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Lockheed EC-121 Constellation (N6210C) - 1952 Lockheed L-1049-53br /scanned from postcard<br>eastern L1049
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Lockheed EC-121 Constellation (N6210C)

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1952 Lockheed L-1049-53
scanned from postcard<br>eastern L1049

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ToddBaldwin3
This is an L1049 Constellation, not the USAF EC-121.
Bernie20910
I miss these old birds
sam kumineczPhoto Uploader
ICAO code for all constellations is CONI....whether its a EC-121, L749, or a L1049
skyhawkrg
Does any body recognize the location of this photo? Is is Washington National (DCA) by chance?
sam kumineczPhoto Uploader
skyhawkrg....ill look at the back of the postcard later tonite and let you know
sometimes they say where and when they were taken
skyhawkrg
Thanks, Sam,
I was put in mind about DCA because of the (apparent) Lockheed Electra behind the Connie, and I remember Eastern flew both types on the New york Shuttles out of DCA. Also the public observation deck along the front of the terminal; I believe DCA had such IIRC.
skyhawkrg
BTW, I just noticed the lettering on the Connie reads "Fly Eastern Air Bus". I was already wondering about the red paint job.
sam kumineczPhoto Uploader
skyhawkrg,
according to some sites, the "hockey stick" or red/gold falcon emblem first started on the B720 but found its way onto about 10 connies around 1960-1961
don't know accuracy of sources tho
sam kumineczPhoto Uploader
Skyhawk...I read up on this particular Connie...it was a part of eastern's low fare "air bus" service between Pittsburgh, Cleveland, St. Louis, and Miami in 1960
albert Bowen
G'Morning folks, 2 brief memories 0f Connies from another Old Guy.
1. TWA had a red-eye flight that hopped across the USA each night well into the 707 era, using Connies. I only rode it once, from LAX to Boston in 1960. If memories are correct it stopped at Kansas City, Chicago, Pittsburg and NYC, before finally arriving at Boston. Can anyone familiar with the old TWA routes confirm what I seem to recall.?? and second---
2. I rode as a young PFC (Army) courier guard from Tachikawa AFB in Japan to Hickam AFB in Hawaii, then caught a ride back to Japan to do it all over again The eastbound flights were always on MATS aircraft, usually a C-124 or C-118 cargo hauler...but the return flight, when I was not 'on-duty' usually was with either Flying Tigers, or Slick Airlines as the contract carrier. Those were passenger configurations. 90 % were using Connies with a few CL-44's on SLICK as well. Route was Hickem to Wake Island to Japan and eastbound usually went Tachikawa to Midway to Hickam. I did that for about three monthes in 1961 before being assigned to the 12th ASA Station at Chitose Hokkaido Japan.
Thanks for bringing back some old memories.
Greg Zelna
Wonderful.....My Dad flew Connies in the Navy for a number of years...."72 pistons trying to swap places" was one description he'd use. For a time flying WV-2s as a part of the Atlantic Barrier out of Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland, flying orbits out around the Azores as an extension of the DEW line back in the 'cold war'.... He also flew the 'Phoenix 6' R7V-1, BUNO 131624 Christchurch NZ to McMurdo Sound, Antarctica as a part of "Operation Deep Freeze". In fact on the second of his deployments, we all moved To NZ for 6 months- what a great place that was (is, I am sure).
Karter Hickling
Amazing aircraft and its nice to have some experiences from when these were a common sight...does anybody know if military use of these aircraft went beyond the US, did other countries use them intensively? Military uses of this aircraft is knowledge i lack
Mark Lansdell
I lived in Northern New Jersey with my Mom and Dad in 40s, 50s and early 60s. My mom would take me with her to see my Grandmother in Baltimore. I remember my first trip was on a 3, a plane that holds a special place in my heart, but later trips from EWR to then BAL were on a Connie.I can't remember if the airline was EAL or TWA. Time takes it's toll on memories, good and bad. The guys on the flight deck or cockpit back then were probably responsible for my flying adventures through out life. Adventures I'd never trade.
Robert Ibey
The "Air Bus" service was a different service from the Shuttle (BOS/IDL/DCA). Info on the routes can be found on the 1963 schedule http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/ea/ea63/ea63-02.jpg.
IIRC the red scheme crept in when EAL started to allocate specific aircraft to the Shuttle and AirBus services but they also popped about other services (to YUL) on occasion.

The "hockey stick" didn't appear until after the departure of Eddie Rickenbacker in 1964. Prior to this the Eastern jet fleet all wore variations of the modernized "Great Silver Fleet" design - the blue equivalent of the red scheme of your postcard as seen on the L188. THe DC-8 intro colours were different.

The Connie did indeed wear that ugly hockey stick. http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac3/Airline/Eastern%20Air%20Lines%20L-1049C_G%20Super%20Constellation.html
nycslc1
This was a cool plane!
skyhawkrg
Mark L.

You may have ridden on Capital Airlines on that route. They flew Connies too.
Norman Reid
I have many memories of the Constellation. I. Landing at JFK one night when it was so windy, we had to go around again and try a 2nd time. II. A BOS to LAX non-stop flight took 9 hours, thought we'd never get there. III. While working at Lockheed Air Service, lunch hours were spent "brown bagging" at edge of runway. Watched Ike's "Columbine" land and 4 armed Marines got out to maintain security. IV. Watched a "turbo-prop" Connie buzz the Burbank factory at top speed to the delight of company representatives watching from the ground. My uncle, sales mgr. at Flying Tigers, showed me how to identify a Super Connie. It had a little dimple on top of the fuselage where the new section was added.
Knikwind
My first trip in 1961 to Alaska from Seattle was on a Western Airlines Coni. flew low, slow and bumpy. Compared to today's jets, that is. Seemed great at the time. The next year I flew on the Super Coni and that was a big improvement.
gwapo santa
THEY used 2 fly in to NEGOMBO 1959 i remember as a kid ( CEYLON SRI LANKA ) nice plus comet 4
AD7K
I understand that the FAA won't let any pilot over 50 fly as Pilot in Command on a Connie ... they figure that anyone that old can't handle three pieces of tail at once!

Sorry, couldn't resist that one!
Art Troutman
I've enjoyed all the Comments immensely. I started out at Lockheed, fresh out of college, back in 1951. I was an avionics engineer in the Radio Group of the Connie Engineering Design Project. I helped design the circuitry, interconnecting all the 'black boxes', as we called them. The first Super Connies were just coming down the assembly line. I worked on both commercial & military models. I was put in charge of the special avionic designs for Ike's Columbine II. I also was in charge of the special avionic designs for the TWA Super Connie set aside by Howard Hughes for his personal use. We used this airplane as a test bed to 'pioneer' prop 'synchrophasing'. The engines were not only turning at the same rpm [prop synchronizing] - but all of the prop blades were at the same relative 'clock position' [prop synchrophasing]. This universally reduced vibration. This is now standard practice for propeller-driven aircraft. The effect is most apparent when viewing video of a C-130 Hercules in flight. It's satisfying to have had a hand in such progress.
sam kumineczPhoto Uploader
Never thought this photo would be so popular... Thanks to all for sharing their memories!
skyhawkrg
Sam,

Since the Connie was (is) the most beautiful passenger aircraft ever built, it's populatity should not be surprising. We thank you for posting the post card.
sam kumineczPhoto Uploader
Skyhawk I agree 100% with you...to me the dehavilland albatross is a close 2nd in beauty...that's just my opinion
Edward Crasper
I flew on the RC-121 in Korat Thailand and then on the EC-121 in Korat, Iceland, and Korea. We were the only Air Defense Command unit (552 AEW&C) to participate in the Vietnam conflict and the only one to earn those unit medals. ~because someone asked.
aparsons276
Is that a mighty dash??!! LOL!!!
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