Lockheed Constellation - Walkaround & Interior Tour

[@tunaonwhitenocrusts]

Back in 03 or 04 when I lived in Kissimmee, I was at Fantasy of Flight all the time. I was eating lunch at the cafe inside, and this guy came up to me and my girlfriend and asked how we liked the place. We ended up talking for about 5 minutes and it was Kermit. We talked about the Connie, as it was my favorite. I walked around and made my way to the Connie, and he was in the hangar as I was out there. Kermit was nice enough to spend even more time with us just talking about it. It was fantastic, and Kermit was a truly gracious host. Not many owners of a place like that would not only remember my name, but call out to me and spend time shooting the breeze about this plane. I'm glad to see he still has it, and hopefully soon she will be back over near the main display area again.

[@Omnihil777]

"YO Tuna, nice to see ya again! Still no crusts?" Dat's our Kermit!

[@billmcgahey1926]

i rode on one of these from chicago to tampa with my parents in the mid '50s i was 8 or 9 and dad managed to get us invited into the cockpit where the captain took me in his lap and let me 'fly' her for a few magic moments. he even gave me some outdated ifr charts and taught me about tacan navigation. thanks so much for inspiring great memories of simpler, friendlier times and bluer skies!!

[@retrosad]

You're genuinely one of the luckiest people there is, and I hope you know it. There's probably never going to be a chance like that for anyone anymore

[@billmcgahey1926]

@@retrosad i am grateful every day to have lived at the time and with the privileges i have enjoyed. flying jets for the air force was the culmination of the story you read the first chapter of, but there are many others. thank you for you lovely comment. rest assured, i do know it. i am among the luckiest people ever to walk this planet. sadly, i fear your conclusion is also accurate.

[@retrosad]

@@billmcgahey1926 I'm really happy to hear that it got you interested in the airforce, stories like these fill me with joy, and I really hope you had a great time in the airforce. It really seems that people who grew up in the 50s and 60s had a really fun time, from all the stories I hear, and I feel like I missed out. The only aircraft from this age that I flew on was an an24 in the early 2000s, between kiev and crimea (I think), when I was a kid. Not too great memories of that, but it's sad to see comfort and luxury be replaced by easy cash and even the modern luxury flights don't look as glamorous anymore

[@khadijagwen]

In August of 66' I flew on a 'Connie" from Anchorage to Fairbanks and what a hoot! They had an engine that did not pass a mag test so they changed it while we sat in the plane. I'll never forget that trip.

[@gosst60]

Connies were well known to be the best 3 engine aircrat ever lol

[@thewrenchreviews9986]

I remember the Connies so well when I was very young. It was DC-3's, DC-6's and the Connies! Nothing sounds like that aircraft when it takes off. Brings tears to my old eyes and bittersweet memories to my old brain. Thank you sir, for the closer look at this old beauty.

[@Craneman4100w]

We lived in Chicago under an approach corridor to Ohare. I remember laying on my back in the grass and watching the airliners passing overhead a time or two a week. The Connies were both beautiful and unforgettable.

[@sebradfield]

My dad was a pilot with United, so I rode in a lot of DC-6es and 7s, and even a Stratocruiser once, but never the beautiful Connie. What a gal!

[@flybyairplane3528]

The Wrench Reviews , another would bring tears to your eyes,,is an AVRO LANCASTER BOMBER , THATS LIKE 4 P51s,,a most pleasing ,,haunting sound,,my youngest maternal uncle was TAIL GUNNER ZIN ONE,,we were British subjects in JAMAICA BWI, he made it back,,having been shot down once,,and had some METSL in his Rt leg, Cheers from NJ

[@thewrenchreviews9986]

@@flybyairplane3528 you are indeed right! My father was called up for service right around the end of WWII and was supposed to train as a tail gunner in the Lancs. The war ended and he was not deployed. Before he was called up, he was working at MacDonald Bros. installing thrust bolt mountings for engines on the Anson Aircraft. Indeed he worked on many incredible aircraft such as the Fairchild 71 and deHavilland Dragon Rapide.

[@Botafogoplayground]

Lucky you!

[@loopylou1953]

My dad was FE for KLM n flew the Connie n Super Connie.... is 94 now with happy memories of the plane

[@geojet707]

Mr. Weeks, Small correction to your story. The Connie made its first stop in Palm Beach in 1989. I worked as a ramp agent and was a student pilot at the time that aircraft made the emergency landing at PBI on two engines. It sat on the Jet Aviation ramp for well over a year. Being an aspiring airline pilot and big Connie enthusiast, I would often walk around the airplane. I was working at PBI the day it departed for Maine. I had no idea she did not make it. Fast forward to 1996 and I found myself hired as Ops Manager for the FBO now know as Star Port in SFB. Much to my surprise, there was the beloved Connie I had seen take flight years before. Mr. Roundy came by one day and I was tasked to take him to see his beautiful machine that was parked in the back 40 of SFB. I got an exclusive tour of her!! Life is crazy. I moved to manage an FBO in North Carolina in 1998 and 3 years later found myself back at SFB training for my first flying job. That job ultimately led to reaching my dream. I happened to be at SFB by sheer chance the day the Connie was flown to your location. It was almost like divine intervention that I happen to find myself there that day on a training flight for my new job as a pilot. I watched the most gracious airliner to ever fly takeoff one more time! It was like she was cheering me on! I finally made it to a big airline. I am now an Airbus Captain. Thank you for saving an airplane that played a part of my flying career.

[@KermitWeeks444]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

[@fw1421]

It’s a sin for a Connie to just sit on the ground forever. Such a magnificent bird.

[@fw1421]

Of course this bird is beyond being made airworthy again,it’s gutted. What a shame.

[@davidvance6367]

fw1421, multi millionaires are so cheap & disgusting. Makes me want to assault one of them.

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

@@davidvance6367 ?

[@andrewdonohue1853]

@@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X the stripped the airplane. took something that could have potentially been repaired for flight and making it almost impossible to make it fly again. I agree. assholes.

[@PeterNGloor]

no money. Neither in the US nor in Europe. After the virus crisis the situation might be even more hopeless

[@georgegooding57]

By far, the most beautiful multi engine aircraft ever built.

[@stevewebb7318]

I agree ! 100 % Save it Kermie

[@geoffmorgan6059]

The flight controls were as intuitive as any ever made. (Computer control not at all necessary0.

[@Gadget_Gabe]

Not really for me its the 747-8

[@q.e.d.9112]

George Gooding Concorde, Concorde, Concorde!

[@pittsburge88]

For me it's the De Havilland Comet 4

[@collincharvat1082]

This should be the next plane savers plane.

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

In Australia, we have an old USAF/US Navy flying Connie, painted in QANTAS colours . It is still flying and very popular in all our airshows.

[@thearmchairaviator3136]

Thank you for the tour of the most beautiful piston airliner ever made. Luckily down here in Australia there is an L1049/ ex C-121 that still flies and its just magnificent to watch.

[@stuart8663]

The Beautiful "Connie"!

[@AustNRail]

The Armchair Aviator yep I’m a shareholder when she was being restored in the desert.

[@stuart8663]

@@AustNRail Wow, I saw her a few years ago at the AirShow and had the privilege - which is what it is to me - of walking through. It was a Vietnam Medivac plane in last service, is that right? Thanks for putting the money up.

[@johndavey9129]

I flew in the HARS Connie (Shellharbour, Australia) in May 2020. I can die happy.

[@flybyairplane3528]

Thanks for the tour,,I only flew on one from MIA- NY, on NATIONAL AIR LINES, THAT DAY ALL Lockheed L188ELECTRAS. Were GROUNDED, we had an 8hr wait in MIA. as had to fly this DOWN, to pick up pax waiting . This was my first day in the USA, I gave $$ for the ‘SAVE. A CONNIE’ in Kansas City ,,was in TWA livery,,& a SUPER G, cheers from NJ

[@pland99]

Flew on Connie coming back from Brazil in 54,have never forgotten that plane!

[@TexpatOTG]

I was lucky to be able to work on the Navy version of the Connie. It had top and bottom radomes. Even with those appendages, it was one of the most beautiful planes ever built. Enjoyed the show.

[@manfredstrata5395]

When I was 6 years old I flew to Germany from Toronto in a constellation. Early 1960s Air Canada and I think it had the wing tip tanks if I recall. I remember being disappointed it wasn’t a jetliner at the time. Now it’s cool to think about crossing the Atlantic in the last years of the propeller era.

[@terrygriffith4148]

Worked an flew on the Connies in '70-'71 with the USAF @ McClellan AFB. I was the only one on the crew that could comfortably access and reset the mousetrap! Great birds!!

[@williamedmonds9581]

I grew up working at the Rialto airport at West PAC Aviation and always heard stories about you. I am a huge classic airplane buff from birth and you are my Idol.

[@gman-xd5hd]

Did you know Richard Watson 53450

[@sinistersparky9657]

My dad was a flight engineer on Super Connie's - EC-121-WV2 "Willie Victor" as he called them. He was on Midway Island from 61-65 flying AEW from Midway to Adak and back. I loved hearing all of his stories about taking off from Midway at 110% Maximum Gross Overload and would fly at METO Power until they'd burned enough fuel to cut power back to max endurance. He told me about a time when they junked an airplane when they took a Gooney Bird hit to the Copilot's window on takeoff past the "point of no return" (going too fast to stop the airplane) and it knocked out the copilot. He said the pilot got it stopped out in the coral reef but the engines and gear were shot (Midway is an Atoll with 5000' runway with the Pacific Ocean at the end of it). My pop has been gone for 9 years this month and I miss those stories. This brought back a lot of memories :')

[@rcdogmanduh4440]

Long story short, 2009ish I'm riding a road bicycle with brothers in Auburn Me. and we turn a corner and there they sit on the end of the run way. Look abandoned so we walk over, Maurice's wife came out and talked to four glassy eyed guys with thousands of dollars in bicycles laying on the ground and tells us she will "have her husband give us a tour" after an hour sitting inside this iconic plane we thanked them both and rode away. I remember the goose bumps I got that day and still do. The story of the swimming pool inside their house is also funny but another day for that one.

[@rogerbullock908]

I recall in 2003 I took my family to see the Connie that was in the hanger on south end of the downtown airport in Kansas City Missouri, it had been painted at the TWA overhaul base just north of town to the TWA colors. At the time was the only flying Connie. Beautiful plane

[@mongolike513]

I was a passenger in one of these in 1954 at age 4 then later in 1974 on return flight PR to Santo Domingo to get US visa. The Dominicana Connie made a mass of smoke on starting and had a particularly oily parking spot on the tarmac, everything in it had been painted by hand except the soft furnishings. I remember as a child in Sydney in the 50s that occasionally your attention was drawn to the echoing roaring sound of four big engines flying way overhead either a Sunderland, Connie or Douglas, things were way quieter then with sirens used only occasionally unlike today with constant helicopters, airliners and emergency services screaming about. Thanks for the memories Kermit.

[@AlmostMeansNot]

Connies are so beautiful. I have a few jumps out of them with my crazy friends back in the '90s in California. Great days. Thanks for the memories.

[@robertgill3907]

I flew in a Connie from Nashville Tn in 64 to Washington DC to get seen at Walter Reed. The flight attendant gave me a pair of wings. Wish I still had them it was also my first time flying. Very memorable experience.

[@darrellhunt5214]

60 years ago (before the 707 changed the world) there would have been airport ramps all over the world with Connies sitting on them. Can you imagine the sound of all those R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone running up - awesome! Lovely aeroplane - good job Kermit - keep up the good work. I'm just in the process of working up a new airshow business here in the UK - you never know I might even get a Connie to the show!?

[@flybyairplane3528]

Darrell Hunt , when people bitch about airplane ‘noise’, I usually say you don’t know noise,,UNTIL YOU HEARD A CONNIE CRANKED UP FOR TAKE OFF , BTW,,I must have possibly,,been 9,,or 10, living in what was JAMAICA BWI, DELTA flew Connie’s, but the livery then was DELTA, C&S, one day neat the terminal,,the NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, my god what a sight,., the C&S, were for CHICAGO & SOUTHERN RAILROAD. CHEERS From NJ

[@flybyairplane3528]

Darrell Hunt , yeah,,You mentioned the B707, I was FO, on a B720 , British license, but a few years a medical killed my aviation livelihood,. Cheers from NJ

[@thepandeslar8062]

Back in 1962-1963, I worked the night shift with two friends and every so often we'd grab the Eastern Airlines shuttle out of Logan to New York (Newark) for the weekend. We'd get to the airport and fly down and back on a Connie. What I liked best was that the early-evening flights were lightly patronized. I would stretch out on the wall-to-wall lounge at the very back of the plane with a blanket and pillow from the stewardess, and sleep the hour's flight down to the city. this video brought that forgotten memory back into sharp focus. (Nothing like the murmur of four piston engines to lull you to sleep!)

[@dc10driver1]

Great tour! Love the Connie! My favorite piston airliner of all time. Nothing as beautiful or graceful in the sky (or on the ground). I was flying out of San Juan P.R. back in the late 70's and we sometimes saw a few operated by a Santa Domingo based cargo operator that would fly into San Juan. I remember one time around dusk, being #2 for departure behind a Connie. Watching it takeoff at dusk, with the fire coming out of those exhaust stacks along with the thunderous roar of those powerful radials as it went right by my window is something I will always remember. Nothing like it. Sad to see these glorious aircraft are so few and far between now. Glad you saved this one, even though it won't fly any longer. Thanks for that!

[@RAMelloh-ij5sl]

My brother used to live on Auburn Lake in Maine, not far from where one of these Constellations resides, or at least, resided, on the west side of Auburn. I would always enjoy viewing the Connie parked on the tarmac whenever I drove up to visit. My route would often take me past it. The Connie in Auburn was always well polished compared to this one. It was bare metal, no paint. The size of the thing was most impressive. Thanks for the tour.

[@gregellis3859]

Kermit, your positivity is simply infectious... "Dust that off and it will be just fine". Had me laughing...thanks and thank you for the tour. I have a friend who flew Connies for Pan Am many years ago. He, to this day, says it was his favorite airplane to fly.

[@peterlbaldwin511]

In October 1956 as a child of 6 years old, I flew with my late mother and older sister on a B.O.A.C Lockheed Constellation, called "Basildon". Our route was from London Heathrow to what was then Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia with stops at Rome, Cairo (The last civilian plane to land at the time of "The Suez Crisis") Khartoum and Nairobi. I still have fond memories of the flight and the unforgettable "Connie"..!!

[@daleeasternbrat816]

I am lucky to have flown on Constellations a lot when I was a kid. Thanks , Mr Weeks.

[@redr1150r]

I worked on the last one in the Navy while in VAQ-33. Many years before as a Navy dependent, we flew from Hawaii to Taiwan on an Air Force C-121. I was able to go up front and watch the flight crew for a while. Great memories.

[@parallaxbill2276]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Sir for telling us more about the Connie. I'm 62 and remember them flying out of Douglas Airport aka Charlotte International Airport back in the early 60's. It was thrilling to see and hear those airplanes so long ago.

[@jackriley5974]

In 1960 the Air Force declared me an aircraft radio repairman and sent me to Itazuke Air Base, Japan. I suspect it was for lack of fuel, but we made stops at Hawaii, Midway, Wake, and Guam. In the next 7 years, subsequent to that flight , I flew on many aircraft while traveling space available on leave. While at the time I was a little apprehensive, the Connie will remain my favorite flight.

[@joebarbjb6668]

Howard Hughs is looking on and watching with interest.

[@renorailfanning5465]

I spent many a day hanging out with Maurice Roundy at Sanford airport helping out with the restoration. During the week it was usually just him and I and I received a lot of advice from him. Interesting man with a great life-story. I wasn't a mechanic so I was relegated to more labor-intensive work but he did let me take the #2 engine oil pump off and also sit in the cockpit and move the rudders and control yoke while they did some checks on the flying surfaces.

[@the1realanalogman]

That fine lady is in the best of hands and I know something great is in store for her and for us! Thanks for the tour and the history Kermit!

[@bj-th7ul]

Back when I was a kid, not quite 100 year ago, I would've ridden my bike 10 miles or more to see somethin' just like this... still remember crawlin' thru a B-25, B-36, Dehavilland Comet & more... just to give some idea what the situation was like (not to mention I kinda remember drinkin' beer right out of the bottle not long after that). 50 gallon drums of oil... once I graduated to "FBO lineman" I remember servicing an old DC-6 & how the boss loved working the calculator for that charge. This thing either needs an guard or a welcome sign. Thanks for sharing, (airport bum)... look out the window there's probably a couple bicycles sitting against the fence out there right now.

[@misterspitfire6564]

One of the most beautiful aircraft ever made. I'm so pleased that you are going to make the effort to preserve it and have plans to make it accessible to people in the future. Whatever you decide to do with her, I wish you luck and can't wait to see what you come up with. On a side note, it still amazes me that people designing an aircraft, can come up with something that fits the function, yet they turn out so sleek and beautiful. The Connie, Spitfire, Mustang, Concorde, Boeing 727, DC10, Boeing B17 - all have very different purposes, but all looked awesome! I guess I love aircraft too much!

[@erichschuh192]

Very cool! They were such a unique looking airplane. No mistaking it for anything else! Thanks for turning it into something that people can enjoy.

[@kb22783]

Awwww. That poor Connie! Love to see her back up and running. Big soft spot for them.

[@williamc.1198]

Brings back lots of memories. I flew as a crewman on Navy EC-121M's. Had about 1,000 hours in the air when I transitioned to crewing EA-3B Whales. Loved the old Connies!

[@Chris-fo8wp]

One of the most beautiful planes ever built!!

[@MrPnhartley]

Thanks for this, a beautiful iconic prop-liner of the 40’s and 50’s and my favourite. Jets just don’t have the same character. We had one at YYZ for years - never got to look in it but always loved the lines.

[@tomservo5347]

I had the privilege of really getting to look around a Connie that's in a hangar at the old downtown airport in Kansas City. I think the last time this one flew was back in '95. An old timer there said he took many flights on a Connie back in the 50's as a young man and he vividly remembered looking out the window at the prop engines at night time and seeing the red hot exhaust and flame coming out. My Dad remembers seeing these constantly flying overhead when he was a kid during the 50's with their distinct triple rudders that helped ensure smooth flights as these were exclusively built for passenger service. This is probably one of the sexiest looking planes ever built and there's an organization called 'Save A Connie' that helps preserve these gorgeous planes.

[@jimmack1504]

I remember seeing that Connie at Sanford 20 years ago but did not know it was the same one. One of the most beautiful aircraft ever built.

[@iamrichrocker]

wish lockheed would take interest in this beauty...such great lines and history...

[@Rif_Leman]

Thank you for the tour. It was a bitter sweet experience.

[@jayfmiller]

I like your bar & grill idea. My first commercial airline trip was on a Connie! That was when it was still a pleasure to fly commercial.

[@jayfmiller]

Yes, I spent the majority of my career having to fly in N.A., S.A. E.U, and Far East. For the last 12 years before retirement it was up to 300 days a year and the P.I.T.A of travel is what made me finally retire. Even flying first class was a pain after 911 because of airport hassles and head-wedged TSA people.

[@jayfmiller]

Cindy, cool about you still flying. Good for you. The least expensive 100LL here is $6.00 / gal. I built a KR2S in 1992-1994. Built as a single place with a military controls and instrument configuration for the cockpit. Powered with a Subaru EJ22 engine with a Ross planetary gear PSRU turning a Warp Drive 3-blade Carbon Fiber ground adjustable prop. Stressed for 6- & 8 + and the fuel burn is 5 gph at 175 knots. Rate of climb 2100 fpm at full power with the prop pitch ground set for cruise but all that does is scare everyone else in the pattern. I spoofed the O2 sensor on the engine for the break-in so I could use 100LL to get everything sealed then switched to 91-93 octane MOGAS and put the sensor back in to a panel gauge in parallel with the throttle body so I could set up either manual of auto-lean during cruise. I can get a tent and some camping gear in the baggage behind the seat. But, it is definitely not a back country airplane. I took on a partner before I moved to UT. Now I am trying to get him to buy me out so I can buy a Rans S-7 here.

[@opa1951]

Next time I'm in Florida I have a new stop. If it wasn't for KZbin I would have never known. Good work Kermit. A true aviation historian.

[@Dov_ben-Maccabee]

Dad was a navigator on the EC-121's when we were at Otis in the early 60's. 551st AEW&R Sqdrn. Connies were the most graceful planes in the skies.. Ever!.. (even with the radomes).

[@N6MKC]

My father's family immigrated to the US from Ireland in the early '60s. They flew in an Aer Lingus Super Constellation. My dad's biggest memory of the flight was the loud, incessant droning of the engines for hour after hour.

[@radio-su6lh]

Can imagine how challenging that would be on a long haul flight. We love the idea of flying in these classic aircraft, but it begs the question; would we be prepared to exp it for many hours on long distance flts. Back in the day, there was no other option, and compared to other prop liners, the Connie was considered ahead of its time in many areas.

[@erikwagner6606]

I was very lucky to have flown in one and stood on the flight deck for a while. I was in attached to the Penna National Guard OCS program while in the Reserves, and during one weekend we had training at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation in mid-state. It was 1975 and we flew in a PANG KC-97 Stratofreighter from PIT to Harrisburg. A couple days later we returned from Harrisburg-- former Olmstead AFB, in a C-121 Constellation. Out pilot was an airline pilot who was a National Guard officer. I remember standing on the flight deck and we were getting some rime ice on the windscreen frame. . In the 60's, these grand airplanes had been relegated to secondary routes, like Pittsburgh--Williamport, Pa.a distance of around 200 miles. By the 70's they had pretty much disappeared from airline use. It was a thrilling experience to have had the opportunity to ride in one of these great airplanes. .

[@saabysaabinsky2785]

I can see it now....Constellation Chicken Sandwiches, Connie Coffee, Lockheed Lunch Specials! It's a big project....I hope you'll be able to do it. I admire what you do and your breath of knowledge of your various airplanes!

[@jameshancejr1434]

The Connie was the first plane I flew in. And that was to Germany as a Air Force Brat of 4 years old. I am 68 now and still remember the flight in detail from the flight. I love that plane and When it is time to restore for show I would love to be a volenteer to clean and any othe duty needed. Us retired folks need something to do and I can't think of a better way to spend time.

[@paulslevinsky580]

A Connie was parked at Toronto's Pearson International Airport for years. It had one of the engines sitting on the ground rotting next to a main gear leg. I understand it was saved and now lives in Seattle. It's great that some of these icons are being preserved.

[@jsabo7098]

Thanks for the tour! I love seeing her as the gate guard at Fantasy of Flight, great to see her up close. We know you and your team will work your magic and polish her up!

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Thanks for making this Kermit I super appreciate it. That Connie would make a heck of a top dollar "pop up" venue for guest chefs and small dining parties. Take you back to the glory days of flying when everyone got dressed up and service was top notch. I'd pay for an evening like that. Maybe that PBY sitting longingly next door for another walk through??? Love those PBYs.

[@triguy450]

One more side story... Several years ago I was in a ground school at EJM in KLUK. We had a number of FAA gentlemen attending the ground school. For some reason we started chatting about Connies. One elderly man in his early 80's piped up and stated, oh yes.... I loved flying that airplane. You could hear a pin drop. He flew them for an airline and had over 8000 hours in them. Aviation history is so awesome.

[@gordondenzler8721]

I still have photos I took 15 years ago while visiting the museum from Canada always wondered what was inside thanks for the update

[@mikeh4800]

It is a shame she will not fly again. But I certainly understand why. At lease it will become a nice display. Thanks for saving her and for show us around.

[@Dartman6]

Thanks for doing this, Kermit! The Constellation is the definition of aeronautic design elegance. Such a beautiful bird! So lucky that Carlos found the PRTs in the dumpster before the trash man did.

[@AirzGamingTTV]

such a gorgeous plane, thank you for saving the history and sharing it with us. It would be incredible to see it airworthy!

[@robertriccitelli5811]

My grandfather was a flight engineer on this type of aircraft. I had an opportunity to see the one at the museum of flight in Seattle and the one based in Kansas City. A very elegant aircraft.

[@williameudy6615]

I just fostered a dog from the pound for the bull terrier club about a month ago they thought they could place him in a couple of weeks. We figured we’d spruce him up a little. So, after teeth cleaning, nail trimming, heart worm testing, surgery to remove a growth from his leg, needle biopsy to the lymphatic system, pathology report, ultrasound, and four trips to Dallas for radiation therapy plus drugs I’m in for about six grand. They no longer want to place him . . . too many health issues. They said I could take him back to the pound. I think I’ll name him Connie.

[@gman-xd5hd]

Super Connie

[@jkorshak]

Was doing skydiving demos at an airshow and there was a Connie - we begged them to take us up to jump it, didn't happen, oh well - we still got to jump the DC3 (R4D) a bunch.. Still, beautiful aircraft - thanks for the look around!

[@mosq10]

Each time I work up that way and pass that plane I just look at it in amazement

[@e-rj8984]

Worlds most BEAUTIFUL passenger Aircraft ever!!! ❤ I really hope one day Kermit... In cooperation with Lockheed Corporation perhaps...

[@lrodpeterson3046]

I've said that for years (the most beautiful airplane part).

[@martinsaunders7925]

No,the comet was the most elegant and beautiful passenger airplane.

[@tap0019]

I saw one of these stored at OPA LOCKA airport in Florida when I was a kid. I thought it was the most beautiful aircraft ever at that time. I asked my dad what it would cost to get it flying again and he just shook his head and laughed. Now I know what he meant. They are still beautiful!!!

[@0akgrove]

I use to work line at HBG, and at one time there was a Connie based there for a fire ant spraying project. This was back in the 70s and part of my duties was to refuel it. There were two FBOs on field at that time and neither fuel truck had enough capacity to refuel the plane so we each did one wing. It was quiet an effort to do as a one man crew.

[@craigbeuker7636]

So glad to hear that you have future plans for it Kermit. Love it!

[@ChrisJohnson-hk6es]

This is just so awesome! I need to plan a trip to Florida to visit this amazing place! I really just want to grab some cleaning supplies and make that Connie shine!!

[@flyingdutchman700]

I'm a Portuguese citizen born in ancient Portuguese colony of Angola, and I flew in a Connie, 1st time I went on Holliday to Portugal at the age of 1 1/2 year old. So obviously (and saddly) I don't remember the trip. The memory I have (descriptive anyway), came from my mom's description of the voyage.

[@1970EModel]

My Cherokee was tied down next to this Connie when is was at Orlando Sanford. I was privileged to be tied down next to a Connie. It was a beautiful plane. Bittersweet to see it leave Sanford but I was happy you were taking it to fantasy. Sad to see it’s current state. But I am hoping it is in good hands and you follow through on prettying it up. Connies are beautiful.

[@OregonRailfan83]

My first airplane flight was in a Connue, upon my graduation from high school in Upstate, New York. We, my mom and I flew, from New York's LaGuardia to O'Hare near Chicago near where we lived at the time.

[@jmstowe]

My dad was an FE on one of these.I remember as a very small boy watching him limb on the wings.

[@MichaelPMc]

Can't wait for the B-29 Kermie Cam, love the background details and history, Thank You

[@davedennis6042]

That's a lot bigger inside than it looks. My dad flew on these back in the 50's when he was in the military. I always loved the Connie

[@savagecub]

Thanks Kermit. Maurice was my floatplane instructor over at Browns back when he first brought the airplane over to your field. He’s a great guy and a heck of a round engine mechanic as well. I like the snack bar idea a lot just don’t turn the cockpit into a seating area.

[@rickdaystar477]

One of the most elegant aircraft designs ever conceived. A thing of beauty.

[@jettpro6647]

They were called turbo compound engines, very rare these days to see something like that! I worked on some of Maurice’s planes in the 80’s. I remember the Connie’s at the Lewiston airport, sad they couldn’t keep all of them flying

[@flybyairplane3528]

Jettpro 66 I had no idea that Connie’s had ‘turbo compound engines’, I thought that the DC7 was the first ones, but sadly they fell victim to the JET AGE , so shortly after they were out., cheers from NJ

[@gregmerryman7939]

My father flew the NASA Connie's. I used to play pilot in one when I was little at Bendix, located at Friendship Airport ( Now BWI ) in Maryland. Beautiful airplane. Hope she gets some TLC someday.

[@zhousaifuzhousaifu3055]

Love your presentation style of straight talk, no bs and filled with history and experience approach!

[@Paughco]

Thank you Kermit, and the guy who asked for it, for showing us the Connie. I have an A2A Constellation (flight sim) and it's a pretty cool airplane. Too bad there aren't more of them in the air today.Happy Landings! ATB

[@therepguy1]

Wow I haven't see one of these send my teen years. As a teen, my folks were in the oil business and the family lived in South America. While I attended high school in the states. Which allowed my the opportunity to travel a couple times a year to visit the folks. And a couple of times before the jets arrived we found ourselves on a Delta's version of a Constellation! Those were the days!

[@rivierstad3817]

Great tour of the Connie! Majestic old birds that they were. It would be great to have a fantastic static display especially with those ideas. You could make a two tiered ramp for ADA compliance with a wall in between each leg with 'Connie Stuff' and a menu. Just an idea. Yes on the B-29 walk through.

[@danfarrell8958]

I flew in a Connie when I was about 5 or 6 yrs old from NY to LA, what I remember is it was very loud.

[@ChrisB257]

Great to hear the history Kermie - Connies have always been a huge iconic favorite of mine. Thanks a lot for this super tour. :)

[@theotherebikeguy1473]

Kermit. What a great expose! After driving past this for years I love hearing the history!!!! Can’t wait to see what you do with it!!!!

[@kennethscofield4565]

Neat old plane, definitly has a lot of potential. May she escape the surly bonds of gravity and soar the skies again, one fine day !!

[@jamesjacocks6221]

The Connie was among the "runway models" of the Forties and Fifties, its flowing lines are pure design and I see it, in my dreams, cruising beside a Comet off into a splendid sunset, two of the most beautiful of birds.

[@ercando11]

Thank you for preserving, yet again.. and again, another piece of aviation history.

[@peelreg]

I lived in Gander, Newfoundland in the late 50's. Just before the jets took over. The trans-Atlantic flights would stop in Gander for fuel. Lots of DC-7s and Super Connies. The Connie was the best looking. I could hear them do the run ups and mag checks. Took awhile for each plane.

[@skytiger5730]

Thanks for the walk around! I was 4 years old when I flew in the constellation. My father was a flight engineer and we went from Los Angeles to San Francisco. We deadheaded in the cargo bay, no heat just cargo blankets. He worked for Flying Tigers. It might be worth your time to take a look at that design if you are not sure wat your paint is going to be. You are doing a great service keeping all these aircraft alive

[@chfscoot]

There is a Super G in Kansas City that seems to be going through a forever maintenance program. She used to be a regular on the airshow circuit. She belongs to the National Airline Museum at the KC downtown airport.

[@sickspeed10]

Thanks Kermit. I flew on them as a kid in the 60' s

[@0YouCanCallMeAl0]

Love you man, thanks for listening to us regular folk! :)

[@adamtaylor31]

I met Frank Lang about 20 years ago on Nellis. He and a crew flew a Connie in there on a tour. He told me I could pay a fee and grab a hop to California. I had to turn it down due to time constraints, i regret that as Frank is no longer around and i dont think that Connie is flying anymore. I love the Connie! When i was 12 or so, my dad and a buddy named Ken Fish we're trying to prep a TWA Connie, N7315C "The Star of Tagus", for rail transport from Anchorage to Palmer, AK. I was helping them with little stuff (goofing off), but I really connected with it. The money wasnt there, it continued to sit next to the runway in the woods. It fell into disrepair and was eventually broken up. Sad ending to a beautiful airplane. For the record, you got the crew stations right, the back spot was the RO. Thats where the BRC and ARC rigs would tie in, you can find those and the telegraph key on eBay and ham radio swap meets fairly easily. Across from the FE was the Nav station...I recognized the chart holders and little desk extension. I wish I had a Midas finger with an on/off switch, I would give you whatever you needed to get this one airworthy again. But either way, Thank you for the walk through. Great video and Thanks for all you do to preserve these historical aircraft!

[@jontisdall6248]

Thanks for the tour Mr Weeks. I hope your plans for the old girl come to fruition. I wish I'd been born early enough to see these beautiful aircraft in their heyday. Regards from the UK.

[@jeffreywilliams4199]

If you are making a restaurant out of this Connie, you might want to look at the KC-97 restaurant in Colorado Springs. It is attached to a building, so the cooking is done outside the airplane. The cockpit is relatively complete and open to the public. It is a nice use of an otherwise grounded flying machine.

[@TheTiffanyAching]

In the 1990s, I had dinner in a Connie (maybe a Super Connie?) that was attached , at the time, to a hotel near Pearson (Toronto International) Airport. Wonderful experience. Was grealy saddened when that installation went away.

[@jw8687]

My mother was a stewardess on twa Connie's, still had a soft spot for those magnificent birds