EC-121

[steveno]

we used the EC-121 for quite a while before the RC-135. the Constellation was always one of the best looking airplanes

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfv7eaVXwjE[/ame]

 

[Lee Barner]

neat old plane. many different missions over the years. they used them as MIG CAP early warning over Viet Nam to warn our guys when Migs lauched out of N. Viet Nam. used to hear the warning on UHF guard. I think they stayed over Laos and were based in Thialand. here are a couple in Guam on there way from Thialand to the bone yard. there were 5 or 6 and they were there for 2 days and had maintenance crews working on them the whole time they were there. lee

 

[THE PILGRIM]

They were based at Korat, Thailand.
I was billeted with them on one of my trips to Korat.

 

[Tyrod]

Looks kinda humpbacked.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The Lockheed Constellation is 'hump-backed.'
It was designed by Kelly Johnson and friends to be low drag and fast.
It was the fastest longest range piston engine airliner ever.
It generally out performed its competitors the Boeing Stratocruiser and the Douglas DC-4/6.
Douglas then brought out the faster D.C. -7 to compete with the Connie.
The DC-7 was a problem child and never quite lived up to expectations.

 

[Tom S.]

Can't deny it served its place well, but the plane's fuselage and the nose looked like they were designed by two different engineers with two different agendas, at least to me.


Of course that's coming from a guy who loves the A-10.

 

[pmanton]

I logged considerable hours in the WV, the Naval version, in support of the Corona satellite recovery in the late 50's early 60's while I was serving in the Marines.

 

[cahotshoe]

I crewed one in '68 at Otis AFB on Cape Cod. A beautiful airplane with range to spare. Flying orbits in the north Atlantic watching for the Russians, 24 hour missions low and slow. 6 hours out, 12 on station, and 6 back. An adventure for a young man, now I can't stand 2 1/2 hours to Florida. I d believe that those R3350's would run out of oil before fuel though. Wright's leaked like a sieve. First stop before any maint, was done was the wash rack. They would literally be dripping oil.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Here is a photo of TE-6, VW1 at Sangley Point, Philippines in 1964. Sangley Point was a remote base for Vietnam patrols. It was used by VW and VP Squadrons.

 

[Dennis The B]

Spent more than a couple of Fridays and Sundays on the C-121 in 1970, when it was the Blue Angels' crew plane. We'd depart Quonset Point NAS, go to wherever the Blue Angels were performing that weekend, do our gig, and return on Sunday nights.

When in passenger configuration it was the smoothest flying aircraft I'd ever rode in.

 

[dg101win]

Spent a year working on them at Korat,Thailand 72-73.

 

[M E Morrison]

Sadly, my strongest memory of them was when the NORKS shot one down in 1969.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Link to a previous thread on the Lockheed Constellation and some good res pics and trivia.....

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge...21-super-constellation.html?highlight=mystery

Here's a taste, a Swiss Connie that is still flying....

 

[Snapping Twig]

As a child I flew from SFO to Portland on a United Connie.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My dad had to commute from Columbus, Ohio to NYC in about 26 times 1967-68 and usually flew TWA. They were all about the 707's but if you got a flight to Pittsburgh, you were on a 4 prop Constellation! The runway in the Pitt wasn't long enough for a 707, until the 70's I think.

Ivan

 

[BUFF]

The Constellation is the most graceful passenger liner ever built.

 

[427mach1]

Can't deny it served its place well, but the plane's fuselage and the nose looked like they were designed by two different engineers with two different agendas, at least to me.


Of course that's coming from a guy who loves the A-10.

The shape of the fuselage probably developed a lot of lift. The problem is that the shape is very hard and expensive to manufacture, especially during that time with available machining and manufacturing capabilities. The tube and wing is much easier and less expensive to manufacture on a large scale. BTW, I love the Connie AND the A-10.... That's coming from a guy who has worked 30+ years for the same company that brought you the Connie!

 

[Targets Guy]

Always wanted to fly in one; never did. Had a good buddy who was a navigator on them. They flew over the Atlantic coastline watching for bad guys.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

They finally got C-121 Bataan out of Arizona.
One time flight to Chino, CA for a complete rebuild.
Here it is sitting in AZ.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

The Super Connie was the first Air Force One, used by President Eisenhower:

The first Air Force One is wasting away in the desert - CNNPolitics.com