The Connie - Democratic Underground

trof

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Sat Jan-03-04 07:26 PM
Original message

The Connie

You probably never flew ON one.
You sure as hell probably never flew one.
But back in the day...

A more beautiful airliner was never built, with its sensuously curved fuselage, long legs (both literally and figuratively) and superb streamlining. It simply looked like something futuristic, fast, exciting and beautiful! From its beginnings in the summer of 1939 as the Model 49 "Excalibur A" to the final Model 1649 "Starliner", delivered February 12, 1958, the "Connie" was always described in superlatives such as "highest", "fastest", "best" and "most".
http://www.aviation-history.com/lockheed/1049.html

Ah...those were the days.

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displacedtexan

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Sat Jan-03-04 07:44 PM
Response to Original message

1. the precursor to the 707?

my SO flew on the Connie from St. Louis to NYC in 1954... headed to England by ship.

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aQuArius

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Sat Jan-03-04 08:09 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. yes, in fact...

In the end, the Connie was brought down by the fast developing technology of the jet engine, and in particular the Boeing Model 707 . jet airliner.

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trof

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Sat Jan-03-04 08:34 PM
Response to Reply #1

4. The last great recip.

Recipricating engine.
Pistons and such.
Then came the jets.

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aQuArius

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Sat Jan-03-04 08:01 PM
Response to Original message

2. Beautiful, absolutely gorgeous....

I believe I remember seeing one at an air show quite a few years ago and being completely enamored. Thanks for passing this along.

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ironflange

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Sat Jan-03-04 08:41 PM
Response to Original message

5. I've flown one of those many times

Using Flight Simulator (c). Even there, I can sense the grace of the machine. I've always liked the Connie, last of its breed.

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NoPasaran

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Sat Jan-03-04 09:23 PM
Response to Original message

6. Too young to remember

But when we cames back to the States from Japan (where I was born) we flew on one.

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Whitacre D_WI

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Sat Jan-03-04 09:31 PM
Response to Original message

7. Ain't much prettier'n a Connie.

I never flew on one (hell, I was born in '75), but I've always wished I could have.

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CanuckAmok

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Sat Jan-03-04 09:32 PM
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8. I have a friend who is a TV producer...

...and former Canadian Air Force pilot. He loves to fly, and owns a gorgeous Grumman plane from the '30s he takes out a few times a year. His big present to himself, every year, it to go down to an airfield in either Texas or Arizona (I can't remember where), and fly a restored Connie for two hours. Someone he met at a convention is a half-owner of one of the last fully functional Constellations in the world, and they get out once a year, come hell or high-water.

My friend is in the best of moods for at least a month afterwards, no matter what.

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WannaJumpMyScooter

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Sat Jan-03-04 11:44 PM
Response to Original message

9. Flew on several as a youngster, I remeber it well because

of the cramped space on jets later.

Then flew on one from Mexico City to San Juan, Costa Rico.... that was in 1979... that was a crazy assed trip.

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