In the l950's with Slick Airways we took delivery with the cargo version and I had the "privilege" of taxiing it down to the run-up area and I will never forget the "walking-gear". It was a beauty, though !!

AEWBARSRON-2 with two VW squadrons became the largest US Navy squadron with over 2,000 personnel at Barber's Point Hawaii, named AEWBARONPAC in 1960, flew the northern Pacific DEW line. The flight crews deployed to Midway had the same aircraft & facilities as hangar 282 at Barber's Point. From May 1959 to Jun 1962 I worked in the enlisted & officer personnel offices and flew once to Hilo, Hawaii.

Flew the Connie for three years out of Otis AFB until they closed the base in 1970. Pulled many tours out of Kelflavik. She was a great plane to fly in the bad winter weather of the North Atlantic. Had many occasions where we had to maintain station flying through heavy ice. The great engineers would keep the engines going and every so often we would have to inflate the wing and radome deicing boots to crack the ice off the wings and radar domes. Loved flying her but then also enjoyed moving over to jets and getting above it all.

Now that I think of it, I believe the C-121C was Lockheed's L1049F. (You forget a lot after 50 years.)

I flew the C-121c (L1049H) for about 2500 hours out of KCHS with Ted Dahlfors, & 60 or 70 other pilots, '58 to '62, & can vouch for what he says, except the airplanes went to several ANG locations. I recall training crews from PA, WV & MS. There were probably others.

My Mom worked for TWA in St. Louis in the 40's and had a small lapel pin of a Connie when that aircraft went into service there. She has passed this on down to my Son and it a very special keepsake.

I was a Flight Engineer in Navy Squadron VW-13 from 1963-1965 homeported in Argentia newfoundland. We flew the WV2 Willy Victor (later known as the EC-121K). We deployed to Keflavik Iceland every 28 days for 14-16 days. During that time we flew 8 sets of 12 hour flights as part of the North Atlantic Barrier (DEW Line). It was a great airplane that got us through some of the worst weather in the world. Feathered my share of those old turbo-compound R3350-42 engines though. It was a real engineer's airplane...couldn't fly the plane without us! Best and most professional duty I had in my 34 year Navy Career. Loved those Connies!

Aug 17, 1961. Transferring from Ramstein AB, Germany to Andrews AFB, Md, our flight was on the Super Connie from
Rhein-Main to McGuire AFB, NJ. This was my wife's first
ever flight. She was a German citizen then. Our daughter,
2 years and 2 months. Also her first flight. Lasted 24
hours with refueling stops at Shannon/Prestwick and Harmon
AB, Nflnd. My parents and brother were at McGuire awaiting our arrival. Seems ONE person slipped thru the cracks and didn't have an up to date shot record. The plane was "quaranteened" for two hours. Hot! Smelly diapers all over. Finally set foot on NJ soil. But, the
"first flight" (of many AF moves) was one to remember as very comfortable, pleasant and, now, a fond memory. Later,
flew as radio op on VC-118 out of Elmendorf.

I flew on Super Connies out of Guam as a Typhoon Tracker for almost 4 years(46 months) in the 60's. I logged 3300 hours chasing storms and flying low-level radar missions in the Tonkin Gulf. They always brought us home, sometimes on less than 4 engines but always made it. I'm very fortunate to have been a crew member on these great old planes.

The First Aircraft I ever worked on as an US Navy Electrian Mate In JaX, Fl 1969 to 1972. We flew Haricanes and weather related missions. The A/C would fly forever on one fueling.. I think over 20 hours in the air.

I did a tour in the EC121 (Willy Victor)in Iceland in the mid-60's. This adaptation had a big hump on top (height finder)and a big radome on the bottom. We flew out of Keflavik and covered the Atlantic between Iceland / Norway and Greenland as part of the DEW line. The airplane just inspired confidence. It was comfortable in weather and just solid as a rock. A real sweetheart!

I had the privilege of flying the military version (C-121) of the Super Constellation as an Instructor Pilot for the Military Airlift Transport Service (USAF) out of Charleston AFB, SC from 1958 to 1962 when we gave them to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. While it was a maintenance nightmare if anything went wrong, due to all the redundant systems, when it all worked it was a wonderful and easy airplane to fly. We flew them all over the world and I enjoyed every minute of it.

When I was a child, my father was the civilian Fire Chief, Federal Civil Service, stationed at Midway Island, 1959 through 1963.There was a US Navy Squadron VP 50 stationed at Midway and they flew the "Willy Victor" Connies with the super charged engines. They were sub finders I believe with huge fiberglass humps top and bottom to accomodate radar equipment. I always enjoyed hearing the engines run up on the connies. They had such a powerful deep sound which could be heard where ever you were on the Island. Nothing in the flying world has the sound of a connie. I was fascinated with the aircraft as a kid. I still hear those engines in the distance when I wish to recall wonderful childhood memories.

Old but Powerful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On arrival of the plane from the Far east at Schiphol airport I suddenly saw the flight engeneer running around the front to the passenger door,(he had jumped out of the little door on the right of the cockpit) with shiveled uniform and tusseled hair. When the new stewardess opened the door, she almost fainted as they had instructed her to make sure everybody was on board, she thaught that he had hung at the door since leaving Frankfurt.

On arrival of the plane from the Far east at Schiphol airport I suddenly saw the flight engeneer running around the front to the passenger door,(he had jumped out of the little door on the right of the cockpit) with shiveled uniform and tusseled hair. When the new stewardess opened the door, she almost fainted as they had instructed her to make sure everybody was on board, she thaught that he had hung at the door since leaving Frankfurt.

I was a child when I had my first airplane ride on June 17, 1958. Cubana airlines flew the constelation from Havana to NY. I believe it took around 7 hrs. I have since flown almost every commercial airliner, but that ride will always be with me, great plane.

Bonjour,
I am searching the plans (draft)of the Lockeed Constellation (first model) in order to make a static scale model. I find this plane magnificient !
Please help me to find the plans.
Gérard (from Biarritz, France)

I FLEW ON CHARTER FLYING TIGER SUPER CONNIE RETURNING FROM KOREA 1957

My first ever plane ride was on a TWA Connie from Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque, NM on 5 Dec, 1961. Beautiful, both inside and out. Many years later, I was talking to a friend at the local airport, when he mentioned he was a retired TWA Captain, and was hired as a Connie FE. He used to fly that route, checked his log books, and was actually the FE on that flight. His name was Roy Geisert. Small world indeed.