In the age of jet aircraft, the best assumption is that if there is fire blasting out of the engine, that you need to get the hell off of and away from that plane ASAP. There are situations where a jet engine will shoot fire, of course: the first start of a new engine that still has some penetrating oil inside will produce a lick of flame out of the back that will raise the hairs on even the most jaded traveler. But this is now…what about back in the 1950s, when air travel was still more of a novelty than anything else? Jet aircraft only started to appear on the horizon and didn’t really take off until the early 1960s, thanks to issues with the De Havilland Comet’s structural integrity. Instead, four-engined propellor-driven aircraft were more of the norm, as were smaller aircraft that seated fewer people. One of the more popular aircraft during this time period was the Lockheed Constellation, especially in it’s “Super G” model trim. Sleek, trim and packing seventy-two cylinders total from it’s four Wright R-3350 turbo-compound radial engines, this was about as good as it got. Imagine leaving your 1950 Chevrolet in the parking lot and walking out on the tarmac to this beauty waiting on you. Now imagine your reaction the first time you hear those engines awaken with a roar and you see the full fury of piston-driven power come pouring out of the exhaust like that. It’s a bit disconcerting, isn’t it? No, friends, that’s the sign of progress. Worry when there is no fire coming out on this beauty!
The most beautiful prop. plane ever built bare none. Could out run a Japanese Zero and transport Navy, Army and Marine brass across the Pacific with little danger. Saw them many times flying over our house…what dreams they planted in a kid’s brain! Thanks BMT! 🙂
One of two flying in the world. A beautiful sight to see take to the air.
Through the seventies when I was frequently in and around there one sat parked at Burbank/Lockheed airport, a strange sight even by that point. I wonder what ever happened to it.
check out this report from maine;
“FLIGHT WITH DAD TO SEE LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION IN AUBURN-LEWISTON, MAINE”
http://www.homeadditionplus.com/dev/more-diy-tips/flight-to-see-lockheed-constellation/
All will be right with the world when a proper gearhead wins a PowerBall or MegaMillions jackpot that’s just stupid big money, and spends a nice chunk of it turning an old Connie into his private “jet.” I would assume you’d easily drop $50 million without going overboard on the luxuries.
Beautiful plane
Most beautiful airplane, especially in the Pan Am Airways livery of the 50’s and 60’s. Never got a chance to ride on one however.
Enjoy while you can lack of spares and cost of fuel is grounding a lot of radial aircraft
the coolest thing is those turbos belching fire on takeoff, they’re not turbos like we normally think, they don’t pressurize air into the intake as they don’t have a compressor wheel like typical turbos. The compressor blades are replaced by a shaft that runs back into the crank to add some extra power… I always wondered why they never tried that idea on cars.