The International Cessna 170 Association

Ok, you guys got me to thinkin'.... since money is no longer an object,... an now that I'm bored with the P51 and P38... I've decided to sell them and get a Convair 340 and a Constellation.

gahorn wrote:Ok, you guys got me to thinkin'.... since money is no longer an object,... an now that I'm bored with the P51 and P38... I've decided to sell them and get a Convair 340 and a Constellation.

George, you could leave for the 170 Convention about a week early in the Connie and make a lap around North America picking all of us up. With my new multi-engine rating, I could be First Officer. Who wants to be Flight Engineer? The 340 could be used as the VIP transport for the Board of Directors...

BTW, how does the 340 compare the Martin 404 size-wise?

Miles

I am a C130 FE will that work Miles?

Those are going to take a lot of polishing or a lot of WD-40!

Bill Hart wrote:I am a C130 FE will that work Miles?

If you can run one of these blind folded, you're in!

Im surprised nobodys mentioned my pick-the DC-3. I dont know but Im guessing its easier to wheel land [or land tail-low] than a Cessna 170.

My Dad was a FE in Connies for Capital Airlines

Miles: The Convair 340/440 had a 105 foot span, the Martin was 95 feet.
Both carried 40 to 48 passengers.

They were both competitors in the post-war short haul market, but the Convair was far more sucessful since many were converted to turbo-prop
power, extending their life many years. Florida, where I'm from originally
was the last bastion of the Martin 404 flying passengers, some soldiering on until the mid 1980s!

Tracy: Yes, the DC-3 is much easier to land than a 170; easier than most light taildraggers. I knew guys on the DC-3 that was the only taildragger they had ever flown, and that didn't really qualify them in small conventional gear airplanes.

Your Dad flew for Capital, how cool is that! Did he continue with United
after the merger? Russ Farris

I'd just travel around to all of my C-170 friends' places and fly all of their toys and I'd buy the gas. George, get the latest model of the Connie with the tip tanks. Never a more graceful, sculptured airframe for a airliner. Never got to fly in one

I'm not as greedy as some wishful dreamers in this thread.

I'd settle for a Noorduyn Norseman. I could just barely afford to operate one of them if I didn't try to fly too often or too long.

I used to fly one in Alaska and really loved the old machine. Beside that, the old R1340 thrives on Mogas!

Hi Russ
Yes he continued his career with United. He retired at 60 in 1985 as Capt. on DC-10s. He started in 1953 on DC-3s, flew a long time as 727 Captain out of DCA. Taught both sons to fly. Volunteer pilot of the decade [the 1990s] for Mercy Medical Airlift. Lost medical about 1999. Amazing career in aviation.

Tracy, my dad started in 1950 I think. He flew DC 3s as Capt out of SFO Loved 727s, flew DC10s but I think he retired from United in 1985 at 60 flying 747s. He's still flying his Baron B55 all over the sierra's. Lance

I never liked the Super Connies (tip tanks)... they just didn't look right to me , with their more squared cockpit roof and big radome... sorta like an afterthought like the Bonanza's with tiptanks....(although they certainly had more range.)

This one reportedly still flies in Australia:


And here's another strange version.... a TURBINE powered Connie!
(6000 hp Pratt & Whitney T34-P-6 engines)

Yea, I don't know that the tip tanks were particularily attractive, but the longer wing on the 1649A & cabin of the later models sure are nice looking. The EC-121's that were equipped with the electronic "stuff" here at E-Systems in Greenville, TX were pretty interesting. Although I never got to fly in one (yet), I have been in several. Sure was suprised how small the cockpit was. I have seen the Save A Connie fly at several airshows including Oshkosh. I think it is grounded for repairs now. Hope it gets back in the airshow circuit one of these days. I think there are a couple of Connies up in Maine or nearby that could possibly fly again if someone wished to spend a fortune renovating them.

My online search said there are 5 that are still flying, and a couple more in unknown condition, and at least 2 in static display mode.

I read an article just the other day that the Connies up in Maine, Which were 1649s, have been sold to Lufthansa which intends to restore one to flying and keep one for parts. They were one of the airlines that flew the 1649s. Unfortunately they came along just too late. The jets were too close.