Legends 67......(Triple NIckle) by debbielove
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Description
Greetings Folks,
This was asked for a short while back, behind 'Legends 62, The Bronco'..
It is the Lockheed EC-121D Constellation 'Triple Nickle'..
Now living inside on of the stunningly lit hangers at the USAF Museum, Wright Patterson Airfield, Dayton, Ohio..
Once again, I'll let their fantastic website do the talking, I'll add a bit at the end..
The EC-121, originally designated RC-121, was a radar-picket version of the U.S. Air Force's C-121 passenger airplane. The EC-121 provided early warning by detecting and tracking enemy aircraft with the electronic gear in the large radomes above and below its fuselage.
The Air Force ordered 82 EC-121s between 1951 and 1955, 72 of which were EC-121Ds. The EC-121 entered service with the Air Defense Command in 1953, flying patrols off the U.S. coasts as an aerial extension of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line. EC-121s remained in service until they were replaced by more capable E-3 Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System). The last EC-121 was retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1978..
In Southeast Asia, these unarmed radar aircraft aided in downing enemy planes, directed U.S. aircraft to aerial refueling tankers, and guided rescue planes to downed pilots. The aircraft on display was nicknamed Triple Nickel because of its serial number (53-555). On Oct. 24, 1967, over the Gulf of Tonkin, it guided a U.S. fighter into position to destroy a MiG-21. This action marked the first time a weapons controller aboard an airborne radar aircraft had ever directed a successful attack on an enemy plane. Triple Nickel came to the museum in 1971.
STAT TIME:
Engines: Four Wright R-3350s of 3,400 hp each
Crew: Varied, but usually 17
Maximum speed: 290 mph
Cruising speed: 240 mph
Range: 4,000 miles
Ceiling: 18,000 ft.
Span: 126 ft. 2 in.
Length: 116 ft. 2 in.
Height: 27 ft.
Yes, that is a B-52 behind it and there are a great many others inside here, one of three large hangers.. Access is not restricted and closeness is allowed or in some cases allowed onto!
Most doors are open, lights are inside and steps are around for photographers and I want to go back! lol
Well one day maybe I will..
Enjoy, and kid you not request for here, I took photos of most aircraft and missiles here.
Rob
Comments (13)
dr_bernie
Great photo, great POV and great depth!
bebopdlx
Outstanding aircraft, the "Connie" is an Icon.
Blechnik
The best three-engined aircraft ever - one always failed ;-).
neiwil
Hells teeth!! the B-52 is lost in here.....certainly a tad more room than the one at Duxford :-) That is a stunning shot mate! great info of course....anything from here is welcome....
Greywolf44
Great shot of a really cool bird. My buddy's dad use to fly "Connies" for TWA. I kind of forget how much I like static displays of beautiful planes. NICE!
magnus073
Great work on another amazing presentation, Rob.
Faemike55
Very cool photo and great history lesson
jayfar
The lighting really shows this beautiful aircraft off to perfection and you have taken a fab photo Rob.
RodS
Sweet shot of this beauty, Rob! That looks like an amazing museum - I need to put this on my bucket list... Ohio isn't that far away (well for me, anyway...).
Buffalo1
Fine view of the sturdy old Connie!
blinkings
Sensational my friend. I have always LOVED Connies.
goodoleboy
Oh my, depth, lighting effects, reflections and perspective to die for in this magnificent capture of the beautiful Constellation, mate, one of the aircraft (not this one in particular) I worked on when employed at Lockheed Aircraft way back when.
flavia49
excellent