THE SUPER CONNIES Part 4 of 4: Save A Connie 1990 - Show's Over! We fly the Jump Seat Home

[@grumpyoldfart1945]

Thanks for bringing these great and most entertaining four videos of arguably the most beautiful 4-engine propliner ever built. I recall touring SAC some years ago before the “Star” was flying and was truly impressed with the quality of the restoration then going on. Your videos certainly verify that dedication. Hopefully, the experiences of the crews,especially during their working years, will be recorded for the future. Kudos to you and to those members of the SAC organization.

[@JARREGULUS]

Thanks for your great comments, we're glad you enjoyed the presentations! I agree on your assessment that it is the most beautiful 4-engine heavy recip ever.

[@Bellakelpie]

John, further to our "discussion" of a few weeks ago. This year celebrates 30 years since "HARS" first got their hands on their C121C 54-0157. She has been prep'd for her 1st outing of 2021 and is in really good shape.

[@AeroDinosaur]

They have another one? Please let me know when she flies! That's great!

[@Bellakelpie]

@@AeroDinosaur No. Still C121C ex 54-0157. But after being "hangared" for most of 2020 due to Covid restrictions, 2021 sees her back flying again. She has been joined by a DC4, a 3rd DC3, a C7 Caribou and a P3C Orion. Work continues on a getting a couple of Fokker F27's back airborne as well. Their P2V7's, CV340 and PBY are all in good flying shape.

[@AeroDinosaur]

@@Bellakelpie Man, I think HARS has cornered the market on large piston aircraft restorations! Looks like they got the public interest, the funding and the momentum. Now I wish I lived in Australia!!

[@Bellakelpie]

@@AeroDinosaur John, In one if your Connie video’s, you mention that their is no recorded sound of an L-049 Connie., or words to that effect. In the 1950’s, a B&W British movie was released, called “ Out of the Clouds.” Besides some British period actors, the stars of the film were piston airliners of the 1950’s, including PanAm DC6’s and BOAC Stratocruiser’s and L-049 and L749A Connie’s. Much of the movie was shot on location at London Heathrow and even inside some of the aforementioned airliners. It also includes aerial footage. One of the features is the sound of their engines in operation. The movie is available via Amazon U.K. and on E-Bay U.K. but you will need a region free DVD player to view it. It’s a must for lovers of “piston pounders”, especially for looking out for what aircraft are in the far background. As an example, in one scene, a Qantas Connie can be observed taxiing past.

[@theleastofpilgrims3379]

The HARS aircraft I think was the one sitting on the ramp at Camarillo KCMA next to another military Connie for a few blessed years. And for some of that time there was also a Convair 240 or 340 there, and a C-46

[@marknesselhaus4376]

Such a majestic aircraft. Back in the early 60's as a child, I remember the Connies flying over my home in South Florida as they flew their downwind leg into MIA :-D

[@AeroDinosaur]

We must be about the same age. Saw them overhead in St. Louis in and out of Lambert in the early '60's, and my mom took us to the airport to watch my dad arrive from New York in them.

[@marknesselhaus4376]

@@AeroDinosaur Pretty close in age. I am 64 y/o and grew up in Hialeah on the north side of MIA. Way back then there was a safe area to park cars on the south side to watch the arrivals and takeoffs and my mother would take me there to watch. My mom and dad were both pilots going back to the late 30's. Dad last flew for Riddle cargo but died in a C-46 crash in 1959 as Captain.

[@AeroDinosaur]

@@marknesselhaus4376 I'm 66 so we are clearly the same generation. Hialeah is where I went to buy supplies for my TAL trips in 1991 and 1992. That must have been traumatic to lose your dad when you were so young--if you have any memories when you were 2. Unfortunately back then and up to only a few decades ago, crashes were the norm, not the exception.

[@marknesselhaus4376]

@@AeroDinosaur No memories of my dad but my mom kept the love of flying alive. I could not afford flying lessons but I did take a Ground School course in high school then got into ultralights later on. My dads crash was in southern Georgia and a fire started in the aft of the plane when some rags/cargo made contact with a unprotected light bulb. The last mechanic to touch the plane was so upset about the crash and being his fault that my mom had to console him rather than the other way round. Dad flew the Hump in WWII.

[@AeroDinosaur]

@@marknesselhaus4376 After surviving the hump and then that! We just never know do we--your mom had to be an angel.

[@theleastofpilgrims3379]

@AeroUnion seeing this aircraft (I think, it may have been the Connie that is now in Australia) and a military connie at Camarillo (KCMA) in the mid 1990s solidified my love for the great propliners of the 1950s. These aircraft are so beautiful. I think the L1049G in particular is one of the most beautiful aircraft to fly, along with the Vickers Vanguard, 727, Convair 990, Vickers VC-10, and some 707 models, and the Bristol Brittania, and of course Concorde. And they looked amazing in TWA’s livery - I miss TWA. I am praying that this priceless aircraft and the others owned by the Aviation History Museum in Kansas City are not lost due to that stupid rent dispute.

[@AeroDinosaur]

Agreed! I'm not getting my hopes up too high for the future of Super Connie N6937C Star of America or the Aviation History Museum. They are in a real bad fix. J.A. Reed

[@1776vtgmb]

No computers... cables control everything! WillyB

[@seanpratherful]

Great stuff as always.

[@AeroDinosaur]

Always great to hear from you. Thanks!

[@rongraham9372]

When the L1049 Constellation was first introduced how many crew were working up front on the flight deck??

[@AeroDinosaur]

On my flight there were four--pilot, co-pilot and two flight engineers cross checking each other. When the L-1049 was introduced, a navigators and radio operator were still used on some of the long international flights, but were phased out. They sat behind the avionics racks where I was sitting on my flight.