Rare Lockheed L-188 Electra Departing Houston Hobby Airport!

Sometimes you can be at the right place at the right time. How lucky were we when after our arrival at Houston Hobby Airport, we discovered that there was a true classic Lockheed L-188A Electra on the field!
The Air Spray Electra had just came in that day on her ferry flight back home from her mission in the heart of South America, and the best part was that she would leave again the following morning! So, alarms set and after a night filled with excitement we headed to the parking spot where the crew were already busy preparing her for today's flight.
This grand old lady C-FVFH started her career as a flying engine test bed for General Motors, after which she flew for several airlines before ending up with Air Spray as a fire bomber. Enjoy this beautiful classic propliner as she starts up and departs Houston Hobby Airport in this stunning golden light!
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Date: 26 October 2024
Aircraft: Air Spray Lockheed L-188 Electra C-FVFH
Airport: Houston Hobby Airport HOU/KHOU
Gear: Sony AX-53
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©LaMa Aviation, 2024

[@SKYKOP1972]

The sound of those Allison turboprop engines brings back a lot of Electra memories. Early C-130 Herc's, Navy P3 Orion's along with L-188 Log Air & Zantop contract freight flights all use basically the same Allison turboprop engines. The distinctive Allison turboprop engine sound was always uniquely recognizable. Thanks for the flashback.

[@Tonetwisters]

Those are INCREDIBLE engines. I live where there is a NAVY base that used to be loaded with P3's, and what a joy it always was to see/hear them go over. Just last week (NOV/2024) one flew right over my head and I knew what it was before I saw it!

[@힐만94]

and i always love the rugged aerproducts/hamilton propellers, compare to schmitar design... it's look so rugged and tough...

[@Retr0racin]

Did my reserve time in 79 at Whidbey VP-69

[@Rocketman88002]

@SKYKOP, the U.S.A.F. Logistics Command used Zantop quite regularly. I got to go inside an L-188 to checkout the cockpit. The pilot showed me this gigantic magnetic compass used for navigation. Impressive. The C-130 as I recall used LORAN and OMEGA radio navigation back in the 70's. Love your comment. Eyes to the sky my friend! P.S. An after thought. I'm certain most aircraft used radio navigation also. The compass shown to me was between the pilots seats in a magnetically shielded enclosure.

[@TimberWolfeVids]

@@Rocketman88002 I grew up in line with final approach for Runway 23 into YIP during the 80's. Zantop Electras constantly flew overhead along with Convair 640s (re-engined 340's or 440's with Rolls Royce turboprops). There was no mistaking the difference between the two. Although, now I live a couple miles south of PTK and there is a cargo outfit out of there that occationally flies Convair 580s which are similar to the 640s that Zantop flew but instead of the Rolls Royce engines, they've been re-engined with Allison T56's/501's similarly to the L-188s. Kinda the nostalgic best of both worlds when they fly overhead. Haha!

[@sharkinstx]

Wow, an Electra. Great airplane, it was just released at the wrong time, just before the 707 and DC-8. The LEAP program fixed the propeller and engine flutter/harmonic issues early on with the wings coming off in flight (the Buffalo, TX and Cannelton, IN crashes in 1959 and 1960) and they were good after that.

[@machpodfan]

About 66 years old now?? What a testament to superior engineering, both at the design level and the support aftermarket!

[@danbgt]

I’m not a pilot or anything. But I love watching videos of these old airplanes. I’m getting pretty old. The sound of these prop planes is great. Brings back memories. Thanks!

[@Diogenes425]

You are not alone.

[@mmartoni]

The sound of my childhood!!

[@davef.2329]

Indeed. EAL child of the 1960s, here.

[@mmartoni]

@@davef.2329 70s here!! ☺

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

FXXX your Childhood!

[@patallen5095]

One of the Grande Dames of the air! Gorgeous aircraft! Love the sound of those turboprops! Hopefully she gets a warm bath when she gets home! Thanks for the vid! 👍

[@joshs4594]

What a sight! What a sound! What a plane! I remember during the 1970s when the Electra was used on the Eastern Airlines Shuttle servicing LGA New York, BOS Boston, and DCA Washington. Terrific video. 4 Gold Stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@gerardmoran9560]

I love the look and sound of the Electra. It reminds me of my boyhood. Among the changes Lockheed made to create the P-3, redesigning the nose and windshield was the best from an aesthetic standpoint. It went from bulbous to sleek.

[@warren3967]

I remember watching my grandparents depart flying to from AKL to SYD on a TEAL Electra. It was a huge adventure in 1968 when one was only 6 yrs old, living in New Zealand

[@trevorcrowther5430]

Now there’s nostalgia for you. Wonderful to see.

[@jackyclaiborne2142]

The LockHeed L-188 Electra is a turboprop aircraft that will always have a special place in my heart. When I was a two month old infant, on May 6th, 1963, my mom flew with me as a lap child on an Eastern Airlines Electra, Eastern airlines flight 648, Charlotte NC to our nation's capital. I know the flight number and the date etc. because I to this day have the ticket that we flew on.

[@Drmcclung]

One of the coolest things about living so close to Hobby and Ellington my entire life, if you don't look UP periodically throughout the week you'll miss all kinds of neat, old and/or rare aircraft.. a whole lot of neat and unusual aircraft! Ellington Field especially

[@markcoveryourassets]

Yes, I've found a coffee shop with outdoor seating on the approach to Ellington. I get it!

[@harpandharley]

Elegant aircraft. So glad that some of them are still flying.

[@Rexag]

I go here sometimes just to think...and watch the plane... been doing that at Hobby since I was 5. Of course... back then there were no fences around it and you had DC-8 National 727 Braniff Braniff Electras I remember yellow for some reason Texas International DC-9... Delta Convair 880 it was a loud place and lots of smoke... and they were 3 min apart all day long. Classic Aviation days.... seeing this ...be still my heart! Thanks for posting, Great video! They sound similar to the C-130

[@timmotel5804]

Yes. Wonderful.

[@mikeinsugarland]

Beautiful airplane !! Thanks for capturing the sounds of it w/o any music.

[@tomb4568]

Nice! Luv the looks of the square tip props vs the round tip ones.

[@MBdrummer3288]

What a beautiful plane. What great lines. Love it!

[@miketheavgeek]

What an awesome capture!!! Incredible engine sound! That low rotation was perfect with the tower in the background!

[@flyingleaf8929]

What a beautiful Beast. Amazing plane. Great video thank you for posting. Cheers from Canada.

[@muffs55mercury61]

So nice to see this grand bird in the air where it belongs and not stuck in some museum someplace. I saw one of these in Memphis about 12 years ago. What a sight.

[@timmotel5804]

Good Day. Wonderful Sound. I have flown on them when I was Young. My father was with American Airlines and I flew on them several times. Loved those planes. Again, that sound! thank You for posting this.

[@windcheck.iah26r8]

I was a student at Rice in 1959. I flew Braniff’s Electra many times to and from home in Tulsa. Wonderful aircraft.

[@NormanSilver]

I flew as a passenger in these from San Diego to Sacramento. Great ride, great aircraft and it still lives in the form of P-3.

[@SteamCrane]

The early 1950's paint scheme adds a lot! Years ago, I spent some time at the Lockheed Shuttle Tile Fab facility in Sunnyvale, looking out on the Moffett blimp hangars, and watching P3C's making their stop at the wash bridge after missions. Good times!

[@MovieSpottingBerlin]

Oh WOW! Really amazing shot!

[@waynemanning3262]

I was a ground crew for NWT airways for four years in the early eighties and the thing that impressed me most was the lack of wing in undisturbed airflow, the wing was all engine and propellers!

[@Ricky40369]

Used to watch PSA fly these over me in West LA, on the way to LAX. Loved the sound.

[@chucksdesk]

I used to watch Eastern Airlines Electra’s going in and out of Pensacola airport when I was a student at PJC.

[@jamani1086]

Great catch! What a beautiful old bird!

[@randyreynolds1045]

ONE OF THE BEST EVER❤

[@davesubelack5599]

Cool! I got her arriving in Calgary (YYC) to clear customs before heading home to Red Deer.

[@CharlesHedges-v2u]

Very comfortable aircraft to fly in...I remember the large passenger windows especially.

[@jez952]

Really beautiful…Excellent!

[@wyateerp1]

AMH/AMS Airframes on the Orion . What a wonderful and capable Airframe to work on. VP56 in Jacksonville Florida 76-80" Navy "75-81". I really miss the comradery and friendship that it gives you. Something most people will never understand. GO NAVY !!

[@cbroz7492]

...non vets (no matter what service) will NEVER understand..I've got army buddies going back over 50 years..best damn time of my life!!!

[@dankuettel5063]

What a classic!

[@alfonsoportugal6754]

what a beauty!!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Really.

[@ludwigsamereier8204]

I agree with you, but her belly looks a bit extravagant. She looks better without.

[@Juazeiro69]

The Electras were the preferred aircraft type for the air shuttle between downtown Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo for many years and had impressive characteristics helping to navigate around Sugar Loaf mountain which is on the runway alignment of the Santos Dumont airstrip in Rio. I too remember the rear facing seats resembling a railcar seating layout

[@rescue270]

I remember one being used at Rio in a James Bond movie.

[@jeffreyanderson1851]

I flew on that Airbridge service once too

[@rtmacabio]

A P-3 in the making. Four T-56 Allisons and an APU that will make you deaf. One of safest planes ever made.

[@bugrescue1]

Great looking aircraft, nice coverage!

[@dalp6657]

I flew many times from Rio to São Paulo and Electra was the best airplane for that route. Still my favorite plane.

[@billace90]

Great to watch such a Classic aircraft still airworthy. What a treat. I don’t know if it ever flew to Oshkosh, but if it hasn’t it would be a Rockstar over there!

[@carlerickson74]

Love it! In old AirCal colors too!

[@stevenfromer3816]

Outstanding

[@mickboakes7023]

A favourite of mine along with the Vanguard. Last of the big prop jets. Nice to see some still flying. Of course these were developed into the Orion unlike the Vanguard. Thanks for sharing.🇬🇧

[@jonathanguthrie9368]

You can see the old terminal building just after it breaks ground. The old terminal is now a museum.

[@stephencruz885]

It was the P-3 Orion for me. I was in the Navy Reserve in the late 80s to early 90s. My reserve unit was VP-MAU based at NAS Moffett Field. I lived in the LA area. Every month a P-3 picked me and a few others up at Long Beach and flew us to Moffett Field and back for our reserve drill weekend. Love the sound of those Allison T-56 turboprops. As a powerplant mech, I also got to work on those engines.

[@cornbread83]

Fantastic catch! Thanks for the video!

[@davidalston1578]

I took a brief look at this aircraft when it was imported into Canada back in 1995. I was an acting Superintendent in the Edmonton Transport Canada office at the time. It was an old aircraft even back then, but was amazingly stock, water bombing mod not withstanding. I’d seen Electra’s in much rougher condition when I worked briefly for Pacific Western Airlines years earlier.

[@ABDOSPIANO]

A real thing of beauty the “Electra”❤❤

[@vgahren]

That was a wicked fast take off. The nose wheel wasn’t up but a couple seconds before she took off!

[@pavelavietor1]

you do not see many of that type anymore. great find, thanks for posting saludos

[@kennethhoffman8845]

Every time I've been close to an Electra or its brother the Orion it has always given off the sense of being very solidly built. Stout and strong. It is sad to think that a design flaw in its engine mounts was capable of literally tearing the wings off as it did in and Buffalo Texas in 1959 and in Tell City Indiana in 1960 . Back then Eastern Airlines flew these planes would fly right over my house in Metairie, La. I loved the humming/whoosing sound of their engines.

[@davideverts6308]

Based out of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Used mainly for fire fighting in western Canada.

[@KurtMathews-s8n]

What was it doing down here in Texas? Gorgeous bird. Jumped right off the deck!

[@Mike_Regan]

If it's based in Red Deer, why does it have a British Columbia decal on the Port side, just behind the nose?

[@ChuckPackwood]

They are based at same airport as Buffalo Airways in Red Deer

[@randysmitchell4810]

B-I-G W-I-D-E COMFORTABLE SEATS - 2 on each side - never had more enjoyable rides.

[@jkorshak]

Well shot video - thanks for sharing!👍👍

[@arniearnett1042]

I was an Air Cargo Specialist ant Air Transportation Manager in the USAF and on and off loaded hundreds of L-188 Log Air Contract Carrier Aircraft. Overseas National , Saturn, Reeves in Alaska and other trash haulers. Plus old DC-6’s we loaded and flew courier duty on in the Caribbean, 54 years ago at Patrick AFB, Florida.

[@LaMaAviation]

@@arniearnett1042 that is awesome!!

[@stevelacombe5291]

Cool video.

[@davidstumer3360]

Thank You for sharing this. We were outside and heard it flying over.

[@davidstumer3360]

Love anything not jet powered 💝

[@davecat1458]

Cool...huge blades on those Alli's

[@spaceranger3728]

I show my physics students the Electra as a starter for our resonance and natural frequency discussion.

[@LaMaAviation]

@@spaceranger3728 wow that is cool! Would you mind giving a short lecture about that here with the L188 as example? 😃

[@keithbrescia9893]

When the engines are revved up with the props at low pitch, there is a high pitched whine or whistle sound a few octaves above the prop drone. Could that be an overtone of some sort or is it just a coincidence?

[@NVRAMboi]

Can't help it. Whenever I see an Electra I immediately think of the NOAA P-3 Orions. Thanks for the video.

[@michaelbyrne8860]

I'm pretty sure these are the same planes TWA would fly in & out of Chicago using the Old Meigs Field Airport in the 60's? It's a Great Looking Prop Plane!

[@bruceabrahamsen221]

Awesome!!!

[@MattsAviationChannel]

Wow absolutely amazing! What a great video! Thanks for sharing. Just subscribed ✈️👍🏼

[@billbondi8473]

This Electra is sporting the original Air California colors from the 1960s when they used to fly the Electra.

[@Gouto-]

Wow 🤩

[@USCGAVIATION]

I flew as a PAX on one of these birds in 1976 onboard Air Florida TPA to MIA R/T. My Brother flew from SDQ to MIA in 1984 onboard Galaxy Air, a replacement L-188 for a Capital Airlines DC-8-CF that took a mechanical on the ramp. He told me the L-188's seats were mostly all broken and the wings vibrated so much he thought they were going to come off. It was the scariest flight he ever had. That same L-188 crashed as a charter from RNO to MSP a month later killing 70 PAX with only 1 survivor.

[@celio777]

I love Electra

[@easttexan2933]

Beautiful.

[@jimcuthill4556]

See these classics all the time, they are spread through out Alberta and British Columbia. My local airport CYRM is a base for them. Cool video, thanks for posting.

[@luidyjosedasilva2961]

Fantastic Aircraft👏

[@craigpennington1251]

These would still be a great airliner. Nice to see one still in operation. Thanks for posting.

[@billwatkins276]

Very similar to the Lockheed P-3 Orion anti-sub planes and NOAA's current "Hurricane Hunters" "Kermit" and "Miss Piggy" (the USAF uses C-130s for their Hurricane Hunters). Eastern used these for many years for the 2nd or 3rd sections of the hourly LGA-BOS-DCA Eastern Shuttle runs. If you were at the gate at go-time they rolled something out, and the Eastern Shuttle was the first flight I took where you could pay the fare on the plane. The Electra was a nice ride and on the short Shuttle runs only took a few minutes longer than the 727s winding through the crowded standard departure and approach routes. The coach seats were the size of the "pure" jet first class seats and the windows were much larger making the views from the lower cruise altitudes more interesting.

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

Current Hurricane Hunters are modified C130s. AF Reserve?

[@billwatkins276]

@@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe C-130J's - The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is a mixed unit - search for "53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters"

[@timanderson5543]

The P-3 was built off of that airframe.

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

@timanderson5543 P3 is not used by NOAA. AFRES C130.

[@timanderson5543]

@ i know ,i’m talking years ago with the lockheed airliners.

[@markbickelhaupt4414]

A Beautiful Sound!!!👍

[@cherifbar]

Beautiful airplane.

[@frankyang4114]

beautiful

[@rafaucett]

This is the former corporate airplane of the LA Dodgers. They used it during the 1960s.

[@billwatkins276]

Great catch! Great story with photos - Google "Dodger Planes Take Flight with Holman at Controls By Brent Shyer"

[@rafaucett]

@@billwatkins276 If you haven't already, be sure to also read "Former Dodger-Owned Electra Airplane Now Fighting Forest Fires" by Brent Shyer.

[@larrybishop9356]

It was. I did a Google and Google AI returned that info. It was N1R, Kay-O (for Kay O,Malley). I think Holman was the first Captain, but a family friend of my parents, Lewis G Carlisle was Captain in the mid-late 60s, thru 1981. I think he is mentioned in the book Dodger Blue. The Dodgers traded it for a Boeing 720B (Kay -O II) , in the late 70s. Then sold that after Lewis was killed in an accident in France (81) (not Dodgers related) and went charter. I don’t know about current transport. The Dodger Electra was blue and white with a white LA Skyline on a blue tail and baseball toward the nose. Inside, at the rear was a card table with a cartoon of all the team playing ball outside the plane and lavatories had a sign, players with short bats stand closer to home plate.

[@bunky060171]

glorious sound of Allison 501-D's !

[@sequoiasemperviren3163]

So by the livery, it's used as a crop duster now. Amazing. At the Wikipedia site for AirSpray, they have 14 Lockheed L-188s in service. Amazing.

[@hughjardon5869]

I flew on one of these from Travis AFB to Clark Air Force Base Philippines in 1965. First stop was Anchorage Alaska, then Tokyo Japan.before arriving at Clark AFB. Then a USN bus from Clark to Subic Bay where I was to meet my first ship, which was fresh off the firing line in Vietnam.

[@SpencerMedia]

I saw it fly in on Oct 25th, came in from Panama City and landed at Hobby.

[@bruceabrahamsen221]

Awesome

[@b1bmsgt]

My first flight ever was on an Electra from Florida to New York in the early 60's. Fast forward 15 years or so and I was working Transient Maintenance at Nellis AFB NV taking care of L-188's doing what was called "Logair", contract flights delivering parts from Hill AFB in Utah...

[@landmine940]

One of the first commercial aircraft I flew on back in the 70’s Frontier Airlines

[@SenatorBulworth]

Unmistakable sound. I saw many Zantop L-188 flight departing BRO with auto parts bound for YIP. Interesting that that she was transport for the LA Dodgers through the 60s.

[@n2091m]

I saw this plane in Great Falls, Montana back in September. It was headed to New Orleans and then across the Gulf to Central America.

[@AviationSafetyX]

Awesome video!

[@SKYWATCHAVIATION]

Awesome wish I could’ve been at the airport to see it as well hopefully it’s there on Friday or Sunday

[@LaMaAviation]

@@SKYWATCHAVIATION it was a ferry flight, so the chances of seeing this in Houston are small..

[@SKYWATCHAVIATION]

@ oh ok but I have seen it before and it passed right over me

[@LaMaAviation]

@SkyWatchAviation ah that is always possible. We were just passing by on our vacation and lucky that we saw it!

[@SKYWATCHAVIATION]

@ awesome well then welcome to Houston

[@stroguy]

July 1983, trip from Anchorage to Shemya AFB on a Reeve Aleutian Airways Electra. First approach was a missed approach in CATII/III conditions with a crashed C-5 Galaxy half way down the runway. Second approach they nailed. Crazy flight, super cool aircraft.

[@samjanss0n01]

Én de nieuwe Imua One gespot van Southwest, wat wil je nog meer!

[@iahflyr4690]

Awesome capture, heard that fly by our house in The Woodlands and had to check ADS-B Exchange to see who it was.....you nailed. Thanks.

[@nephi5059]

Is that old Eastern Airlines Electra? I remember as little kid in Miami. They bought those verse PAN AM new jets and National Airlines jets. What memory😅. I have.

[@richardmorgan3974]

"It belongs in a museum", HF, ROTLA

[@deepseadirt1]

This plane is an antique and it's still flying. Amazing! Wasn't Lockheed having some problems with this model back in the 1950s and early 60s? teething problems whatever they were. At least this speciman is still flying beautifully.🙂

[@U.S.bill2066]

THANK YOU FOR not Posting those annoying computer animation cartoon things. I HATE THAT on these aviation channels.Im subscribing...

[@JManwilderness]

When I was a very little boy in the 1950s I remember my first commercial flight in an aircraft like this, except it had 3 tail fins. I'm guessing it was a Lockheed Constellation.

[@Matt-mo8sl]

Yup, you rode the "Connie"!!!

[@JManwilderness]

@Matt-mo8sl I think I was about 4 years old. 3 blond stewardesses, all drop dead gorgeous wearing little cobalt blue uniforms, pill box hats and white gloves. Smiled at me and talked, tousled my hair, I was in love. One of them pulled a microphone out of a panel on a wire and talked to everyone, then sat down facing us, buckled in and pushed a little white button. A muffled =BANG= chug-chug-chug on the left wing, lots of smoke, same thing on the right wing, then all 4 engines were running. The noise was incredible as we taxiied and took off, but the flight crew looked out for everyone back then and I remember a sense of warmth and caring that's gone now. And real food!

[@JohnDoe-sg1pd]

Doors seem very L-1011 like. Lockheed loved to reuse design.

[@larrybishop9356]

If my search is correct this specific Electra, before Air Spray was owned by General Motors and then the L.A Dodgers. Known as the Kay-O (for Kay O’Malley), N1R and flown by their Captain, Lewis G. Carlisle.

[@SKYWATCHAVIATION]

Never knew there was plans spotting at Houston hobby and not just me cool i saw this one fly over me the day of the wings over Houston airshow on the way to somewhere else but it was really cool to see and definitely a piece of history also I bet not many people know this but Amelia Earhart flew the L188

[@rafaucett]

No, she didn't fly a L-188. Amelia flew a *Lockheed Electra 10E Special* NR16020 ( serial number 1055). Twin engine with radial (gasoline) engines. She accepted the Electra on her 39th birthday, 24 July 1936. The Electra L-188 first flew in 1957.

[@gordon-n6s]

Still going strong after all these years which after nacelle reenforcement has proved to be an endurable airframe capable of many functions.