Arthur Godfrey and Eddie Rickenbacker

[GAHorn]

A great view into yesteryear with Authur Godfrey as he introduces Eastern Airlines’ Lockheed Constellation….( and Chesterfields. )

Great entertainment about the days when flying airlines meant wearing your Sunday Best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1z6BDBakYQ

[Richgj3]

I read a book years ago about Captain Eddie and Eastern Airlines. At a press event where Lockheed was touting the availability of fabric choices on the seats of the Connie, they asked Eddie, in front of reporters: “Captain Eddie, what would you like on your 93 seats?”

He replied: “93 a$$es.”

[Richgj3]

Just watched the film. Long but worth every minute to see Captain Eddie, Dick Merrill and Tony LeVeir all in one place. And a Connie flying with three engines feathered. When I was a kid in the 50’s there was a maintenance base for Lockheed ( I think ) at the airport near us. Mac Arthur now Islip. KISP.

Used to see Connie’s flying over with one feathered.

[GAHorn]

What surprised me most was that they deliberately chose to shut down all but No.1 , since it was farther out on the wing….(of course, with THREE TAILS perhaps they weren’t worried about sufficient rudder control)

I also thought that only Nos 2 and 3 had hydraulics…. Anyone confirm?

[johneeb]

George I think you are probably thinking of the Piper Apache, the early ones had only one pump.

In the blurry drawing below of the Conny L-049 model Hydraulic system drawing, you can see there are part number 59 on each engine, the legend says 59 is Hydraulic pump.

Constellation L-049 Hydraulic drawing copy.jpg

[GAHorn]

Thanks… still not certain… but I may have been confusing it with the B-24-J which my Dad flew on as Flt Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. They usually started No 2 first in order to have hyd brakes immediately.

Here’s a pic of one of the airplanes from his actual unit (466th B.G, Attlebridge, England) after loss of hydraulics. They used crew chutes out the waist-gunners windows to slow down from loss of hyd brakes.

65E0E43E-1220-4951-9873-A55F39D959EC.png