Comments on: The Legendary Lockheed Constellation http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-legendary-lockheed-constellation From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:24:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: marvin http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-784710 marvin Fri, 16 Dec 2011 04:25:51 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-784710 We were told in TWA Flight Engineer training that the fuselage lift was over 6,000 pounds @ cruise speed. We were told in TWA Flight Engineer training that the fuselage lift was over 6,000 pounds @ cruise speed.

]]> By: Ed Stroup http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-780934 Ed Stroup Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:32:23 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-780934 I want to build a ¼ scale WillyVictor 121. I am having a difficult time getting anything that will help me with the top and bottom radar blisters. Anyone have an idea about where I can get the data on these domes? I was aircrew for VR-21 and had an opportunity to take a short taxi ride in one (WV121). I loved it. Ed I want to build a ¼ scale WillyVictor 121. I am having a difficult time getting anything that will help me with the top and bottom radar blisters. Anyone have an idea about where I can get the data on these domes?
I was aircrew for VR-21 and had an opportunity to take a short taxi ride in one (WV121). I loved it.

Ed

]]> By: Agent Orange http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-778946 Agent Orange Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:06:40 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-778946 WHAT?! You were flying all that time with A WHOLE DC-3 stuck in your Connie's port leading edge? Please clarify. WHAT?! You were flying all that time with A WHOLE DC-3 stuck in your Connie's port leading edge? Please clarify.

]]> By: Ray Haynes http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-702132 Ray Haynes Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:08:30 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-702132 I meant 1963/1965. I meant 1963/1965.

]]> By: Ray Haynes http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-702130 Ray Haynes Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:05:07 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-702130 As a flight electrician stationed at Midway in 1993/1995 I remember flying an entire 14 hour barrier with a Gooney Bird sticking out of the port leading edge that we had hit on takeoff. A tough bird (the Connie not the Gooney) indeed. As a flight electrician stationed at Midway in 1993/1995 I remember flying an entire 14 hour barrier with a Gooney Bird sticking out of the port leading edge that we had hit on takeoff. A tough bird (the Connie not the Gooney) indeed.

]]> By: Stephan Wilkinson http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-473396 Stephan Wilkinson Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:42:59 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-473396 Mr. Faidley, I'm amused that you find my article "dismissive," since, of the 115 types I've flown, it's my all-time favorite. You should be glad didn't write about any of the other 114... Mr. Faidley, I'm amused that you find my article "dismissive," since, of the 115 types I've flown, it's my all-time favorite. You should be glad didn't write about any of the other 114…

]]> By: Ron Lucas http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-421179 Ron Lucas Sun, 09 Jan 2011 06:12:40 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-421179 They were great planes and tough as a surface ship. Who was that LCDR who was landing us at Midway one rainy night and when he got about 15 feet over the end of the runway and cut the power to all four engines? Guess he thought he was back on a carrier or something. How many times did we bounce before we stayed down and amazingly the landing gear struts didn't go thru the wings. You and Mr. Smedal were both pretty good drivers though. Thanks! They were great planes and tough as a surface ship. Who was that LCDR who was landing us at Midway one rainy night and when he got about 15 feet over the end of the runway and cut the power to all four engines?
Guess he thought he was back on a carrier or something. How many times did we bounce before we stayed down and amazingly the landing gear struts didn't go thru the wings. You and Mr. Smedal were both pretty good drivers though. Thanks!

]]> By: Ron Lucas http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-421173 Ron Lucas Sun, 09 Jan 2011 06:05:46 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-421173 "...I remember ploughing through weather so rough the instrument panel shook so hard I could not read anything except the attitude gyro..." Couldn't have been because the stupid AT on the radar scope in the back couldn't tell the difference between a 'big round cloud' and the top of a large waterspout. Going through the clear hole in the middle seemed like the right thing to do at the time. I think I was the 2nd Class P.O. who did that to you. At least Ens. Akita thought so. Sorry Sir!! Didn't enjoy watching the wing tip tanks flap thru a 3 or 4 foot arc. Loved that big bird though ....Tough as they come. "…I remember ploughing through weather so rough the instrument panel shook so hard I could not read anything except the attitude gyro…"

Couldn't have been because the stupid AT on the radar scope in the back couldn't tell the difference between a 'big round cloud' and the top of a large waterspout. Going through the clear hole in the middle seemed like the right thing to do at the time. I think I was the 2nd Class P.O. who did that to you. At least Ens. Akita thought so. Sorry Sir!!

Didn't enjoy watching the wing tip tanks flap thru a 3 or 4 foot arc. Loved that big bird though ….Tough as they come.

]]> By: mark http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-346294 mark Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:37:06 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-346294 anyone know how much lift the body did contribute percent wise? anyone know how much lift the body did contribute percent wise?

]]> By: Phil Faidley http://www.historynet.com/the-legendary-lockheed-constellation.htm#comment-340086 Phil Faidley Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:56:07 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13681006#comment-340086 The initial tone of this article is somewhat dismissive towards Connie and I really resented that. The full article is only slightly less dismissive, but is most notable for its almost entire concentration on the Connie's deployment in the USA. In the context of the time when Constellation was conceived and developed, the ideas were all there. These ideas are not that different to todays motivation for aircraft design and airliner operation - Points of difference for long-distance travel that include comfort, efficiency, and a wee bit of glamour. The Connie was conceived from the ground up, going through a conception, gestation and birth like no other airline hard. Yes, elements were "borrowed" from previous Lockheed aircraft, but through need and the understanding that these things "worked". Contract this with Boeing and Douglas who just re-engineered their prop aircraft (then their jets) because of laziness more than anything else. My Grandfather - Capt K. G. Jackson - flew some pretty spectacular inaugurals, flying incredibly long distances in the Connie, across parts of the world that had only really been navigated by boats (Indian and Pacific Oceans) in the late 1940's and early 1950's. His recollecations of Connie were that she (yes SHE) was a "gentle mistress with a bad temper, but treat her nice and she will do the same to you..." I am a wee bit disappointed about the insular and isolated view portrayed in this article. While fundamentally factual, it fails to describe the heart and soul and passion that was airliner-based aviation in the pre- and post WWII environment. It fails to recognise the imagination and the "can do - will do" spirit of aviation industry pioneers and visionaries that was the glory of these times. Mr Wilkinson, you can do much better. 4/10 The initial tone of this article is somewhat dismissive towards Connie and I really resented that. The full article is only slightly less dismissive, but is most notable for its almost entire concentration on the Connie's deployment in the USA.
In the context of the time when Constellation was conceived and developed, the ideas were all there. These ideas are not that different to todays motivation for aircraft design and airliner operation – Points of difference for long-distance travel that include comfort, efficiency, and a wee bit of glamour.
The Connie was conceived from the ground up, going through a conception, gestation and birth like no other airline hard. Yes, elements were "borrowed" from previous Lockheed aircraft, but through need and the understanding that these things "worked". Contract this with Boeing and Douglas who just re-engineered their prop aircraft (then their jets) because of laziness more than anything else.
My Grandfather – Capt K. G. Jackson – flew some pretty spectacular inaugurals, flying incredibly long distances in the Connie, across parts of the world that had only really been navigated by boats (Indian and Pacific Oceans) in the late 1940's and early 1950's. His recollecations of Connie were that she (yes SHE) was a "gentle mistress with a bad temper, but treat her nice and she will do the same to you…"
I am a wee bit disappointed about the insular and isolated view portrayed in this article. While fundamentally factual, it fails to describe the heart and soul and passion that was airliner-based aviation in the pre- and post WWII environment. It fails to recognise the imagination and the "can do – will do" spirit of aviation industry pioneers and visionaries that was the glory of these times.

Mr Wilkinson, you can do much better. 4/10

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