Ex-TWA Convair CV-880 Departing From Mojave

[@HERBHOOVERS]

I am one of the lead guys who tried to save this plane for over a year. However, the airport where it was stored for so long finally said it had to go. Before we sold it for scrap in early 2008, I saved many items from the plane. A few rows of seats, the wheels and tires, the over wing doors, all the items from the cockpit and the best part, I kept the entire engine number 4, the one those two guys are leaning on in this video. It's still in my storage yard today. The entire cockpit nose section of ship 3 has been restored and is on display at the NJ Aviation Hall Of Fame. I took film of this plane being cut up for scrap and it's sad. We tried to save the plane. We really tried....

[@AudiophileTubes]

Can you post a video of the engine 4? We'd love to see it!

[@muffs55mercury61]

It's so sad that our history is often not saved. Too many take the easy way out with the torch or the wrecking ball. Now I'm sure climate change fanatics will try to outlaw air shows and classic cars on the road. They haven't got to it yet but it is likely coming.

[@Viking88Power]

Awsome

[@justins4926]

We had a CV880 Gear and 2 CJ805 engines at the A&P school I went to in NJ. Wonder if it's from this plane

[@melonbobful6940]

You have to get her up and running in the backyard. It'll only be a little bit of noise for a few minutes but you'll need an entire tanker truck of kerosene.

[@hscollier]

Brings back memories! My first flight was in 1964 on a Continental Convair 880. I was 7 years old and the stewardess put wings on my chest, and the captain let me go into the cockpit inflight. I was hooked on aviation; building model airplanes; joined the Civil Air Patrol when I was old enough; then a career in the USAF.

[@RyanBomar]

The CV-880's were only flown by Cathay Pacific, Delta, Japan Airlines, Northeast Airlines, Swissair, TWA, and VIASA. If you're 100% certain it was Continental, it would have been a Boeing 707 or 720B.

[@hscollier]

@@RyanBomar It could have been TWA. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@RyanBomar]

@@hscollier Lucky you either way! That's an incredible flight to have on the list.

[@captlawler]

Checked out as a TWA captain on the 880 in 1968. Thanks for the memory!

[@philmontejano5971]

Did you ever y tbf F 106? I wonder how many guys want from 102s or the 106? All Convair aircraft. Or has anyone flown the B 58, 102, 106 and the 880? Now that would be cool!!

[@RyanBomar]

EscapeforMankind The point of this video is to showcase a classic jetliner that was a revolutionary part of commercial aviation history. The CV-880 stands for everything that was 1960's era jet transportation. It was beyond fast, burned a ton of fuel (which wasn't a big deal considering fuel prices in those days), sleek, comfortable and yes...very noisy & smoky. If you say that you appreciate state of the art airliners, you might want to acknowledge the role that this beautiful aircraft played in getting us to where we are today.

[@NickB]

Whilist I've seen a fair few 440's I've never even heard of the '880 until this came my way courtesy of KZbin. As you said - noisy and smoky!

[@Muglone]

Classic Airliners & Vintage Pop Culture I got to fly in one

[@danielocarey9392]

It might have been noisy @ t/o but at cruise it was quieter than all airliners of the day except the 990.

[@tman78au]

Was about to say the same thing, especially about the smoke lol

[@RyanBomar]

*****, corrected, thank you!

[@TravelWithDan]

Now that my friends, is a sight no avid aviation enthusiast will tire of seeing. A proper aircraft with a heck of a lot of smoke coming out of it. Simply stunning

[@joshs4594]

I've watched this video many times over the years and I love it more each time. I was a plane spotter before I was 10 and I clearly remember when the CV-880 and CV-990 Coronado were in regular service during the 1960s. They were smokiest jets made. However, back then it was a character trait that wasn't frowned upon like it would be today. I miss those days when plane spotting provided a lot more variety then it does now.

[@dc10fomin65]

I flew in the Coronado ( passenger ) in the 60's on VARIG Brazil, between Rio and Los Angeles. It had many technical stops along the way but it was fast. The only thing I did not like about the 990 and the 880 was the 3 and 2 seating in coach class, otherwise they were both real nice.

[@leechjim8023]

​@@dc10fomin65That should be a GOOD thing: Fewer middle seats!

[@DannoAviation]

Spewing fumes and all-sorts out the back of all four engines like it was powered by diesel… and I absolutely LOVE IT

[@paulamadrid5465]

The red TWA signature crest had faded in harsh conditions out in MHV, so we painted the "sashes" with fresh red in honor of her departure.

[@RyanBomar]

@MVR326, General Electric CJ-805 aka the J79 turbojet. The same type of engine that was used on the F-104 Starfighter, F-4 Phantom II, A-5 Vigilante and the B-58 Hustler.

[@alexbeuerman7608]

WAY smokier than an F-4 or F-104 though, I guess the afterburner must help it burn cleaner.

[@TheSlickstah]

My dad was a flight engineer for Delta on the 880, just prior to 1970. I got my first airplane ride on an 880, from Chicago to Atlanta. My dad said that the 880 used the same GE J-79 engines the B-58 Hustler used, albeit without an afterburner. I followed the story of how people were trying over the years to resurrect an 880 -- I'm glad they got it accomplished.

[@4thstooge75]

+Michael Campbell That's a nice sentiment unless you know it was a flight from one scrapyard to another....sad.

[@JoaoCarlos-kg1hq]

Pig airplane.

[@Southwest_923WR]

@@JoaoCarlos-kg1hq Why were you here?

[@rodgermiller2970]

My Dad was a pilot out of Chicago for Delta flying 880's, cool old plane.

[@schnellguy]

Outstanding, love the smoke trails,the sound.Those 880s were screamers!

[@devoncantrell3311]

Wow. The amount of smoke that produces is both amazing and beautiful

[@raoulcruz4404]

I would like to know more about the effort to get this aircraft flying again. Sitting in the desert for almost 20 years and then makes a transcontinental flight.

[@OFFICIAL_VIDEO_AWARDS]

It's pretty basic checks: Checking for bearing noises and play in the fan assembly. Pressurising the hydraulic and pneumatic systems to check for leaks. Checking auxiliary items to ensure oil/ charging, fuel flow etc Checking gaskets and seals for potential leaks or failure under load. Inflating and checking tyres. Topping off fluids. Checking brake operation, lubricating joints and articulation points. Before the day of the flight all lights, wipers, avionics and fuses would be checked. All flight controls checked and adjusted and lubricated. Check and replace emergency items and emergency activation sensors. Fuel system flushes and filled to check for leaks. Replacing flow filters, oil filters etc. A basic airframe check for cracks or damage. Back in this era they probably topped off the existing batteries and checked for charge and holding charge. Very different to today's requirements I'd assume.

[@coriscotupi]

@@OFFICIAL_VIDEO_AWARDS *"Checking for bearing noises and play in the fan assembly."* Except... There were no fans. Those engines are turbojets.

[@ELcinegatto87]

@@coriscotupi Yup. The 990 had the rear fan but these are pure jets, as simple as it gets. Love the water injection takeoffs on these and the early 707 turbojets.

[@mytmousemalibu]

@@ELcinegatto87 The CV-880 & CV-990 did not have water injection. These are the civil variant of the venerable J-79. The older J-79 and CJ-805's had a combustor design that created a lot of smoke. This was somewhat rectified by a newer low-smoke can that improved it but still a smoky engine.

[@rudyho3790]

Add: Chk position lights, rotating beacon...whup don't see em

[@gcrauwels941]

They were pretty fast compared to the other early airliners . I can't imagine how much work was put into making this airframe airworthy for it's last journey .

[@brendanfreed]

Oh how I wish I could've been alive in those days... The A350 is cool, but this is what got it to where it is. Amazing video!

[@Southwest_923WR]

The Airbus name didn't even exist back then! A350? Jeez, really bro!

[@EDDTSpotter]

Looks so great! Thank you for sharing this rare video (with sound!!!) with us!

[@djdood]

Such a beautiful airplane. Still has one of the sleekest cockpit "cabs" of any jetliner, ever.

[@sup209]

WOW! I never thought i would see a cv880 in action! Thank you Ryan and Craig, for making this possible.

[@ssixsixsixx]

Beautiful! My only question is who are the 24 people who disliked this video and how hard did their parents beat them as children?

[@sup209]

I bet they're the same thoughtless people who scrapped these rare birds.

[@grandnasty8749]

A White Mon Calamari Elvis had one it's still sitting by Grace land today

[@inaz1963]

Not hard enough.

[@bingosunnoon9341]

I'm one of them. Liked it until I read your comment.

[@zimmzttocs]

Prius drivers

[@martinsteiner8287]

This is great! This is what i saw when I was a child. America is great and so free! Thank you from Germany

[@CodiganKelly1983]

I love old footage of aircrafts like this Convair jet. Never knew much about them because they were way before my time. Excellent video!

[@Bulldog1653]

What an awesome video! I love seeing this plane flying and doing what it was meant to do. In terms of supersonic flight, etc, the 880 was an extremely fast airliner and set a few records that still stand today. Although I haven't found anything saying that this plane did break Mach 1, that doesn't mean that it never happened. I do know that the Douglas DC-8 DID go supersonic but it was in a shallow dive. If the 880 ever did go supersonic, then it most likely would have happened the same way. Remember that this plane, along with the Douglas DC-8 and the Boeing 707 paved the way for current airliners. Yes they were smoky, loud, and not very fuel efficient but they were early pioneers in the Jet Age. This plane (even though there were only 65 built) earned it's way into the history books. I personally would love to see one restored into flying condition and tour various airshows. The same goes with the DC-8 and 707. Sitting in the Mojave desert is no way for a plane to die. They belong in the air, doing what they were built for.

[@65marlin327]

When the first 880 was delivered to Delta in Miami, it made the trip from California in some 3 hours and 21 minutes. The FAA was there to meet the plane, and to advise maintenance to down power the engines. It WAS supersonic, and almost broke the sound barrier on its delivery flight. FAA wasn't happy about it. But, it still holds the record from coast to coast, though none are around, flyable, today. They're all gone.

[@lonmcq7317]

@@65marlin327 Elvis's Lisa Marie, while not airworthy, is said to be the most complete 880 in existence...

[@65marlin327]

@@lonmcq7317 Yes, I know. Sadly, it's the closest thing we have left of one. There was an attempt several years ago to resurrect one in Delta livery, but they gave up on it, for some reason.

[@charlesanzalone5846]

The 990 was even faster but too small of a capacity to compete with the longer range 8s and 707s that carried more psssengers

[@richardmorris7063]

I flew a Delta 880 in 68 Tampa - Chicago,I was 11 but I remember it was under 2 hrs.1100 miles.

[@lvsluggo007]

I grew up in San Diego and my dad used to take me down to Lindbergh field to watch the planes take off and land. Since the Convair plant on the airport was the final assembly point for these beauties, we saw quite a few of them sitting on the line, awaiting delivery. This would be have been in the early 60s. Great to see at least one still flying..

[@paulturner9173]

What a fantastic video. I don't ever remember seeing an 880 flying here in the UK as a kid, but my local airport, Birmingham (BHX/EGBB) used to have a Spantax CV-990 on a Saturday afternoon, and I loved watching and hearing that thing going over. Great memories. Thanks sooo much for uploading.

[@BillUtah]

Just came upon this. Quick story.. My Grandfather was a engineer at Convair and was the lead on the design of this series of AirCraft (he helped design the wing of the spruce goose too) I took him up to Mojave in a private aircraft and we walked around all the stored 880s up there. This was in the late 80s. He would have gone crazy to see one of them take off!

[@billdobbins1675]

I always had a heard Convair had a difficult time getting engines. Between Boeing and Douglas they had everything pretty much lock up?

[@OHAREAVIATION]

incredible footage!! so glad someone thought to make this ;) so others can enjoy!

[@elee4328]

Absolutely unbelievable...after all these years in the desert, it still works! I just wished it was flying to a museum. Seriously!

[@frankieriderii2580]

You can go to Graceland in Memphis, TN and see Elvis' "Lisa Marie" 880. It has recently been refinished and will be getting permanent cover as part of Graceland' next additions. It is by no means a standard 880, but it is on static display.

[@visionist7]

@@frankieriderii2580 does it have a WhamGlam interior?

[@nealrcn]

Thank You for all your hard work. Now we have a HD video of this classic airliner for the future to see.

[@limeyustafly]

WOW...First jet I ever flew, with Walt Gunn as the Captain...all of 21 I was...where did those years go...Who remembered that the exhaust was that bad, seemed pretty normal back then!!!

[@henryjames8654]

There weren't nearly as many planes in the air then. At the age of 5 my first flight was on a DC3 Kansas City(the old downtown airport, TWA main hub at the time) to Chicago. Flying in those days ruined all the amusement park rides for me, no pressurized cabin, and flying through weather instead of around it. Flying used to be an adventure, now it's more like a greyhound bus ride, with the same quality of people that were on the bus.

[@slim471]

I stumbled on to this today, man what a blast!.Thanks Ryan!.i was a passenger on one in 1969.rt window over the wing, TWA flt from LAX-DTW . i still have my playing cards. the stewardess gave to me (not for sale!).my parents kept them all these years and found them while going threw my dads old trunk stuffed in a closet.

[@RyanBomar]

I appreciate the comment and the compliment! We've got a ton of classic / rare airliner footage that will slowly be unveiled. Ryan

[@boeingca3448]

My Grandfather delivered this airplane when it was new. He was the head of the 880 Quality Control Department for Convair San Diego at that time. Amongst his many duties was responsibility for overseeing the final acceptance flights prior to delivery to the airlines. If all went well, he signed the airplane over to the purchasing airline. Thanks for posting the video Ryan. I wish there was an example still flying. If I could have any type rating it would be CV-880/990.

[@timmayer8723]

Reminds me of the B-52. I can't imagine leaving the ground in that antique. Since it flys, wash it off, repaint and polish it and put it on display.

[@TrailWalker03]

Thanks for posting. Watched this video I don't know how many times. Never gets old.

[@DEP717]

Beautiful airplane! Just imagine, you roll into the airport in your ride, you already have tail fins left and right in the parking lot. You head inside, nobody's getting patted down unless it's a stewardess and the pilot's involved, everybody's dressed up to fly, dressed in style. You board on the air gate or if the day is nice, there are stairs. Leg room, too. You blast off like that, engines smoking like George Burns in Havana, & have a legitimate in flight meal. With a Martini. Yeah, buddy.

[@richardmorris7063]

Lmao!!! Really takes me back!

[@lucathompson6108]

The best Video on YT I’ve ever seen

[@hanmaenen7337]

She was a beautiful plane, that was addicted to smoking! Don''t forget, she helped to lead the way to the planes of today. Too bad she was scrapped eventually in 2008. I know that we have to move forward, but these old planes, trains, ships and cars deserve respect and we can still enjoy those that have been preserved. Just like the Commodore 64 computer that was so popular in its day. Now we have PC's and Apples. However, I do have fond memories of that vintage computer.

[@mickeymartin451]

When I joined TWA in 1975 they had retired the 880 by the time I got on line....I used to hear funny stories from the senior gals I worked with about the 880 and the paper dresses the TWA hostesses used to wear!! They use to carry masking tape to tape the dresses if they ripped!! LOL!!! They said that the 880 was noisy, shaked rattled and rolled on landing...but was a treat to work on..

[@NetCerpher]

Love it! First it was the 707, then the DC-8 and then the Convair 880. The 880 was the fastest and the loudest. Love it.

[@SirensAndAlarmsOfNorthernIL]

No wonder it is fast and loud as it’s literally using 4 non afterburning GE J-79s which are fighter jet engines. At full power (without afterburner) those are noisy as hell and they even have the crackling noise bc the exhaust goes supersonic. 4 of these on an airliner is sure gonna push it fast! I wish they made a high bypass turbofan version of the J-79 and used it on this airliner tho. Then they won’t need 4 of them and produce even more thrust than the afterburning J-79s

[@jetli8703]

Fantastic! I like how the guys touch the engine to probably feel if it's gonna blow! And the low pass at the end! Just a great old bird. And Elvis had one! Thanks

[@retroolschool]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@RyanBomar]

Thank you, Elton! Much appreciated.

[@timothyb949]

That's completely stunning... I used to watch Delta Air Lines CV-880s take off from Atlanta airport when I was a child... they were so impressive.

[@mikemore4353]

I miss this plane so much I have that planes number 3 engine cowl in my garage. before you say no I don'r I was there during the scraping of the plane it was flow out to atlatic city and I was given the chance to go toake some goodies before it was destroyed. I also have the captain's home the entire throttle quadrant and 4 egt and fuel flow gages. As well I have the rudder peddals and a full set of wheels and an emergency escape hatch(over the wing)

[@electraglide9357]

That plane should've been put in a museum!

[@hobsonbeeman359]

If you build it from those parts....they will come...lol

[@GSteel-rh9iu]

Reg N807AJ "Phantom" (ex-TWA N810TW); scrapped KACY

[@ianjackson7515]

How could you NOT like this !!!! Best from New Zealand.

[@goodfella2400]

Pretty amazing they were able to prep the aircraft for a cross-country flight after being stored for 18 years. Wish more of them had been built.

[@FedericoKunz]

Super, and very emotional for me, was an a/c mechanic ages back 1963 (with Swissair then using CV-880 and later CV-990). Thanks a lot.

[@apgardude]

The crackle and smoke! I miss going to Shea as a kid in the early 70's: they'd pause the game as an LGA 13 departure -- typically a DC-9 or three-holer -- would rock the stadium in a right-wing-low initial climb. Great video and sexy plane...thanks!

[@richardmorris7063]

I remember games the year the miracle Mets won in 69 screaming over.Then moved up to New England & recall flying out of LaGuardia & looking out my window right over home plate about 1990.

[@helios1912]

Great vid--thanks for the post, RyanBonar. The Convair 880 was a quite the technological artifact. The smoke reminds of the old KC-135 tankers I flew with water injection J-57s.

[@RyanBomar]

@MVR326, it was the JT8D, the JT9D was used on seven-fours. Interestingly, early on in development Boeing took a look at the Rolls-Royce Spey to power the 727 & 737. One quick side note, the 737 was originally operated using a 3 man cockpit due to union requirements.

[@stratus262j2]

Mojave is a great place to see classic Jetliners...... 707's, 720's, and an absolutely beautiful pristine DC-8 !!!

[@dangerzone24]

i think any video of a plane taking off AWAY from Mojave is a great vid...nothing worse than a perfectly good airplane rotting away in the desert

[@R3dhawk95]

they don't rot away in the desert because it is a desert. The humidity levels are too low for pretty much any amount of rust to form on the airframes. more often than not, pretty much the whole plane ends up getting recycled for parts and the metal itself, which then goes to making more airframes

[@dangerzone24]

R3dhawk I think perhaps you took me a little too literally. I meant sitting idle, doing nothing. Not literally rotting.

[@R3dhawk95]

Bernard Bradley still not doing nothing technically, just being (very) slowly consumed by industrial demand

[@dangerzone24]

R3dhawk point taken.

[@scottrevell2706]

Amen!

[@kjfitzgerald593]

Wow, I forgot how much smoke those older engines made. Glad to see this video. Thanks for posting it. I've lived near ATL all my life, so I like the newer clean burning, more efficient and less noisy engines of today. But I would get a kick out of seeing one of these once more.

[@dhtelevision]

Still lower emissions than a VW

[@jesusmonge]

😁😁😁😂

[@Alby_Torino]

Only in the americans wet dreams

[@electraglide9357]

Yes and you didn't get carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in the back like in a V-Dub! 😀

[@lionelevanphurnawan9149]

Pesawat itu apa namanya

[@lionelevanphurnawan9149]

Apa nama pesawat itu

[@kenpalmer1965]

Wow! For an old bird, she still has it where it counts and can still fly! I too forgot how much smoke those things emitted. But it's always a pleasure for me to watch the old classic jetliners take to the skies and relive their glory heydays. Nice video!

[@alahollywood]

7:01 Almost 30 years ago even the lady is shocked with all that smoke coming out of that bird! 😂😂😂

[@signature1990]

Smokey...Yes, Old....Yes, Classic....Yes, should these old birds be flying....Yes. This aviation channel on You Tube is one of the best. Great work Ryan, you have an excellent lot of videos here, well done.

[@doug9066]

Always nice to see an aircraft leave this desert especially this former TWA jet, oh the days of the smokey engines, very nice.

[@duvdevanik]

honestly this video brought tears to my eyes!! thank you

[@Rexag]

Just perfect....I loved the smoke, loved the smell, and loved that crackling popping those engines made - especially on a cold day. Ahh the days...now they all have dual engines, look alike and sound alike...oh yeah, what sound? ho hum.....

[@TheUtuber999]

Rex TexasAggie You'd care if you lived in the flight path near an airport.

[@j.jasonwentworth723]

I'm not sorry to have grown up and lived under the diagonal runway path to/from MIA (Miami International Airport) when Convair 880s, JT3C turbojet-powered (and later, JT3D and JT8D low-bypass turbofan-powered) 707s, 727s, 737s, DC-8s, and DC-9s were in service (with 747s, L1011s, and DC-10s coming later during my time there). My only complaint--which occurred everywhere in that area, not just near the airport, as I saw when visiting relatives' homes--was that the television reception was affected by multi-path reception ("ghosting") when the metal airliners, while passing overhead, reflected part of the TV signal back down (the TV audio, and FM radio audio, weren't affected by these "signal skips" [AM radio signals' frequencies are too low to be noticeably affected by this]).

[@TheUtuber999]

J. Jason Wentworth Then you're in a very small minority. If given a choice, 99.99% of people would choose quieter jets passing lowly over their houses to subtle ghosting artifacts on their TV screens... the latter of which wouldn't be an issue if you had used a roof-mounted antenna instead of rabbit ears, or cable TV, which we had in our neighborhood back in 1976.

[@FlyBoy7X7]

I used to hang out at FLL when I was a kid and always knew when the DL880 was getting ready to leave for ATL. They used ground airstarts for the Convairs.

[@jlust6660]

Modern airplane engines don't sound good? Have you ever heard an a350 during take off? I love it when they just roar past.

[@jimc6144]

This was my first ever air flight. TWA Convair 880 from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles enroute to Marine Corps boot camp. July 1962.

[@kennethhoffman8845]

Noisiest and most smoke belching airliner ever... When Delta's 880s would fly over my boyhood home in suburban New Orleans, they were so loud that you could tell just by the sound that it was not a 707 or DC-8.....

[@flightgearHD]

well yeah, it was supposed to be a transonic jet lol

[@davidnaquin6914]

Growing up in the Lynn Park area as a kid in the 60s i had a perfect view of jets coming and going out of MSY. Loved it!

[@vincentstruckstrainsplanes34]

man, that aircraft is a Smoker! When my dad finally took me to KBWI for my 13th birthday trip last month i saw a Gulfstream III landing and taking off with those very smoky Speys but THIS takes it to a WHOLE new level!

[@Gabrie177]

JESUS!!! when I saw all that smoke, I swear I thought that plane was on fire

[@styal5]

An absolutely superb piece of history!!!!!!!!!! Well done for posting it..

[@r08800]

If you saw an airliner smoking like that today you'd rightly assume a mayday had been issued. Par for the course back in the day though. The BUFF still does it a bit.

[@killman369547]

It's the B-52's water injection system that causes the smoke. The engines develop more thrust but the fuel burn becomes incomplete.

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

I remember when jets smoked like that, but i was very young. i also remember TV commercials touting GE's work on "smokeless" jet engines.

[@leekenney9214]

That’s so cool to see it airworthy again .. I used work in Mojave 1998-2000. ... they had this and another 880 or maybe a 990 parked side by side.. also had 2 C-133s parked as well ..

[@flymajj]

I have been back and watched this video so many times. I wonder whether anyone filmed it on arrival at Atlantic City.

[@RyanBomar]

I'm honored to have you visit my channel, thank you! I sure wish there was video of the landing. I haven't found anything as of yet.

[@philmontejano5971]

They should have!

[@AvgeekCarGeek]

Oh Heck look at that beautiful CV880 having a nice smoky departure and fly over 😍😍😍. Love old classic aircraft when they do that

[@bmused55]

Probably the only Convair to leave Mojave the same way it arrived.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

I remember the 880 when I was little. How times change! Then it was the "future" to me... now it's a smoker!! Either way... how beautiful! Thanks for posting!

[@ThePirateman54]

It is really a shame that no flyable 880's or 990's exist. My Dad flew the 880 for Delta for years until they phased them out in 1972. It was his favorite jet. Noise? Yes. Smoke. Definitely. But the plane was and still is the fastest American jetliner ever and still holds the transcontinental speed record. When you think about it, Convair was the one of the first innovative California companies before silicon valley.They were descended from Ryan in San Diego who built the Spirit Of St Louis. Delta would depart 20 minutes after an American 707 from ORD to MIA and arrive 45 minutes earlier. All that while kicked back smoking and eating filet mignon.

[@itsmegp46]

It was still a commercial failure. Only 65 880s were built compared to the 707s 1,010.

[@richardmorris7063]

I flew in the 880 Tampa - Chicago on Delta, it was definitely less than 2 hrs.

[@philmitchell2840]

Ryan - all I can say is awesome video mate, awesome upload and stunning jet, sleek, beautiful rake on the nose too, no worries about the smoke either, as I enjoyed a B&H while watching this..cheers

[@amblt1]

Aaaaah the good old days! Ear busting noise and eye watering smoke. Plane watching just isn't like that any more.

[@Gabrie177]

I can remembered seeing an old plane landing, my gosh, the noise were incredibly loud

[@diamonddog257]

@@Gabrie177 ... try the take-offs......

[@Gabrie177]

@@diamonddog257 😂😂😂😂

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

Agree with that 100% Brother!

[@Deltoid71]

I worked for DL at ORD, starting in '71. I can remember that we would usually push back the 880s from H8B or H10A and TWA was directly across the ramp from us. When both pushed back, tail to tail, from a distance it looked like the terminal was on fire, with all the smoke. My one regret at DL was that I never got to ride on Ol' Smokey. Great footage......keep it up.

[@alanjay35]

My favorite aircraft of all time smoky loud awesomeness

[@an-zr8mq]

Beautiful video, the 880 Coronado was a real clasic to compete with the 707 and the DC-8, good to see this one back in the air.

[@Iconoclasher]

One would think with all this unimaginable video technology available, stretched aspect ratios would be a thing of the past! That's a priceless video and it needs to be pulled off and corrected. Preferably 4:3, not zoomed in. History needs to be preserved and properly presented.

[@RyanBomar]

KZbin decided to do that, not myself. I uploaded the video in 4:3, KZbin decided to stretch the footage to 16:9 years later. Which is why I uploaded a corrected version, that YT hasn't messed with: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4GwlZ-kZcath7M

[@Iconoclasher]

RyanBomar Got it! Thank you! :D

[@TheLear23]

Thanks Ryan. Love those smoke trails. I remember Elvis Presleys 880 the Lisa Marie sitting at Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale AP after his death in the 70s. It sat there for a period of time before it was flown out and finally displayed at Graceland.

[@paulpeck6076]

When jets sounded like jets...love that sound

[@kerucutgaming2216]

Weak engine though, just making a lot of noise.

[@bobelaviador]

it is not sound IS MUSIC

[@mmciau]

Great that you had the time and patience to log this preparation and takeoff of a marvellous chapter in aviation history.

[@Peter78730]

I think the Boeing 707 was the most beautiful aircraft ever built. The slim but terribly inefficient engines contributed greatly to its appeal. Beginning in 1964, 707s have taken me all over the planet, most of the time in first class. They consistently flew well over 600mph. Overseas, there were no jetways then. We departed via stairs forward and aft, and a number of times immediately boarded a coach through very wide center doors and almost no seats. The trip to the building was typically about two minutes. Friends and family could meet you at the gate or walk with you to the departure area. Airports were almost empty compared to today. I stopped traveling in 1999, yearning for the golden age of travel that is now lost forever.

[@AudiophileTubes]

I'm 56, and fondly remember flying Olympic, TWA, and PAN-AM 707's nonstop from NYC (JFK) to Athens, Greece when I was a kid and teen! My father was originally from 'the old country', and we would look forward to vacationing in Greece every summer, primarily to visit our many relatives there (we lived in Jersey). The sound of those 707's spooling up was something else! I always got the window seat too! I only have one photo of my mom and us three brothers at the JFK terminal waiting to depart, with that glorious Olympic Airways 707 sitting outside on the tarmac behind us!

[@37VQV]

Golden age of flight my dick - there a reason the airports were almost empty compered to today.

[@Peter-zz9ur]

You do know this aircraft is not a Boeing 707....? This Convair CV880 was faster, especially the last model with the 'pods' at the back of the wings.

[@techguy-od2re]

P Fulton you can still experience your “golden age” if you pay for 1st Class!

[@visionist7]

@@37VQV yes because today's flights of drunk-till-they-puke passengers dressed in flip flops and lunatics who try opening the cabin door at 35000 feet are so much better

[@sergioantonioleite2393]

It is amazing the efficiency that engineering has achieved with current consumption and power engines. No more smoke is observed in the takeoffs of current aircraft. Anyway it's always good to watch such a aircraft.

[@ntchpt1271]

and like that, we lost another survivor. #13 the engines looked so puny, yet this was the fastest jetliner out there when built. amazing!

[@OOpSjm]

Still is fast

[@philmontejano5971]

Yeah Convair had the fastest airliner, the 880, fastest fighter F 106 and the fastest bomber B 58 at the same time!!

[@jeanderamee488]

My first jet flight was on an Delta Convair 880 in 1963, remember the flight like it was yesterday, FANTASTIC!!!!

[@Strato777]

She just wanted to keep on flying!

[@12291949cairo]

I remember on one of my TWA flights in the late sixties our pilot announcing that ahead of us is a 707 and how we will arrive in LAX 20 minutes sooner because the 880 was a faster airplane....Great Fun !

[@marcrobins707]

Ahhhh the good old days of smoke and fumes!

[@logolight]

Which is also partially why turbojet engines were gas guzzlers. One because most of the power was from the exhaust which meant you had feed the engine lots of fuel to get the power, and two, since not all the fuel burned during combustion, you had to pump more into it to get the power just the same.

[@samuelchan8224]

that thing runs on coal

[@TheUtuber999]

It runs on Trump's "clean coal."

[@j.jasonwentworth723]

I am glad that he supports this U.S. energy industry initiative. Here in Alaska (I do not work in our coal industry, nor do any of my relatives or friends), we have enough coal to power the U.S.--via coal and coal-derived gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon fuels--for centuries, and coal *does* burn cleanly (and more efficiently, too), when the crucible-like combustor technology is used. Also, I would love it if he bought a Convair 880 (and/or a Convair 990) and had it restored as an executive jet, as John Travolta did with a retired Boeing 707 jetliner (it uses the old, loud, and smoky Pratt & Whitney JT3D low-bypass turbofans, too, not the CFM-56 "miniature high-bypass turbofans" that some of the military tanker versions now use).

[@robertborchert932]

These engines were smoky at ground level, but at speed and at attitude it was a different story. You'll see exhaust plumes commonly with large military aircraft near the ground as well. Don't forget this aircraft and her powerplants were from a different era. The Convairs were the fastest...right at the time when fuel efficiency became a key issue. They played an important role in aviation.

[@glennoropeza3545]

Almost all of those vintage jets from the late 50's to the early 70's had pollution issues including the DC-8 and Boeing 707 that the 880 lost sales to.

[@michaelhall9138]

@@glennoropeza3545 : From one of my co-workers one day (he was also a supervisor!)… You're following a DC8, 12 o'clock, 6 miles report it in sight. Pilot: We don't see the DC8 but we do see smoke. Controller: Follow the smoke there's a DC8 at the end of it cleared visual approach 25L. Those were the days...

[@banan07]

It's wonderful that there is a channel like this, with old and cool airplanes. Nowadays there only eco-friendly, silent and clean aircrafts. Nice to see and hear plane like this Convair!

[@sabo2706]

The plane was parked from 1973-1991???? Then fire up the engines and go??? WOW!!!!! 18 years waiting for her chance to get airborne aigain. I wonder if a modern jet would start up after 18 years so easy? I think not - first update the software..........

[@timmayer8723]

sabo2706 and if it did start I wouldn't fly in it.

[@grazielecarvalho4792]

The best place in the world to store one aircraft. No humidity and the fluids are removed. A quick refill and check is good to go. Modern jet liners needs a cimplete tear down due to eletronics.

[@doug9066]

@@timmayer8723 modern Jets probably wouldn't start up again after sitting for as long as this plane has, old vintage planes are like old vintage cars, get better with age.

[@choirboyfromhell1]

Fondly remember riding a TWA 880 from CMH to ORD in it's last days in First Class. Quite a ride!

[@richardmorris7063]

Tampa to Chicago Ohare in 68 for me.

[@embrj1453]

how can they find somebody still legally able to fly this thing? i mean you have to be proficient, in others words fly it constantly

[@StratMatt777]

There is no regulation that says you have to have currency in a particular type - unless you want to carry passengers. For a turbine powered aircraft or any aircraft weighing more than 12,500lbs you need to have a type rating. And other pilots don't count as passengers!

[@embrj1453]

StratMatt777 Thanks, i didn't know about this detail...

[@captnfishfiter]

Glad on one 1973. Lots of smoke...could smell fumes in the cabin. LOVED IT!

[@captnfishfiter]

FLEW. Dan ohone

[@kasteman1]

"The runway literally went IFR after about the first two airplanes launched." XD Good 'ol days indeed.

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

Love the old Convairs. General Dynamics = bullet proof and FAST! I'm from Australia, we only just retired the trusty F1-11!!

[@RyanBomar]

I miss the Aardvark! What a unique & cool bird she was.

[@philipme109]

This was such a HOT and may I say a SEXY jet!

[@ez8546]

+philipme109 Oh man, you need a girlfriend! haha

[@philipme109]

+revin togo just got divorce not to long ago. Can't divorce a SEXY JET! haha

[@j.jasonwentworth723]

One could think of sexy jets in another way: Which airliner(s) would most couples prefer to "join the seven-mile-high club" aboard? :-)

[@visionist7]

@@j.jasonwentworth723 probably an Etihad A380 which features a real bed in "Apartment" class.

[@georginafraser451]

Fantastic efford of putting this aircraft on its feet again after 18 years!!! My congratulations for the engeniers. Good job!!!

[@ka5dwi]

The CV880 was the first plane I ever flew in. Delta from Houston to ORD and then many times to JFK. It was my favorite plane to fly in. It was comfortable and yes a little noisy, but when you sat in first class it didn't matter. The plane was replaced with a 727. You can keep that hunk of junk.

[@ThePudgie123]

Anyone know what 4 engine Air Jamaica few? That was my first on 1/1/73 and it was the only time I ever experienced a power climb to FL30+ right after leaving ORD...by the time we were over MDW it looked like a postage stamp below!!!

[@wellok5778]

My guess is a DC-8

[@TheUtuber999]

Art Jackson 727, a hunk of junk? Shows what you know.

[@Dino0469]

Art Jackson-727 a "Hunk of Junk"..really? Surely you didn't mean that. While the 880/990 had a bit more "flair" maybe than the 727, the Boeing was certainly not junk and considered as one of the greatest airliners of all time-just ask anyone who flew one and I'm pretty certain they'd tell you that it is well missed in this day and time and a joy to fly compared To today's "flying computers"! No doubt those old birds of the 60's had so much character compared to what is flying today! And those old proud smokey, loud engines..how I miss seeing and hearing that as a kid!

[@davef.2811]

DC-8's. If I recall correctly, (please advise otherwise) AJ's DC-8's were mostly ex Air Canada planes starting with old non-fan ships originally, then using low-bypass -40 series and finally -62's and-63's, some being operated for them by Rich International periodically. Delta flew the Convair 880 down to there nearing the end of it's service, as Delta flights. The early 8's and the 880's would deafen everyone in MoBay on departure and you could follow the smoke trails for miles to locate an inbound or outbound a/c.

[@simonbone]

This must have been the last turbojet-powered airliner flying (other than Concorde).