Monday, August 27, 2018

The Most Ungainly Looking Aircraft At Thunder Over Michigan

The aircraft most likely not to win any beauty awards:

In Navy markings, it looks like the Navy ordered a submarine and then said "Just add wings, engines, and a tail - it'll be fine".

The EC-121 Warning Star was the military version of the Lockheed Super Constellation.

An early airborne warning system the aircraft served in that role through 1978 with one remaining in service as a specialized electronic warfare aircraft through 1982. This one will be undergoing restoration at the Yankee Air Museum.

5 comments:

Old 1811 said...

I like the conning tower.

MrGarabaldi said...

Hey Aaron;

I liked the Connie, even the military version. That was one graceful airplane.

Old 1811 said...

Yes. A Connie with a conning tower. How apropos.
I liked the Constellation in its original configuration. I'm a sucker for multiple vertical fins.

Murphy's Law said...

I love that plane even with the dorsal. Greyhound of the skies.

Old NFO said...

We had the last two in the Navy at GLYNCO, flew one to the museum in P'Cola, and the other one to VAQ-133 in Key West. That was late 1972, early 1973. The Navy birds actually had an APS-10 downstairs, and the APX-54, I think, up top.