me he loved them and not to worry. It was a fantastic flight and I flew PSA out of Burbank many times on a 707.

[@andron967]

I don't know why I didn't get along with the four engine piston airliners. But every flight I wound up with a headache. The stewardesses were normally very pretty. The seemed to always fuss over me when I was a kid. They'd often come get me and take me on the flight deck. The pilots were great but I was always more impressed with the flight engineer station. Wow! It's amazing to see one of these decks today. Back then it was like Star Trek. Today it's major antique. And the scenery was better. Like sitting in front of those big engines and props and watching the Grand Canyon glide by. And the mountains and rivers. Landing in LA was a real trip in itself. But I wasn't really comfortable on big planes. A B47 crashed by my house when I was 3 in Tulsa. Thank God it wasn't the whole plane.

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

In case you didn’t see, the shadow of this wonderful craft followed her on final right to touchdown

[@davef.2329]

What's the current disposition of the plane? Was this the one that was originally delivered to EAL?

[@photoJDL]

I believe it's still sitting at Madras, where it landed. I think it did a few short mx flights hoping that the contract would be renewed, but it wasn't. It has sat there ever since.

[@electrician248]

What is that metallic clanking noise I hear in the back ground as the plane is lining up for take off? Maybe some kind of hydraulic pump?

[@armandoaldana8543]

looks to me like the props are in reverse thrust as in slowing the plane after landing !!

[@AndreA-ke2id]

Ancient technology meets modern digital technology, which is supposed to be a big step forward from analogue. But, when it comes to capturing fast movement like propellers, digital is a giant leap backwards and spoils the experience. Nevertheless, it's a great piece of film and appreciate you sharing with us.

[@photoJDL]

thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. There's also an article on it, which you can read here: jdlmultimedia.com/?page_id=1820

[@twoZJs]

A little trivia note; "how can one tell which bird they are viewing in the above pic, DC-6 (C-118)(2800-52w) or a DC-7 (3350-xxx)"? Answ; A DC-6 cowl-flap would be two flaps where the DC-7 as seen above, has the one large single flap.

[@twoZJs]

Its a beautiful thing in a night-flight in seeing from this side window, the welder's torch blue flame blasting from the exhaust ring stack's outlet ports.

[@wilsonloke3942]

DC7c’s have four blade prop

[@williamdixon1992]

Where did you depart from and where did you land? Excellent video! Would have liked to see the aircraft and interrior too. I hope The DC7 gets to fly again.

[@photoJDL]

Medford OR to Madras OR (MFR-S33), and thank you! A whole write up can be found on my website: jdlmultimedia.com/?page_id=1820

[@95TurboSol]

Engines just casually shooting flames out the exhaust pipes the whole time

[@dannywilliamson3340]

Why is the plane being retired?

[@photoJDL]

Read all about it here! thanks! jdlmultimedia.com/?page_id=1820

[@ericbitzer5247]

What was the date of this flight?

[@gregrehmer9069]

Where was this?

[@photoJDL]

Medford OR to Madras OR (MFR-S33)

[@Too519]

A Beauty

[@rogerhornby1149]

The thing I notice is how fast this plane is. I've flown in other propeller aircraft, and by comparison, this one really goes. For reference, cruise speed of the P51 Mustang was 362mph. For the DC7, it was 365mph. Watch how fast this covers ground after takeoff. It's no slouch at all.

[@jstrahan2]

For a video that's over an hour long, you need to show more than the right side engines.

[@Deviation4360]

You'd think there would of at least been a small crowd of people that had some affinity/experience with this old girl waiting on that apron, but maybe Sir Donald Douglas himself was there in spirit to effectionately caress her propeller, "Good job old girl".

[@photoJDL]

it was the middle of covid, pre-vax and crowds were discouraged. I think the other part was timing - I'm not sure folks knew it was coming in or that it was the official end of the line.

[@kevwatson7965]

reminds me so much of Connie in AU, VH EAG..........

[@thierrygerard-f9u]

Entendre ou plutôt reentendre vrombir ses moteurs est pour moi un plaisir , celà me rappele mon enfance, lorsque gamin je regardais parir les dc6 air afrique et UTA ou les constellations d'air france, des souvenirs moi même ais voyagé sur DC4 , et constellation 749 et 1049. J'adore le constellation et surtout le 1649 une belle machine haute sur pattes et surtout sa ligne majestueuse.

[@Too519]

one can feel the end is near

[@bladi-senpai9398]

People with fear of flying are having an mental breakdown watching those wings with that much soot 😭💀

[@bobjove6511]

Magic

[@watchgoose]

my father flew them back in the day.

[@dogmandan79]

Did anyone else see the AN125 in the background?

[@tomsamuelson8512]

AN-124...

[@leonpastis4663]

I only see 2 engines.

[@jamespemberton5807]

Over an hour on this awesome old girl and we see 2 engines the whole time are you kidding me

[@lucaswalker2538]

No one has forced you to watch this footage. Lol.

[@richardholmjr6052]

You should donate this to the EAA at Oshkosh these iconic birds of our history need a great home to posibily be refurbished and flowen again. ?

[@mike97525]

I flew to the UK in the military version

[@twoZJs]

Mike, Look again, there were no USAF '7' version, now there were many '118B' flights out of McGuire so smooth to all points Europe, ones could not believe it. Elvis had to be awaken after touching down in a McGuire snow storm (few and far between), "son, you are back home". The FE's routine, nothing to write home about.

[@rafaelvelez5134]

Pregunta cuantos pistones traer cada motor de estos aviones y si son tan grandes como se ven,si alguien me puede ayudar, y si el avión donde murió nuestro Roberto Clemente fueron recuperado todos los motores.

[@josemauricioduarte543]

As aeronaves movidas a hélices têm uma magia contagiante para nós que as vimos em plena atividade, mas atualmente quando vejo um video feito com essas camaras digitais fico um pouco triste pois, elas quebram a energia das hélices girando e as colocam em um compasso lento que não nos tramite a real energia dos motores.

[@photoJDL]

Concordo, infelizmente não consegui instalar uma câmera manual para obter a velocidade correta do obturador - mas estou feliz por ter algo!

[@josemauricioduarte543]

@@photoJDL Ficou muito bom o vídeo, é apenas a velocidade da câmera que que nos tira essa impressão.

[@jackdebbie]

Flew at age 13 on one of these from Seattle to Schiphol (Netherlands). Super loud inside. Plane developed an oil leak that was dripping over the wing and we landed in Greenland to fix. The exhaust glows red hot on takeoff. Very cool but not a comfortable ride - droning is awful.

[@photoJDL]

That sounds about right. It may have been a Golden Age of aviation aircraft, but I think folks when they're honest with themselves might recall that not everything about the experience was so golden after all ;-)

[@BOBSKARBONKIEWICZ]

Rather doubt this is the last airworthy DC-7?!

[@photoJDL]

Unless something has changed it’s been the last for awhile now. But new birds are getting airworthy all the time, so you never know!

[@rickestabrook4987]

Please tell us of her fate!

[@photoJDL]

I believe it is still down in Madras. I don't think it has flown in quite awhile.

[@douglascorley6630]

There's no place to land over not using solar batteries

[@stenic2]

The cowl flaps look too “close” for takeoff

[@dillon78898]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@claramoura3191]

Lindo voo

[@eddieedmondson7698]

DC-7 starboard engines retirement flight.

[@coldwar1952]

This must be the tanker that went to Delta now on display

[@photoJDL]

no, this one is still in Oregon.

[@williamkennedy8768]

Just think next dc7 dc8 was a jet

[@PeterNGloor]

a pity the movie was filmed with a (cellphone?) camera that makes such a mess of the propellers.

[@photoJDL]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was taken with a GoPro, thanks for asking.

[@robbob5318]

... Keep the Blue Side Up 💙

[@glennmorrell4907]

Boring video of two engines on a plane. Congratulations….