I vividly remember first flight as a kid of 10 flying alone from Jacksonville, Fl to New York on Eastern Airlines to visit my grandparents in the late 50's. After Eastern retired the Constellation - it was tough for my parents to get me on any airplane that did not have 3 tails! Such a beautiful airplane even today.
Philip pope, e-mail, 08.03.2017 20:26
My first flying job at Alaska airlines was on the Connie as F/E from 1966 until we retired the last one the end of August of 1968. Then on to L382, b727 and B737, after 381/2 years suddenly I was 60 and the FAA Sid I couldn't fly any more , the 1649 was my favorite. Our last 1649 , 7316C is being rebuilt up in Maine, hope to get to visit her again soon
Walter H. Polk, e-mail, 24.01.2015 03:22
I remember the moment that I met Col Olmstead when he joined Cargo Flight Test of the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson. Flew a couple of times when he was checking out on the Connie. The two JC121s at WPAFB were C models from MATS (MAC) that were converted to test beds for a Project called MARCOM(Microware Airborne Relay Communications)and later used in various test projects and programs. Last three tail numbers were 160 and 178. John Gover checked me out as an FE there in 1964 on both of those birds.
Jim Wright, e-mail, 09.11.2011 05:55
I had the privilege of flying the L-1049's and my favorite the L-1649 Connies 83H and 16C back in the mid and late 1960's. I was able to fly all three seats and logged a little over 1,000 hours in them. Didn't realize it then but those were some of the best days of my career.
Dave Ingle, e-mail, 05.10.2011 22:39
I remember the constellation series with their triple vertical stabilizers as some of the most graceful looking airliners ever. I always marvelled at them as they flew overhead.
Jack Wilkinson, e-mail, 10.09.2011 08:52
This was my first airplane ride in 1958 from Chicago to San Francisco. My late wife flew her first flight as a TWA Flight Attendant (Stewardess) in 1961. We loved the plane and shared memory. A very pretty machine, graceful een on teh ground.
Chuck Krause, e-mail, 09.09.2011 19:35
My dad, Charlie Krause flew for Slick Airways and logged many hours in the Connie. As a kid I loved that airplane.
bruce olmstead, e-mail, 21.06.2011 19:06
The 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patt had two "Connies " for a while in the late '60s. I had the extreme pleasure of flying both. This may be a local legend, but here it is. One of the airplanes was advertised as the "Columbine," president Eishehower's AF-1. The story goes that when Ike got a B-707, Columbine became CINCUSAFE's duty ride and then ended up as an avionics teatbed at Wright -Patt. I absolutely loved flying that airplane, because if the legend is true, it is the airplane in which John McKone and I were flown back to the USA after a brief internment in the USSR.(see RB-47) Whether it was Columbine or not, I loved the lady and when I took her to the graveyard I just had to do a couple of go-arounds! A friend recently sent me pictures of Columbine up and running somewhere in CA.If anyone can fill me in on the legend and if the presently flying Columbine was rescued from the graveyard, please let me know.
LEGRUX, e-mail, 14.04.2011 23:37
The very first aircraft I ever flown. 1961, 29 May, what a fabulous day for me ...
Davis Couture, 03.12.2010 04:52
I flew for TWA from May 1965 through Jan. 1988. My first aircraft was the Constilation, 749 and 1049G. What a wonderful airplane to fly. Those were the Days.
Davis Couture, 03.12.2010 04:51
I flew for TWA from May 1965 through Jan. 1988. My firt aircraft was the Constilation, 749 and 1049G. What a wonderful airplane to fly. Those were the Days.
elizabeth spreitzer, e-mail, 15.11.2010 22:55
I flew for TWA from 1964-1995 and the first Airplane I flew was the 1049 Super G Constilation out of Chicago to New york City,what a journey and what fun a great experience to Fly for TWA "Wing Tip Shoes" Memoires of a flight attendant
