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Lockheed C-121J 'Super Constellation'

Description
  Manufacturer:Lockheed
  Base model:C-121
  Designation:C-121
  Version:J
  Nickname:Super Constellation
  Designation System:U.S. Air Force
  Designation Period:1925-1962
  Basic role:Transport
  See Also:

Specifications
Not Yet Available


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 gary lee berry
 atlanta, GA
I was the flight mechanic on this airplane stationed in NAS Memphis in 1967 to 1969. It belonged to a two star Admitral in charge of the sixth Naval district. I flew with him and sometimes the Navy band to different functions all over . The a/c was VIP inside and highly polished aluminum outside.We also carried two WAVES that acted as flight attendants. In 1968 the Blue Angels put on an airshow there and somehow when they left town the Connie went with them and we got the hand-me-down C-54 that we had to convert from cargo to VIP.Much slower and unpressurised had to fly now around weather rather than over it.Longer flying times.Very ill later when I first saw the Connie in. NAS Jacksonville with the interior gutted out and converted back again to the cargo configuration...
01/29/2013 @ 11:21 [ref: 67534]
 Phil Johnson
 , SC
I was stationed at NAS Agana, Guam from mid 1973-early 1975 and had the privilege to fly on 131659 as part of the crew (albeit as a Loadmaster). Lots of great times, and I too remember Chiefs Renfro and Brunbridge, as well as "Bull" Halsey (who I ran into some years later). I'm a Reserve Loadmaster now on the AF C-17 but still remember fondly those early days.
03/21/2012 @ 09:39 [ref: 54367]
 Reggie Fields
 Near Dallas, TX
PR-50 / TE-00 / B/N 131654 went to a company out of Van Nuys Calif airport after leaving the Navy. It was registered as N27189. It was one of two Connies the group purchased intended to fly tourist from Los Angeles over the Grand Canyon and back. That never happened.

In the late 80s it was sold to Aerochago of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It was flying cargo as HI-532CT and was seen at Miami International in some photos from 1990.

It was damaged in a landing accident in Santo Domingo in June 1990. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900699-0

It was used for parts for their other Connie, which was damaged beyond repair in 1998 when a hurricane blew a C-46 aircraft across the ramp into the Connie. By that time PR-50/TE-00/131654 had been completely scrapped.
10/26/2011 @ 13:40 [ref: 49755]
 Dan Blankenship
 Cary, NC
lew on Double Nuts from 1959 to 1960 as an assistant crew chief
12/17/2010 @ 10:22 [ref: 34373]
 G Boothe
 , SD
Check out VW-1 All Hands Alumni Association for lots of stuff about Connies on Guam.
http://vw1assoc.tripod.com/index.html
02/09/2010 @ 12:19 [ref: 25702]
 JIM BARNES
 , IL
I WAS STATIONED AT NAS AGANA GUAM FROM 1/1/71 UNTIL 3/1/73.

I WAS AN AE2 AND FLEW AS AIRCREW ON 131659.

WE MADE MANY TRIPS TO CUBI POINT AND BACK AND FORTH TO R.V.N.

ALSO MADE IT TO JAPAN AND THE PALAUAN ISLANDS.

I REMEMBER CHIEF RENFRO,CHIEF BRUNDIGE,AE FRANK BLANK,JOHN MCCEARY

THAT C-121 WAS KEPT IN A1 STATUS TO GET US OFF OF GUAM.

I STILL HAVE MEMORIES OF THE FLIGHTS,GOOD AND BAD.



10/26/2009 @ 12:37 [ref: 25221]
 George Barber
 Rockwood, TN
While serving as a member of the maintenance team of the Blue Angels from 1968-70, my temmates and I were tasked with loading Navy 8. This was indeed a job, but she was a good old bird and we all loved her.

I remember when one of our electricians suffered a heart attack on roll out from Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, the aircraft commander, Lt. Cdr. Bud Jourdan, had the hit the brakes and throw the props into full reverse to slow her down. The extremely long nose gear nearly bottomed out.
08/22/2008 @ 15:17 [ref: 22527]
 Paul Strogen
 San Francisco, CA
A note on BuNo 131655. That aircraft became "Blue Eagle VI"
and belonged to OASUVX-8VXN-8 in the 1966-67 time frame.

She was converted to fly missions in Viet Nam, broadcasting
TV and radio to the US troops and Vietnamese civilians on the
ground.

I flew on this bird occasionally, however I was a regular
crew member on "Blue Eagle II", BuNo 128444.

Along with those two aircraft, we also flew "Blue Eagle I",
BuNo 131627, a 'pure' radio aircraft out of DaNang and
"Blue Eagle III", BuNo 131641.

"Blue Eagle II, III and VI" were equiped with two commercial
TV broadcast transmitters, an AM radio transmitter and a
FM radio transmitter along with the supporting tape and film
machines. Those aircraft also contains a small 'studio' where
an AFRTS announcer worked during each evenings mission,
augmenting the tape and film programs with 'live' news and
commentary.

The squadron designation changed 3 times in that period.
Based at Pax River, we deployed crews to Viet Nam for 6-month
stints with a total of 4 aircraft flying missions from
Tan Son Nhut and DaNang. I made 2 deployments to Nam during
my time with the squadron as well as a "deployment" to
Lockheed Air Service at JFK for the overhaul of "Blue
Eagle I".

These days the missions we flew are being handled by Air
Force Reserve C-130's designated "Commando Solo".

Paul Strogen, former ET1(AC) OASUVX-8
07/30/2008 @ 11:32 [ref: 22297]
 Bill Thomas
 Sarasota, FL
I flew as second radio on TE00 (131654) from 1962 through 1964. Does anyone know where 131654 ended up? It would be nice to talk to someone from that time period.
12/07/2007 @ 06:13 [ref: 18831]
 Don Payton
 Cheyenne, WY
NEVER knew anybody associated with Connies to be bashful nor humble about the airplane or what it could do.
"Did I ever tell you about the time in Connie, when we ...."
08/03/2006 @ 18:22 [ref: 13799]

 

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