View Full Version : Super Constellation - some real nostalgia
PPRuNe Pop
30th Sep 2007, 06:52
Some real way back film by real pros long gone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rgzAnrI6Bw
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCL7FglFapY&mode=related&search=
And another:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6MTfjAQyy0
And the Brabazon!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miRV-SgYx7Q&mode=related&search=
seacue
30th Sep 2007, 13:33
Arthur Godfrey, US radio and TV personality, really did have a MEL license. His radio broadcasting career started in Washington, DC, in the mid 1930s and he went to New York in the 40s. He kept his farm west of where KIAD is now located. When he became a TV star he could afford a DC-3 with which he commuted to New York. Being a person with technical interests, he also had a ham radio license.
barit1
30th Sep 2007, 14:22
AG had his license suspended for buzzing Teterboro tower in that DC-3 (N1AG, IIRC) :}
ZeBedie
30th Sep 2007, 15:00
That's when you know you're a proper airline pilot - when you wear your headset over your hat!
con-pilot
30th Sep 2007, 19:41
Arthur Godfrey also flew a 1121 Jet Commander around the world back in the mid-60s on a publicity tour (stunt). On the final landing of the tour at the Wiley Post airport in Oklahoma City he made a low alitiude high speed pass and as he passed the Control Tower he rolled the Jet Commander.
The FAA jumped on him and was going to violate him, however, he claimed that he suddenly had a cramp in his leg and that caused the aircraft to roll.
The FAA accepted the BS story and no action was taken.
(True story, I was there.)
pigboat
1st Oct 2007, 02:00
Thank you PP, wonderful stuff. :D:ok:
"Climb check complete, time for a Chesterfield."
Ahhhhh, I remember those days.
seacue
2nd Oct 2007, 05:14
Chesterfield was one of Godfrey's broadcast sponsors - until his [successful] lung cancer operation.
The AvgasDinosaur
3rd Oct 2007, 20:26
More recent but still pleasant
http://youtube.com/watch?v=D3PlWvoJyxw
Be lucky
David
Feather #3
3rd Oct 2007, 21:37
Yes, the Friday night display at the bi-annual Avalon Airshow.
Feedback from enthusiasts is that a lot come along just to watch the Connie at night [and not missing the F-111 dump-and-burn.]
G'day ;)
Arthur Godfrey also owned a Gulfstream One, and this airplane was equipped with a Collins para visual display (PVD), and was approved for hand flown CATIIIA ops, at the time.
The Collins PVD was a proof of concept design, but it never caught on the the USA...of course, the UK used it to very good advantage first in the HS.121 Trident (as I recall) and then in the L1011.
Superb kit.
Fareastdriver
4th Oct 2007, 14:44
In the 70s an air freighting company in Miami used Constellations in various states of disrepair flying to and from Central American countries. I was at Belize at the time and one of them landed with No 3 feathered. I saw the flight engineer working on the aircraft and after he had finished I wandered over to have a look.
It was in a shocking state. It still had vestiges of its Pan Am paintwork, dents all over the place and the mainwheels were glistening with engine oil leaks. Going up the steps revealed that the interior was lined with dirty old plywood, as was the floor.
The engineered welcomed me to have a look around the cockpit and then he started up No 4. He ran it for a bit and expressed satisfaction with his fix.
“I thought you had a problem with No 3?” I queried.
“No, there’s not a lot wrong with that one, it uses a lot of oil so we only use it to take off.”