Connie's Engines

[skylab]

NikeHerk67
Hadn't seen you in here for awhile!

Oh...I'm here most of the time. I just kinda lay low unless I feel I can add something.

[simmerdr]

...[I flew these for six months.]

Skylab:

Maybe this Eastern Airline Connie video/commercial will bring back a few memories:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCL7FglFapY

It's interesting the way Arthur Godfrey explains early navigation in terms of Compass and ADF....and the engine-feathering demonstration is very nice.

Also, I guess lighting a cigarette in the cockpit (and offering one to the Flight Engineer) was perfectly OK......

[skylab]

Yes.....I've seen that video B4, and it DOES bring back memories alright !! Only time I ever flew on two engines was in the sim tho !! We never tried it on ONE engine. And, yes.....smoking was normal in the cockpit waaaaay back then. Thanks for posting that link for everyone.

[benm]

Long live the Constellation

[Johan_Dees]

If you want to read about flying and navigation in the old days: www.calclassic.com
See the tutorials, download the propliner tutorial. Its also a great read a a story.
And, more fun then an FMC.

[skylab]

A little more on Connie's engines. I found this reply [part that applies] I made to someone back in '97 while on Compuserve.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All this BMEP talk has got me back in my books a lookin' at numbers.....something I thought I would never do again.<G>

Anyway; first a recollection: we were told in ground school (EAL, Connie type)) that the reason Eastern had so much success (relative to other airlines) with the 3350 was that they, Eastern, operated the engines the way Wright prescribed. That is at max HP (1830 Cruise, low blow, etc.), and not some contrived other setting as used by some other airlines in an effort to try and make the engine last. When I went to UAL, I found that they were operating at 1700HP in cruise (low blow) and said their failure rate was higher than most. When I asked about the "strange" cruise power setting, I was told that they (UAL) knew what they were doing, and besides, the DC-7's (read 3350) days were numbered.

I might add here that EAL operated the 3350 (on the Connies) in the Shuttle Operation at a reduced cruise power setting (1560HP), not prescribed by Wright, but it didn't seem to matter under those operating conditions (low and slow).

[simmerdr]

Skylab:

Connie is plane that will always stay in memory...especially for people like you who actually flew it...

Personally, as a fan of it, when I heard about the Kansas City Airline History Museum having an example of L-1049, a while ago I made a weekend trip from Chicago and got a very thorough inside/outside (guided) tour of the plane. They had just refurbished the engines. This aircraft was saved from the desert in the nick of time just before being scrapped, and was now the centerstage for a wedding reception taking place during my visit. I took a picture and sent it to the Airways Magazine along with a short history. To my surprise, they published the picture along w/ my accompanying letter. The editorial staff emailed me thanking for reporting such good-fortune of this particular Connie.

Today, I was reading an article about DC-7s (envisioned by American Airline to compete w/ TWA's Connies) with the same Wright engines as the Connie. As you say, the Wrights on DC-7, from all accounts were not as successful.

I came across this page on PPRuNe (Professional Pilots Rumor Network) with a related discussion.
http://www.pprune.org/tech-log/36275...on-vs-dc4.html

I find the last post by an ex-PanAm Captain amusing:

Reliability R-2800 vs. R-3350

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I joined PanAm, had a lot of captains ex-377, DC-6/7 drivers.
So, had a lot of questions to them.
xxx
"Captain Joe, how do you recognize a DC-6 from a DC-7...?"
"On the ground, I know, 3 blades versus 4 blades... but...?"
And the answer was...
"Son, if a plane is landing with one feathered, must be a DC-7..."

[skylab]

Yes.....I saw that. BTW.....that's me, DC-ATE.

[InsyleM]

Supercharged, naturally aspirated

Isn't that an oxymoron?

[InsyleM]

Engines used on 1049C & 1049G aircraft are Wright turbo-cyclones. These engines are referred to as compound engines, since the power unit is basic reciprocating piston engine combined with gas turbines. Three Power Recovery Units incorporate turbines, each of which is driven by combined exhaust of 6 of the 18 cylinders. Turbine energy is geared back to engine through fluid coupling. Turbine speed is proportional to engine speed and requires no control.
All Constellation engines incorporate a low tension ignition system, direct fuel injection system, two-speed, single stage supercharger, and torque meter systems."

That sounds like what my dad has told me about them.