Comments on: DISCOVER A NEW HIGH IN AIR TRAVEL… (Mar, 1955)

By: Toronto

Toronto — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:45:59 +0000

I’ve always associated turbo-compounding engines with low-altitude use, such as on the Britania-based Argus sub-hunter planes. (Compounders use the exhaust pressure to spin power into the crankshafts, instead of using it to compress the intake charge as on a turbocharger.)

By: JMyint

JMyint — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:02:21 +0000

Well in 1954 a Super Constellation was chosen as Eisenhower’s plane and was the first plane to carry the call sign “Airforce One”. The Super Constellations offer a big leap in air transportation in that with their 4000 miles range they could make New York to London non-stop in thirteen and a half hours. Which was a big improvement over the route that required stop overs in Labrador and Ireland.

By: Tracy B.

Tracy B. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:10:51 +0000

In those days only the well to do could afford to travel by air; now the well to do have their own private jets. The Wright Turbocompound engines (also used on the DC-7) were notoriously unreliable. When the 707 and DC-8 became available, the wright engined planes were retired.

By: Randy

Randy — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:11:22 +0000

I think the two pages are reversed in order–the disembodied tail section on the full-page picture should connect to the rest of the plane on the other page.

I think there was some artistic license used in portraying the space available in the Connie. See http://www.conniesurvivors.com.....-mural.jpg for the actual proportions of the cabin…

By: beagledad

beagledad — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:24:25 +0000

When I was a kid my mom made me wear a jacket and tie when we flew, and the food was an actual meal, served hot, with real plates and utensils. And that was in economy. (On the other hand, half the people on the plane smoked, and the whole thing smelled like a giant dirty ashtray.)

By: Michael Patrick

Michael Patrick — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:44:41 +0000

This was back before airlines became buses of the sky and people actually dressed-up to fly.

By: Jilly

Jilly — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:27:11 +0000

The guy behind the “stewardess” is totally checking out her butt.

By: Eli

Eli — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:57:24 +0000

They had complimentary canapes, cheese and fruit.

I have to beg the attendants to give me a whole can of soda. Assuming there’s food service at all.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:23:15 +0000

“The interior decor is autrocious!”, what… compared to the lovely designs of today’s airliners?

By: Al Bear

Al Bear — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:53:05 +0000

The interior decor is autrocious! but this was the A380 of it’s day I bet, *but only traveling at a fraction of the speed*

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:49:12 +0000

The Connie was easily the most beautiful airliner every designed. Another Lockheed triumph.

By: K!P

K!P — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:24:04 +0000

ooooh square windows

By: Gregly

Gregly — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:43:44 +0000

That simply cannot be. Short of having a private plane, air travel simply cannot have ever been that luxurious. I don’t care what class you’re flying.

It boggles my mind.