Connie

[::John::]

Captain Bob de la Hunty was kind enough to bring Connie to see us this past weekend.

From the Museum website:

Constellations were used as both civilian and military aircraft, this particular one, VH-EAG ‘Southern Preservation’, is an example of a militarised version. It served with the United States Air Force from 1955 and then served with the Air National Guard in the United States during the 1970s. It is similar to the Super Constellations that were used by Qantas during the 1940s and 1950s as their main long-range passenger aircraft, which pioneered their around-the-world service. The restoration project of the Connie to get it back into the air was undertaken by the team at HARS, and consisted of a whopping 16,000 volunteered man hours! We are pleased that this 35 metre-long aircraft will visit us once again so that visitors can appreciate the work that has been undertaken in order to see her fly again.

And here she is:

http://kiwi-in-oz.com/pictures/photos/800/1D314887.jpg (http://kiwi-in-oz.com/pictures/photos/1024/1D314887.jpg)

[mlav]

Wow, great angle on this shot.

[slcr1]

Very nice!!! I love this airplane! Amazing to see fly and even more amazing to hear it fly! :)

[Skip Souza]

Way awesome, both the photo and the aircraft.

[::John::]

Thanks guys. The weather was bad and getting worse so it was a bit of a lucky shot, I reckon.

Within 30 minutes of the show ending (The Connie was the last exhibit) we could see lightning lit fires on the horizon - and then the rain came in - like a tropical monsoon - about an hour of it. It was a good day, though.

[Redfire_Cobra]

Nice shot! I'm a bit of a dummy when it comes to aircraft, what's the wire running from the front to the back?

[::John::]

That's the radio aerial.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them. There are a ton of people in here with way more knowledge than me who will happily answer them.

Thanks for the comment.

[JWright]

Possibly the most elegant looking airliner ever built... Nice shot!

[Ballen Photo]

Very COOL shot of a good looking old Bird, John. :)
-Bruce

[wardie]

Lovely shot John. I was passing her home base on Sunday arvo about the time that she was displaying at Temora. Would have been nice to see her come home.

[FlyingPhotog]

Possibly the most elegant looking airliner ever built... Nice shot!

Agreed...

One CIF shot is worth 10,000 images from a museum.

It must sound wonderful too!

[::John::]

Gorgeous, she was. I have pix of the startup sequence. The clouds of smoke made the air so hazy, it was impossible to shoot the Hudson and Lockheed 12 that were circling, waiting for Connie to come out and play.

I carry a scanner with me at airshows and was listening as she took off and circled - and declared an airspeed of 150 knots :shock:

As she came after the jets in the days program, it was a sudden "oh noes, need LESS shutter speed!" :)

Cheers, Wardie - yeah, I did think of you a couple of times during the day. Next time, mate.

[Belmondo]

This is a beautiful shot, and it really takes me back. When I was a kid, we lived near the Los Angeles International Airport. In fact, my Dad's place of employment was directly across the street from it when the main terminal was on Century Boulevard. We used to park on Aviation Boulevard at the east end of the main runway, and watch the planes land. Anyway, the most beautiful thing to see was the TWA Constellations coming in for a landing. Their landing gear appeared longer than the Convair and Douglas airliners, and it gave them a more willowy, graceful appearance. The Constellation was replaced by the Super Constellation, and then the Super-G Constellation. Each was more spectacular than the previous version.

I still think it's a stunning looking airplane, and I was sad when the Navy and Air Force finally retired theirs. Lockheed definitely hit a home run, at least in the aesthetics department.

[::John::]

Thanks Tom.

One of the other shots I have of her is while she was being pushed back from the park. The side door is open and the engineer is on his hands and knees looking out and observing the push. That nose gear is SO long - amazing.

When I was a kid (this will date me) the Americans were using them for Operation Deep Freeze - from Christchurch in NZ to Antarctica. They used to thunder over our house at 3am. Love the noise.

[PhotosGuy]

Pretty shot! It takes me back.

[Scout7id]

Hey Boeing! Now that is a "Dreamliner". Take notes...

Nice shot of a true classic.

[::John::]

Thanks guys - I had been looking forward to the chance to get these pictures.

[Tdragone]

My dad worked for Convair/General Dynamics.
I have pictures of them taking off on their first flight for flight worthiness and acceptance testing. They are quite beautiful!

[::John::]

WOW - I, for one, would love to see them. Feel free to post them here if you wish.

[naemick]

Hi John
Hope you don't mind if I post a couple of Connie here....

This one is also from her the weekend trip to Temora... Saturday afternoon was a great display... and the rain 30 minutes later was something else!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/3430379149_7940363f99_b.jpg

(Please don't mention the dirt spots......... :oops:)

This next pic, was from Nowra late last year - I think it is pretty awesome!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3311486380_e508f59aae_b.jpg

Cheers

Wiggy

[::John::]

Love the second one.

On the first one - were you in amongst the crowd?

[Buspilot]

What a unique bird. Thanks for the story and the image.

[naemick]

yep I wasin the crowd.

My plan was to back up for Sunday, and head up to the intersection of the RWY's... but after reviewing the 500 odd shots from Sat with dust marks, I was disheartened.... :(

So stayed home & tried t clean up the shots....

[::John::]

We normally park up the northern end at the intersection of the runways but, this time, I decided to take the southern end.

Way less people - no annoying speakers (or people) getting in the pan shots, fewer flies...

We have food, refrigeration, chairs (that don't get taken or moved when we stand up) a table, an awning, drinks... paradise (nearly - no dunny - gotta control the inputs) and we get pretty good shots of each aircraft. We also have a scanner so we get to hear the pilots telling us what they are about to do.

[Choderboy]

Nice shot John. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to me , the nose / cockpit area of the Connie is a little unattractive. I'd have to say it is one of the best sounding machines I've ever heard though.

Wiggy - well done on the rolling shot.

[::John::]

Heya Dave,

Long time, no see!

Most of the planes from that era had 'different' noses to what we expect today but I agree, it's in the eyes of the beholder.

Good to see you still around mate.

[Choderboy]

Good to see you still around too John.
I was at Temora a couple of weeks ago - Jet Sprints (just north of the runway intersection.) Good view down the runway.
I'll have to get down to one of the airshows this year.

[::John::]

Good to see you still around too John.
I was at Temora a couple of weeks ago - Jet Sprints (just north of the runway intersection.) Good view down the runway.
I'll have to get down to one of the airshows this year.

I was supposed to be down there for the sprints - got double booked...

If you are heading to an airshow:

1) give us a shout and join us
2) keep your speed down :p

:lol:

[Belmondo]

Nice shot John. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to me , the nose / cockpit area of the Connie is a little unattractive. I'd have to say it is one of the best sounding machines I've ever heard though.

Wiggy - well done on the rolling shot.

The nose on the original Constellation was a bit different, but I think you're wrong regardless. :p;)

I love the lines of that plane, right down to the compound curve along its spine.

;);)

[Choderboy]

I was supposed to be down there for the sprints - got double booked...

If you are heading to an airshow:

1) give us a shout and join us
2) keep your speed down :p

:lol:

Nothing wrong with your memory. 52 days to the next show...I'll shout when it get's closer.


The nose on the original Constellation was a bit different, but I think you're wrong regardless. :p;)

I love the lines of that plane, right down to the compound curve along its spine.

;);)

Very restrained. I thought I might risk being banned for posting anything negative about the Connie :)

[Belmondo]

Here's an older version with the original nose...

http://www.conniesurvivors.com/pictures/N90831-11Nov00-2.jpg

[Ramrod]

Nice shot, well done.

[::John::]

yer kinda safe, it being the Connie and all. Had it been a train, now, all we would be seeing now would be a small pile of dust... :lol:

There could be quite a crew for the next one. I'll 'reserve' you a place if you want to rough it with us.

[::John::]

Thanks Ramrod