The Lockheed Super Constellation, this aircraft is a masterpiece of artwork in every aspect: the aircraft design, the sound, the props, and even the name…
From taxi to takeoff to the display and landing, this aircraft presents all aviation enthusiasts with a figure of absolute beauty.
The flames are from 3 P&W turbines mounted on each engine that fed off the aircraft engine exhaust and provided 450 additional horsepower to each engine at take-off and as needed via an automated switch-on system.
I can almost imagine the Captain inside this gorgeous aircraft saying “Ladies and gentlemen, do not be alarmed by the fire coming out of the engines–unless it goes out.”
Not funny when you’re six, on your first plane trip EVER, sitting over the engines in the light of day. First time you look out your window AFTER DARK! This what you see!!! “We’re Gonna Crash!” is what I cry out! Needless to say it took the stewardess and my parents about thirty minutes to talk me down off the ceiling to assure me the the engines are on fire ALL THE TIME!!!
The most exciting pilot seat I ever spent time in. What a beautiful airplane!
Unfortunately, I’ve never seen one in person, only held a model in my hand. Flying in one is a, probably impossible, bucket list item.
When i was 17 and just graduated from high school and joined the Air Force…in Beckley, WVa…1962…about 15 of us went to Charleston, WVa and got on one of these planes…we took off and it looked like the engines were burning 10 gallons of oil every few minutes..i had never been on a plane before and i thought my ears was going to explode…the stewardess said to act like i was chewing gum really hard…my ears did explode but it relieved the pressure…
This is probably an ‘H’ model of the Connie While with Eastern Airlines in the ’60s we used 1049s, 1049Cs and 1049Gs.
The C and G models had the Wright 3350 turbo compound engines. The 1049s had straight 3350s with no power recovery turbines(PRTs).
I flew in an Air Force EC121 Connie from Sacramento to Rekevik Iceland, not non stop and 2months later back when I was in the Air Force 1972. We iced up over the Rockies and the engines were on full power to keep us in the air. The radar station seats are real confortable. It was real neat watching Greenland come up on the radar display.
Flew the Super Connie Electron in July 1954 with KLM from Amsterdam to Curacao. Saw the flames when night came after leaving Lisbon for Sante Maria. Knew, aged 10, sufficient about engines and stared at it in delight. Hated the auto pilot which made the plane constantly erer so lightly sag down and up again. Made me sick, helas. Saw green Guadeloupe before finally arriving at Hato Airport.
Awesome
I think Fantasy of Flight has one, and I believe there’s one at Charleston Air Force Base.
No switch-on for more hp as needed; those turbines were directly driven onto the crank shaft by means of a “Quill” shaft, always. Also, cruising in leaned out mixture, the flames coming out of the turbines were blue, just like a gas stove in your kitchen. – ex connie flt. engineer.