C-121 C Super Constellation by junge1
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Description
This C-121C Super Constellation, tail number 54-1056, is at Duxford for the 'Flying Legends' weekend. The Super 'Connie', an L-1049G, was acquired and restored by the Super Constellation Flying Association, a group of Swiss aviation enthusiasts together with commercial pilot Francisco Agullo from Geneva.
This particular aircraft had served as a freight and passenger transport in the USAF, bearing the serial 54-0156. From November 1955 through October 1962 the aircraft was used by the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) to undertake medical evacuation missions across the North and South Atlantic to Europe, as well as to Saudi Arabia and India. Following its retirement from MATS it was transferred to the Mississippi Air National Guard (ANG), before being passed on to the West Virginia ANG in March 1967. Five years later the C-121 was briefly retired to the Military Aircraft Storage and Redistribution Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona,
In June 1972, 54-0156 was transferred to the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution as a bargaining tool for it to acquire a Boeing 307 Stratoliner from an aerial spraying firm called Aviation Specialties. The deal was finalized in August of that year and 54-0156 was sent to Mesa, Arizona, where the aircraft commenced its new life as an aerial spray tanker, being placed on the civil registry as N73544 in March 1973. The 'Connie' was primarily used in spraying for budworm infestations around the forests of Maine and Quebec, in Canada, from 1973 through 1976. Returning to Mesa in 1976, and later to Chandler, Arizona, N73544 languished in the hot Arizona desert until December 1982, when it was purchased by D. Benny Younesi and flown to Chino, California.
In January 1984, the veteran transport flew to Camarillo from Chino with a feathered No 4 propeller. With no operating base to work out of and no-one available to repair or maintain the aircraft, it sat at the eastern end of Camarillo airport with little or no hope of ever flying again.
It was here were the Swiss enthusiasts became involved in its future. It was sold to the SCFA in 2003.
PS: In April 1966 my unit, the 64th FIS (Fighter Interceptor Squadron) went to water survival school at Lake Texoma, TX/OK, before the unit deployed to South East Asia. We were flown by an EC-121 'Warning Star', an Early Warning Radar Surveillance Aircraft, from Paine Field, WA to Dallas IAP, TX and back. From Dallas IAP to Perrin AFB, TX we flew on a C-47 'Gooney Bird'. The 7 hr flight each way on the EC-121 was at 18,000-ft and there was just enough turbulence to make for excellent sleeping.
This picture was taken on 13 July 2014,
Sig...
Comments (20)
lembrechtsart
Great shot of THE most elegant airliner ever produced. Peter
Richardphotos
this looks far better than the one at Grand Canyon. actually a beautiful restoration and capture
flavia49
wonderful
Greywolf44
Absolutely beautiful restoration. And yes, it was arguably the most elegant airliner ever. Nice photo!!!!
Faemike55
Wonderful capture and cool story & history I'm glad she's safe and sound
auntietk
Hey! You're home! :) Looks like you got to see a plane or two. If I see Rob in any of your shots, I'll be sure to point him out. :P
rachris480907
Very interesting history with this excellent shot! There is a certain elegance on the ground to this plane that is lacking in jet aircraft, probably because it has to sit so high above the ground to give clearance to its propellers. It gives it the grace of a stork or flamingo, as opposed to a duck or a chicken. :)
starship64
Great shot! I love those old planes.
jayfar
A fantastic photo and a beautiful plane.
sharky_
Nice shot. Aloha
ontar1
Beautiful plane, thank you for the history, outstanding capture!
bebopdlx
An Icon of the air age.
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
MagikUnicorn
GREAT SHOT
bmac62
Wonderful Sig and of course I love reading the historical notes. My only ride on a Connie was while it was still in actual airline service...1966...Denver to Kansas City...to Louisville, Kentucky. At the time I was disappointed that I was on an old prop job instead of a new jet:-)))
soffy
Wonderful shot and thanks for the interesting history**
debbielove
You were there as well mate, looking at the weather the same day as me.. Sorry, it wasn't as good as other Legends I've seen.. :-( You took the Flight Line Walk, good move! I hit some hangers instead.. Good photo Rob
farmerC
Shining shot.
bazza
Fabulous capture of this aircraft and info on it Sig..
danapommet
She is a beauty with a wonderful story behind her!