Connie Flies To Chino

The world's only flyable Lockheed EC-121T Super Constellation flew from Camarillo, Calif. to its new home at Chino's Yanks Air Museum for permanent display January 14.

It was flown by pilot Al Malecha, co-pilot Pat Farrell and flight engineer Timothy Coons.

The historic "Connie" flight brought to a close a seven-year project to get the massive aircraft back into the air. The iconic airliner joins 170 aircraft already on display at the museum, ranging from WW I fighters and trainers to WW II, Korea, Vietnam and latter day fighters, bombers and cargo aircraft.

This aircraft had top-secret capabilities and monitored the skies for hostile aircraft for over 44 years during the height of the Cold War, often flying missions 24 hours a day, a museum spokesman said. It served over the Pacific as well as Taiwan, South Korea and Iceland during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Massive electronic and technological equipment suggesting its capabilities dominate the interior of the plane. The civilian version of the Connie had an illustrious career with Pan Am and TWA during the elegant era of air travel.

In 1944 TWA President Jack Frye and Howard Hughes took Orville Wright up in a Connie for his last flight.

Designed in part by the legendary Kelly Johnson and Hall Hibbard with input on from Howard Hughes, the aircraft is easily recognized by the sleek dolphin shaped fuselage and triple-tail design.

According to Anthony Sampson in "Empires of the Sky," the intricate design may have been undertaken by Lockheed, but the concept, shape, capabilities, appearance and ethos of the Constellation were driven by Hughes' intercession during the design process.

Powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines, it was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, Calif. facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a triple-tail design and the dolphin-shaped fuselage.

The Constellation's wing design was close to that of the P-38 Lightning, differing mostly in scale. The distinctive triple tail kept the aircraft's overall height low enough to fit in existing hangars, while new features included hydraulically-boosted controls and a thermal de-icing system used on wing and tail leading edges.

The aircraft has a top speed of over 340 mph, a cruise speed of 300 mph and a service ceiling of 24,000 ft.

The Constellation was used as a civilian airliner and as a U.S. military air transport, seeing service in the Berlin Airlift. It was the presidential aircraft for U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The museum is located at 7000 Merrill Ave. at the Chino Airport. Go to www.yanksair.com for more information or call (909) 597-1735.

Photos by Barry Ambrose.