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| The next stage in development of the Constellation was the L-1049 Super Constellation with lengthened fuselage, strengthening for higher gross weight, increased fuel capacity and more powerful engines. The first prototype Super Constellation (a conversion of the original C-69 prototype) flew for the first time on 13 October 1950. First in commercial service (on 15 December 1951) was one owned by Eastern Air Lines. This version could accommodate 71 first-class or 95 coach-class passengers (14 delivered to Eastern and ten to TWA during 1951-52). A number of improved variants followed - the last and most important being the L-1649A Starliner, regarded as the ultimate development of the piston-engined civil airliner.
L-1049 Super Constellation were in use by both the USAF and US Navy under a variety of C-121 and R7V designations respectively.
| MODEL | L-1049G |
| CREW | 4 |
| PASSENGERS | 62-109 |
| ENGINE | 4 x 3400hp Wright R-3350-972T-C18DA-3 |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 4õ3400 kg | 9 lb |
| Empty weight | 33119 kg | 73015 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 37.62 m | 123 ft 5 in |
| Length | 35.41 m | 116 ft 2 in |
| Height | 7.55 m | 25 ft 9 in |
| Wing area | 154.40 m2 | 1661.95 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Cruise speed | 589 km/h | 366 mph |
| Ceiling | 6950 m | 22800 ft |
| Range | 6700 km | 4163 miles |
| James Melvin, e-mail, 25.03.2011 06:59 I am writing to find any crew mates of my father LCDR. William "Buck" Melvin Jr. He passed away in 2008 and I would like information about his stint in AEWBARRONPAC. I think from years 1956 - 1962? Around that time. Thanks reply | | allan pochop, e-mail, 20.03.2011 18:22 AEWBARRONPAC-MIDET, 10 /62-10 /63. ADR2, power plants. DMI's, got my fill of 1100 oil dripping R-3350-76's. Three days work, one day off pattern. Hated that rock. No place for a single sailor, should have been a brown-baggers duty station. Liberty was horrible. reply | | Robert J. Dlouhy, e-mail, 07.03.2011 22:14 I was a flight radio operator with Navy Airtransron 8 (VR-8)from February 1953 til June 1955 based at Hickam AFB, Honolulu, Hawaii flying the MATS routes. We received our first R7V's sometime in August or Septempbe 1953. We flew both State side and Western Pacific staging at the islands in route to Clark AFB (Phillipines), Haneda AFB Tokyo), Saigon, Bangkok, etc. In my opinion, the R7V was a terrific aurcraft although we did have quite a bit of engine problems at first. In the first few months flying WestPAC, with staging at the islands you would fly at least four different aircraft and you would loose at least one engine during the round trip. However, the R7V flew pretty darn good on just three engines. But the engine problem was ultimately resolved. The electronics was great. I can not recall ever having any major problems with communications that caused us to not ultimately get our messages through. reply | | Robert J. (Bob) Carey, e-mail, 01.03.2011 00:19 I was part of the radar crew from 55-58. Flt crew 29 A /C Capt John Buck 961st AEW&C Sqdn. Rumor had it that Walt Disney drew our squadron shoulder patch for us. A bat over water with binocs and a telescope under his wings, lightening bolt in backround. Still have the original patch. Will send a pic if you want. Otis had just opened for the three squads & we slept in the old wooden POW barracks. Sorry guys, but 1955 was the best year ever. Summertime was Old Cape Cod / Patti Page and girls, girls, girls. Went back for the 50th reunion a few years ago. Shame No Connies After that 4yr stint went to UAL flight ops for the next 32yrs reply | |
| | Woody Weidemeyer, e-mail, 28.02.2011 18:05 While with VX 4 and VW 2 at PAX River, the Navy designatioins for our two baby connies was WV 1 and the designation for the super Connies was WV 2. VW 2 was attached to the Atlantic Fleet Air Arm and flew Eastern Air Defense and weather recon in the 1950s. reply | | Tom Wood, e-mail, 27.02.2011 22:14 Came aboard VW-2 at PaxRiv in spring 1957 . AEAN - AEI-3.
Was told to volunteer for flight crew .. best advice EVER . Assigned CIC Crew 8 .. Buzz Ringe , Dave Stevenson , Johnnie Burke , Al Listen and originally Pat Waters .. Lt. Jerry Ryan , CICO , and a Mustang Ensign named Joe (?) ACICO , and others who have left my memory bank .
First trip to Iceland for "Operation Springboard" Sept '57 .. Weathered in at Scotland after our flight was finished .
2 tours at RNAS Halfar , Malta , with MEDFAM trips .. 1st plane to go to Munich ( Octoberfest) TDY to Souda Bay for Lebanon civil war -'58 .. 2 trips tp Gitmo , 1to Minneapolis , 1 to San Francisco .Like too many "kids" , did not realize just how good it was , and was discharged in October 1958 .
Have 2 crew pictures taken at Malta , 57-58 , gladly share for postage , or can e-mail , have them on my computer .
Made reunion in Pax in 09 .. I hope that I will be in San Diego in September .
Was a regular at " The Village Inn" Drove '57 white Ford Fairlane 500
Love to hear from shipmates . e-mail me . reply | | George Fogg, e-mail, 27.02.2011 03:35 Flew 8 years out of 551st Quality Control Otis AFB. Liked the old bird. Understand that #417 will eventually be on display at Evergreen Museum, in McMinnville, Or. reply | | Alan Lubbe, e-mail, 22.02.2011 03:57 I was a ADR3 with VW1 in Agana Guam from 1968 to 1970, Work in check crew for the duration, changed every part and many engines during that time. I only got on for 1 flight to DaNang to help with a engine change, it was a impressive ride watching the flames coming out of those PRT's. reply | | George F. Handel, e-mail, 18.02.2011 19:20 In 1964 I was an Ensign, fresh out of VT-27 training in New Iberia, and was assigned to VW-13. I hated the whole idea of going to Argentia for two years. But ....after a few weeks there, I was delighted to be in that squadron. Sadly, VW-13 was decommissioned the following year, and I then went to VQ-2 in Rota, for 2 years. I spent 3 years total flying the Connie, including a few months in Danang, while TAD to VQ-1. Total Connie pilot time 2000 hours. I left the Navy as a Lt. in Oct 67, and went to work for Northwest Airlines. I spent 33 years there, and flew some great transport airplanes, including my last 5 years on the 747-400.
The 747-400 was truly magnificent, but the Connie was the airplane that I will always remember,.... and love! reply | | Jim Barrick, AT2, e-mail, 18.02.2011 10:17 Radar Tech in VW-2, 1958-61, out of Pax River, one Med cruise flying Radar cover for the 6th Fleet, with stops in Barcelona, Naples, Pisa, Venice, Athens, over 2,000 hours with the pin to prove it. At the time I didn't realize how good a billet it was. Ive been to three Reunions at Chanute Air Museum in Rantoul, IL in 2003; 05; 08 and one to Pax River in 2009. reply | | c. frank inabinet, e-mail, 12.02.2011 19:11 I was a crew chief on a WV for two years with VW-3 at NAS Agana, Guam. Picked up A /C brand new at Lockheed, all 4 engines went max time. Made many 12-14 hr flights. A great A /C! Still have my "Sea Bean" (don't challenge) reply | | Moon Mullen, e-mail, 26.01.2011 23:54 ....and I carry my seabean every day of my life......don't challange me! reply | | Moon Mullen, e-mail, 26.01.2011 23:51 Flew as an AG with VW-11 and 13 out of Arg...VXN8 & OASU out of Pax and VW-1 out of Guam in typhoons and N.Vietnam out of ChuLai and DaNang. Penetrated 42 different typhoons but Crew Numbah Ten never had a late fix or bust....4 engines were good but 3 was not unusual and always brought you home. Bird's-Eye and Proj.Magnet for 2yrs over Arctic and 3yrs out of Guam. Penetrated 2 typhoons at 1200ft with me doing the flying.....great entry in my logbook. reply |
| Lewis J. Lyon ATR3AC, e-mail, 20.01.2011 19:44 I flew on EC121K'S for 21 /2 years out of barbers point. in AEWBARRONPAC.Put in 2500 hours. was a flight tech.
was in AEW from summer of 62 ,to dec. of 64.flew most of the time with bill mackinny and doug hudson. still have contact with carl griffith and errol shaw.after techs were asigned to flight crews, flew with ltcd Pollison' crew. the cic was ltjg duke Snyder.had a few close calls but did survive the time.if anybody ever opened up the gear and saw the coyote smoking ,that was my sign. reply | |
| | Jim Lines, e-mail, 15.01.2011 03:03 Lockheed Field Service Rep (Electronics) McCellan AFB RC-121C&D 1954-56.Initial delivery to Air Force. Couple weeks 1956 FAETUPAC North Island, Ca. WV-2 Initial delivery. Lots of VP-22 shipmates on shore duty. 18 months VW3 !956 1957. On board WV3 that ditched Sept.'56.Still trying to find other survivors or family of same. Lcdr Nabors, pilot, died 2004, Earl Sharfman, 1st radioman died 2010, 2nd radioman Henery did not survive WV-2 mid '5(?) crash off Ohau, Lt Pete Wanbaugh USNR Capt.Ret. 3rd pilot /navigator and I are preparing a documentary of the episode, That accounts for 5 of the 18 on board. Trying to find the other 13 survivors or their families. I made many flights to Sangley, P.I. - Atsugi, Japan. and lots of typhoon tracking flights Training and maintenance of radios, radars and display consoles. '57 /59 WV2E,)Roto-dome prototype Phase 1 test /evaluation NADU So. Weymouth, Mass. 61 /62 WV2E Phase 2 evaluation with NADU AEW /CIC group at Point Magu, Ca. Those were the best years of my 40 years with Lockheed. P.S. We didn't run out of gas that Sept night. Watch for the documentary for details of real cause. John Nabors was a hero. reply | | Haul Carnes ACC USN ret., e-mail, 10.01.2011 18:04 First flew in WV-1 (1 of 2) at CIC(C) School Glynco,GA summer /fall 1956. Nov-56 off to VW-2 (and WV-2s) PAX River, MD. Jan-57 off to Port Lyautey, Morocco w /trips to Naples, Athens, Lisbon, Barcelona, Trevisio, Venice, Pisa, Florence, Wheelus AFB, Libya (no Ghadafi), Marseilles.
Quite a trip.
Found time to support 6th fleet with AEW radar coverage and "Bellhop". '57-'58 Iceland, Malta, Souda Bay, Gitmo, Eglin AFB for ECCM tests w /variable freq maggie. Fall '58 on stand-by for Lebanon war support but never called. 1-59 off to ACW(A) School for Instructor Duty as ACW-2. 5 yrs)...loved it. Total flight time app. 4000 hrs + /-
Would love pics of VW-2 '56,'57,'58. Will gladly pay for them. 256-831-2219 In Oxford, AL since 1990 reply | | Bob Wubbenhorst, e-mail, 31.12.2010 22:00 I was in the EM Squadron at Otis AFB from 1955 to 1958. Assigned as inflight tech for flying purposes to the 960th for most of that time. Logged over 150 missions with over 1500 hours. Comments brought back memories of long flights to, from and on, station; returning on three engines; many RONs in Bermuda; great Summers -- awful Winters on Cape Cod; and most of all -- a great airplane! reply | | Gary Cinnamon, e-mail, 29.12.2010 18:27 EC-121 was my first assignment out of UPT in 1968 at Otis AFB. After year in Vietnam in O-2, more Connie time at McClellan AFB. TDY at Keflavik and Korat, Thailand. Really enjoyed flying the Connie. Surprisingly easy to land for a big beast. reply | | Dennis Bourn, e-mail, 29.12.2010 03:52 AT-1 Dennis Bourn, Flight Radio Operator
VQ-2 (Rota, Spain), OASU, VX-8, VXN-8, NRL (Patuxent River, Md.)
Feel in love with the Super Connie at my first duty station in Rota, Spain and that continued through my last duty station in Patuxent River, Md.
Smoothest most comfortable riding aircraft I've ever been on.
Would have loved to make a "World" trip on 925 out of Pax River, but that was not to be.
If any "Old Salts" from OASU, VX-8, VXN-8 are still around, I would love to hear from you and your experiences on the Blue Eagles in Vietnam. reply |
| Red Batson, e-mail, 29.12.2010 01:53 ADR-1 Red Batson, Connie Flight Engineer.
AEWTULANT, NAS Keflavik 131635, OASU /VXN-8, VW-1, VQ-1, NAS Agana 131659, NRL Pax.
I've changed engines at every port in WesPac, and most places on the East Coast. One time in Cubi, just me and AT-C Sid Renfro removed all four engines on 659 for corrosion inspection, and then just he and I re-installed all four engines. Needless to say, we ran out of money, but our credit was good in Olongapo. reply |
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Dennis Bourn
What years were you in VXN-8? I was in from 70-72. When i left our first RP-3D was to be put into operation in January of '73. I was AMS and aircraft 655, 325, 925, 924 and one other that I can't recall at the moment were the 5 aircraft we operated while I was there.
I was aircrew and many of my trips were to Logis, Portugal and Roda, Spain and Keflavik. I truely miss those days and had many great memories as crewmember aboard these aircraft!
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