Legends 47 by debbielove
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Description
Greetings Folks,
Needing no introduction, one of only 6 airworthy Connies left in the world, most oddly, in or bound for Europe..
This is a C-121C Super Constellation, owned by the watchmaker Breitling (small mortgages needed to own one!)..
Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling sponsored a restoration of a C-121C Super Constellation, registration N73544, that is based in Basel and has since been featured in its advertisements. This plane is now registered in the Swiss Aircraft registry as HB-RSC..
The Lockheed Constellation ('Connie) is a propeller-driven, four-engined airliner built by Lockheed Corporation between 1943 and 1958 at Burbank, California. 856 were built in numerous models, all with a triple-tail design and dolphin-shaped fuselage and most powered by four 18-cylinder Wright R-3350s. The Constellation was used as a civil airliner and as a military and civil air transport, seeing service in the Berlin Airlift and the Biafran airlift. It was the presidential aircraft for Dwight D. Eisenhower. (Photo incoming).
This was taken at this years Legends show, it did one full pass then landed! Disappointed? Bit!
But that said, doesn't it look lovely! A piece of art in the air!
Bit rushed here sorry, will be doing comments tomorrow..
Enjoy
Rob
Comments (24)
prutzworks
most beautiful plane ever build imo thanks for sharing
bebopdlx
I am surprised there are only 6 left, flew on one once, Very cool airplane.
Kratoonz
One of my favorite planes. Thanks for sharing
neiwil
A thing of true beauty, jealous as hell I missed this....well, maybe it will return! (Hmmmm! their watches are THAT expensive?, I assume it's because I always go on about the Breitling tent and their gorgeous wing walkers.....Karen bought me a Breitling watch for my birthday.......she got a good deal by buying herself a Rolex at the same time.....mind you, we were in Turkey when she bought them :-)
neiwil
Congrats for LWITG........well deserved
giulband
Very good capture !!!!
Greywolf44
Beautiful plane and a great restoration job. Definitely a fav.
lembrechtsart
Definitely THE most beautiful airliner ever produced. Great shot, Rob ! Peter
brigadier
Rode one once, very nice and comfortable.
taliesin86001
I was born in Germany, my mother German, my father US Air Force. In 1957 I took my first plane ride in one of these and came to the US. This plane always will have a special place in my heart! Thanks Rob!
blinkings
I love the Connies.
jayfar
A wonderful picture and a beautiful aircraft Rob.
Faemike55
The classics are always a wor of art Great capture
Buffalo1
Superb shot! I still think you should do a calendar, Rob. My Dad took a flight in a Connie on December 31, 1943 from NYC, to Newfoundland, to the Azores, to Scotland. Yes, it was a military flight and a great one since it was VIP plane with stewards serving meals. His seatmate was a British brigadier general. "You and your friends must be a pretty damned important sergeants," the general said in a friendly manner. Pretty good for a young GI's first plane ride.
Tamarrion
WOW! Awesome catch of a rare beauty.
Osper
One of the most elegant aircraft to grace the sky. Nice catch!
magnus073
Very nice work on this truly epic presentation, Rob.
goodoleboy
Great Scott! I worked on that beauty, or ones like it, in the mid 1950s! And for Lockheed, in beautiful Burbank, CA. Lovely capture, and how do you like those P-38-like vertical tails?
Richardphotos
I am relative sure I seen some flying when I was a boy. the only one I seen on the ground was in Arizona at Planes of Fame museum. I really like this capture. truly a beautiful plane
Richardphotos
the one I seen is air worthy but waiting for a mechanic to do work on the engines.
NightGallery
Nice shot of this beauty. And great info.
RodS
That's a beauty, and a great shot of her, Rob! The Connie is a truly beautiful aircraft. We have one here in Kansas City - I've not seen her in the air for a while, but she is airworthy. Last I knew they were doing some work on her as money allows. She's part of the Airline Museum, which is staffed by volunteers: http://airlinehistory.org/?page=home I know a number of things have been added to the museum - the even have a flight simulator! I have some photos - somewhere - from when our old camera club toured her and the museum. I'll have to see if I can find them.
flavia49
wonderful
moochagoo
My first flight in 1959 was in a SuperConstellation like that (Paris-Alger).
plasmid
Great picture of a great bird. She was also used by the Navy and Air Force as a predecessor to AWACS and were designated as EC-121's. These military versions initially sported two large radomes, a large disc on top and a smaller belly dome on the bottom. During Vietnam, my father-in-law served on the same EC-121 designated as the Triple Nickle that is on display at the USAF museum. These guys would fly 50-100 feet above the water in a race track pattern above the Gulf of Tonkin approximately 100 miles off the coast of Hanoi. By flying 50-100 feet above the water, the radar operators would bounce their radar signals off the surface of the water which would extend the range of detection for them. They would detect and call out Mig warnings to American aircraft operating over North Vietnam. This is a huge aircraft. Flying these birds that low for hours was quite a feat. Especially when you consider they did this well within Mig range and with no defensive equipment whatsoever.
knupps
Wow, that is one nice bird.