USS Constellation Launches Jets Under the Golden Gate Bridge

This is a video I took of the USS Constellation launching her jets just as she went under the Golden Gate Bridge. This was the last time an aircraft carrier went to San Francisco Fleetweek.

[@kurlus7930]

I was onboard when this was taken. Never got to see the video until now, thanks for the memories!

[@UAVSailor]

me too!! I was there.

[@stingraycorvette1]

I served on the constellation from 1991 - 1995. Awsome video, the best aircraft carrier video on youtube.

[@robg9881]

I was an operation specialist and on watch on the bridge at that time. This is the first time I’ve seen the video. Brings back memories

[@chattjedi]

My dad served on her for 3 years. She is still awesome all these years.

[@yop911]

How does this only have 2400 views? This is legitimately the coolest aviation video I have ever seen and deserves at least some more recognition. Bravo on the great video. Also felt some pride when they started launching hornets rather than corsairs. As a canadian F-18s (or Cf-188s) are usually the only fighters I get to see on a regular basis. Still going strong after all these years.

[@ironroad18]

Captain: " Gentlemen, how can we make our transit under the bridge ultra American?" Airboss: "Watch this shit..."

[@kenowens9021]

Plane launched from the angled part of the flight deck. AMAZING!!!!!!!!

[@billt1ify]

I served aboard Connie WesPac 1964. First naval airstrike against North Viet Nam. If memory serves correctly we only needed a 30 knot wind across the bow to launch. Frisco always had a wind. Going out of the bay the connie could have probably launched if she had been still Flight Deck Electrician 1964-65

[@kstadnyk1]

I was standing at the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge as the "Connie" went underneath it. Amazing feeling having the bridge sway and feeling the jet wash. Thanks for the video. Love it!

[@DaJaKL]

Great Video! I was stationed onboard Connie during this time. I remember this very vividly, but I've never seen this angle before!

[@wallyholmesly589]

Nice video.....I rode the Connie back in the early 80's. Back when President Reagan and the SecDef came aboard on seperate visits. She was a good ship. I think fondly of her and my shipmates.

[@rjpier61]

I served onboard from 1979 - 1982 as an Engineering Boiler Technician...

[@anthonycabral741]

Actually in order to receive your Surface Warfare pin and or your Air Warfare pin on board Connie, this was a must know. In order for flight operations to take place She was to have minimum of 15 knots of wind over the bow for aircraft to launch. The F-14 didn't need any wind over the bow to be able to launch thanks to 2 Pratt & Whitney Turbines that were capable of producing 28000 lbs per square inch of thrust! I'd say that's enough to launch from anywhere. She was a good Ole Girl. I enjoyed my time aboard her. Learned a lot & worked hard, but we played "HARDER"!! "Connie will always be my girl"!

[@rangerCG]

Great upload. I was on the deck that day and this is the only footage I know of. Thanks!

[@OAKLANDRAIDER1320]

love it!!!!!!!!!! served on board from 200-2003 did 2 deployments on her and was on the decom crew my first ship my first love!

[@ronringwald5120]

Was on her many times, 1985-1989, was on her in 88 when she caught fire. One heck of a fire that was, all in all good times on her

[@burgernfries9720]

I was on the USS Kittyhawk cv63 and USS Carl Vinson cvn 70

[@willtoloza]

Awsome...I was ships company onboard the "connie" 94-97...what great memories ...

[@jamesdewer]

Great footage. Lived in SF since I got out in 91. Never saw anything like this! MAde several trips under the GGB on Enterprise thought.

[@frederickwise5238]

The first one was an A3J Vigilante (renamed A5Cs). I worked on those at NAA after I came out of the Navy. Airframes 58 thru 62. 'Mine' all went to the Atlantic fleet tho, They were fast!!! After one test flight #60 came back with the paint scorched on the fuselage from air friction. The Navy wasnt happy having to pay for a repaint it!! lol

[@michaelchristensen6884]

Frederick Wise it was an S-3 Viking, the Vigi's were retired long before I joined the Navy in 90.

[@kurtiskaskowski5386]

Vigilantes were retired soon after Vietnam... like 1976, about when the crusader was retired (fighter wings, not recon, recon crusaders lasted to the late 80s or so). 76 was also when the Essex class carriers were retired.

[@kurtiskaskowski5386]

Plus, the Vigilante doesn't have wing mounted turbofans, and is almost 3 times as big as the Viking (first one in the video). They look almost nothing alike. Viking is short, fat and stubby, the Vigilante is long and sleak with a huge tail.

[@kurtiskaskowski5386]

Frederick Wise but you're right about the Vigilantes being fast. They were designed to be a low altitude, high speed, tactical nuke strike aircraft, with a bomb bay between the exhaust nozzles. Same with the F-105 Thunderchief, also designed for the same purpose but the rapid development of cruise missiles, the diminishing threat of Soviet threat and the Vietnam war threw those planes into different roles.

[@willtoloza]

Thank you for the video..Being a EM we didnt t go topside much...this was great to see.

[@frederickwise5238]

+willtoloza I heard that!! lol ET's didnt get much sun thats for sure. At least you got some ship duty tho. As a CTM (58-62) I never even got to set foot on a ship. They flew me to Guam.. Bummer. A little OT but they beat me out of time between flights in Hawaii , I never got to go to the Arizona Memorial.

[@ddull2000]

The best Fleet Week show ever!

[@UAVSailor]

This was Thursday October 18th, 2000. I was on Starboard Lookout.

[@blownglasslide]

I remember when Connie would come visit us in the bay. Those were good times :). Nowadays everything has to be so damn political. Back then, everyone got excited when she was in port! It didn't matter what you thought of the military or whatever, people just got excited to see the big ship. Now, we won't even let the new ones into the bay.

[@PIredfish]

Most decorated ship during Vietnam, she earned her rest......!

[@The100BestVideos]

Did they lower the height of the Mast/antennas since 1981? I remember she shifted fuel from Port to the Starboard tanks so she could lean at an unusual angle to make it under the lower reaches of the bridge.

[@gregv3181]

Nice vid! S-3 Viking my ride to Connie from Diego Garcia during WestPac 88-89 V-3 Div

[@VMA225]

Even Though it is a bit Foggy, nice Clip from Marin County !!!;

[@SuperMcstorm]

Served 1985 to 1989 on her. I grew up on that flight deck. We did flanchor ops in Diego Garcia.

[@curtisfieldsjr4211]

1973 Westpac . RVAH-12

[@joygomez9772]

I made one Westpac on the Connie as part of Air Wing VA 165 back in 78

[@allgood6760]

Awesome 👍

[@betoyorl]

awesome video thanks a lot for sharing

[@holydiver4642]

Love the U.S.A.!!Thank you military!

[@jamesdewer]

@billt1ify I was an EM in Flight Deck Lighting on Enterprise. That is when I was not down in the place manning a switchgear.

[@CaptainAhorn]

Cool, but would be more impressed by the carrier running under the bridge at 30KT. 😳

[@stingraycorvette1]

I'll give it a try, thank you

[@Thizlamic]

1:00 S3A Viking kiddo.

[@robr9905]

woop woop

[@johnrosenberger1657]

Wow !

[@bennymutant]

Look at the size of that thing....

[@UAVSailor]

I stood on the forward right side. Forward Look Out. I saw hundreds of people cheering up top. I saw all the boats. And at the bottom of the stanchion. I saw NAKED peeps waving The American flag cheering NAKED men and women. I won't forget that day on board Connie.

[@watchmestress4182]

Show offs,😊

[@johnmoore8016]

@Was a cat shot off the angle deck?

[@geronimocha7471]

Very Nice!!~ 😝🤑

[@tedrussell902]

I am surprised they were allowed to even do that. I bet they wouldn’t let them do it now.

[@stingraycorvette1]

I cant post this video to facebook, it says it needs a source and picture attributes? Does anyone know what this means and what I can do to fix it?

[@LoganGreer]

What year was this?

[@Benis0n]

Fleetweek 2000.

[@OGthecritic]

Murica