Lockheed Constellation in WWII

[m10bob]

http://www.aviation-history.com/lockheed/1049.html

[joey]

very nice plane. I flew on it a few times back in the 60's and 70's. Planes of today just can't match planes of that era.

[Feinder]

I also read that the original (single) tail was going to be too large for most hangers, so they went back and chopped it down to it's now signature 3 tail configuation (I forget what that's called).
 
-F-

[Ian R]

ORIGINAL: Feinder

I also read that the original (single) tail was going to be too large for most hangers, so they went back and chopped it down to it's now signature 3 tail configuation (I forget what that's called).

-F-

triple tail

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: joey

very nice plane. I flew on it a few times back in the 60's and 70's. Planes of today just can't match planes of that era.

Modern planes aren't noisey enough for ya? [&:]

[joey]

Planes of that era was to transport people like passengers. Today's airplanes are designed to transport people like, well, cattle!

[tocaff]

I flew in a Constellation as a kid from New York to Pittsburgh and if memory serves it took a few hours to get there.  I got to spend time up in the cockpit too.  A different world back then.

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: joey

Planes of that era was to transport people like passengers. Today's airplanes are designed to transport people like, well, cattle!

Just for giggles I thought I would do a comparisons. The Constellation was designed to carry 62-95 people with 109 in high density configurations. Let's call it 95 people. It had a length of 126 feet. For about .75 people per foot of plane.

The 777 by contrast carries 301 passengers in a plane 242 feet long, which is 1.24 people per foot.

...not to mention I always seem to get seated next to the fat lady.[;)]

Obviously a better calculation would be cabin volume but I'm too lazy to look it up or figure it out.

[Gem35]

Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?

[bradfordkay]

I've always felt that the Constellation was the most beautiful passenger plane ever made. 

[GaryChildress]

My dad was a radio man on an early warning version of the constellation back in the 50s. He still loves the plane. We went to Pensacola naval air museum (I think it was) and they had one in their collection. The tour bus driver was nice and stopped and let him out to give it a good look.

[joey]

ORIGINAL: Gem35

Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?

No. And don't call me Shirley!

[niceguy2005]

Personally the plane I always wanted to fly on...

[JWE]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

I flew in a Constellation as a kid from New York to Pittsburgh and if memory serves it took a few hours to get there.  I got to spend time up in the cockpit too.  A different world back then.

Yes, me too; it was 1961, from London to new York on a KLM Connie. I was .. what .. 12. Slippers for our feet, and a little bag with toothbrush, toothpaste, stuff like that; got to see the cockpit and sit in the Flight Engineer's seat for a while. All night long .. woof.

The most beautiful airplane ever built.

John

[JWE]

Woops, double post. Sorry

[Javakamp]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

Personally the plane I always wanted to fly on...

Is this a short Sunderland? Well it just so happens that I saw one on Saturday. And guess what. It still flies.

See it here.

Awesome museum located between Tampa and Orlando, and most all of the planes there are airworthy, and still fly. I saw a Grumman Duck flying on Saturday.

Oh yeah, to stay on topic they also have a Connie, but I don't believe not currently flies.

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

ORIGINAL: joey

Planes of that era was to transport people like passengers. Today's airplanes are designed to transport people like, well, cattle!

Just for giggles I thought I would do a comparisons. The Constellation was designed to carry 62-95 people with 109 in high density configurations. Let's call it 95 people. It had a length of 126 feet. For about .75 people per foot of plane.

The 777 by contrast carries 301 passengers in a plane 242 feet long, which is 1.24 people per foot.

...not to mention I always seem to get seated next to the fat lady.[;)]

Obviously a better calculation would be cabin volume but I'm too lazy to look it up or figure it out.

Then why don't you ask for a seat away from Terminus? [:'(][;)]

I've just got from a trip where there was .088 people per foot, it's the only way to travel [:D]

[panda124c]

That would be a Martin M-130 "China Clipper", I do believe.

[crsutton]

When my wife was a little girl, she and her family flew back from Argentina on one. She fondly remembers the sleeper cabin that they had.

[Gem35]

Joey, ever hang out at the gymnasium?