I flew in one of these, or close to it, in the early to mid-1980s, when I was a pre-teen or teenager, on an Eastern passenger flight from Winston-Salem, NC to Denver, CO. I was returning home from visiting my grandparents. I was used to flying in modern jets. I remember looking at it asking myself, "Do I *have* to get in that?" I had never flown in a turboprop before. Once I got in, the interior looked fairly modern, though the cabin was shaped differently than I was used to. I was seated right next to the engine blades. They were so close, I thought they were going to saw through the fuselage! Very noisy, too, though everything turned out alright. Nothing to worry about. It was great seeing this. It brought back memories of that flight.
This is a very powerful, sophisticated aircraft, even today---and it is very carefully maintained. It is just as safe as most modern jet airliners, and in very adverse conditions, perhaps safer because it is not a "fly-by-wire" plane---The pilot actually has to know how to fly and to be aware of the conditions around him/her.
Wow! Wonderful aerial views of Florida beaches from an EAL DC-7B. Scenes like this are what airline passengers enjoyed flying from places like New York to Miami back in the 1950's. Thanks for posting and not giving into the temptation of ruining these shots with some lousy background music (you let the mild throbbing of the 4 Wright 3350 engines provide the music!).
@Coaljet Hell Yeah Baby!!! That LOW, BASSY RUMBLE lets you know that the plane is 100% ALIVE & WELL!!! Such a BEAUTIFUL & ROMANTIC sound also!!! You sure as HELL don't get that kind of sound on any modern turboprop or high-bypass ratio turbofan powered airliner!!! Those planes to me sound like they're 100% SICK & DYING!!! It's so great to see these nostalgic and powerful jewels of aviation history still flying today!! I flew in this plane last year and I don't think I ever want to fly on a tur
Fantastic Video...Just love that sound...Nothing like it....Wish I was around when my father flew the Super Constellation....Spectacular view to top it off... :) Take care...
oh do i wish there were vids of others like this!! Like DC-6's, Stratocruisers, Convairliners and 580's...i was a passenger on all these, except my DC-7 flights were on a United DC-7B, and a Northwest Orient DC-7C (the long range one)...still if you havent been on a piston powered airliner, or like a Lockheed L-188 Electra..vids like this give you some idea...too bad theyre gone
Great shot of the engines, pity that was all to watch,nice sound, the DC7 was a good looking and comfortable aircraft to fly in a shame there aren't more around in flying condition.
This aircraft has turbocharged radial piston driven propeller engines. This was Douglesses last piston prop airliner. The radial piston engines themselves make a putting sound, that's similar to that of a Briggs & Stratton. The props make your basic "box fan sound" sound in taxiing, and the "Bumblebee" sound in takeoff and inflight. It's funny how the 60 cycle flicker of the computer or TV screen creates optical illusions of the props going slow or backwards.
The 60 cycle flicker of the computer or TV screen creates optical illusions of the props going slow or backwards. Some say that driving a vehicle with a manual transmission is real driving. I say that flying in a prop plane is real flying. I believe that the DC-7 was the last widely used piston prop airliner before jets and turboprops came along.
Wrong. I regularly flew on DC-7s, 7Bs and 7Cs at 21,000 feet back in the day. United DC-7 Flight 718 and TWA Super Constellation Flight 2 collided at 21,000 over the Grand Canyon on June 30, 1956.
@dpohunter, I don't think there's a name for that effect and I also seriously doubt that there's any way to correct it, I think that's just how digital photography is.
The one drawback of digital video is evident when filming the props, with that visual stuttering effect, wheras they'd otherwise appear blurred as the human eye sees them. Is there a name for this and any way to correct it? Just curious.
Why are they flying so damn low? Take that Good Ol' DC-7 up to a normal cruising altitude for it like 18,000 to 25,000 feet and cruise at 300 mph, Do a full circle flight of the Keys & then head back to Miami, Save this low altitude stuff for landing OK? Or is there a specific reason for this low altitude?
The rock group Grand Funk Railroad had a DC-7C that was also used in the film "American Graffiti" and repainted as "Magic Carpet Airlines" that Richard Dreyfuss's character Curt Henderson boarded to fly to college on the East Coast, Unfortunately, I'm afraid that plane has probably been stripped of its engines & cut up for scrap if it's not sitting in the Arizona desert aircraft boneyard.
@pulsery2zk1 I know that, I was just messing with you, I'm not as idiotic as you think I am, I personally think the Boeing Stratocruiser was a MUCH better plane than the DC-7, Maybe it wasn't as pleasing to look at but it was WAY bigger and roomier!!! In a way, It was the forerunner of the 747 with the separate lounge, I'll take a Stratocruiser over a DC-7 any day!!! Oh yeah!!!! You have to learn to lighten up and put up with certain kinds of BS!! I know full well what I said was incorrect, I w
I flew in one of these, or close to it, in the early to mid-1980s, when I was a pre-teen or teenager, on an Eastern passenger flight from Winston-Salem, NC to Denver, CO. I was returning home from visiting my grandparents. I was used to flying in modern jets. I remember looking at it asking myself, "Do I *have* to get in that?" I had never flown in a turboprop before. Once I got in, the interior looked fairly modern, though the cabin was shaped differently than I was used to. I was seated right next to the engine blades. They were so close, I thought they were going to saw through the fuselage! Very noisy, too, though everything turned out alright. Nothing to worry about. It was great seeing this. It brought back memories of that flight.
A thoroughly enjoyable and nostalgic excursion. Thumbs up to the voice that said 'Let's sign up for the next one' just after landing!
This is a very powerful, sophisticated aircraft, even today---and it is very carefully maintained. It is just as safe as most modern jet airliners, and in very adverse conditions, perhaps safer because it is not a "fly-by-wire" plane---The pilot actually has to know how to fly and to be aware of the conditions around him/her.
Wow! Wonderful aerial views of Florida beaches from an EAL DC-7B. Scenes like this are what airline passengers enjoyed flying from places like New York to Miami back in the 1950's. Thanks for posting and not giving into the temptation of ruining these shots with some lousy background music (you let the mild throbbing of the 4 Wright 3350 engines provide the music!).
@Coaljet Hell Yeah Baby!!! That LOW, BASSY RUMBLE lets you know that the plane is 100% ALIVE & WELL!!! Such a BEAUTIFUL & ROMANTIC sound also!!! You sure as HELL don't get that kind of sound on any modern turboprop or high-bypass ratio turbofan powered airliner!!! Those planes to me sound like they're 100% SICK & DYING!!! It's so great to see these nostalgic and powerful jewels of aviation history still flying today!! I flew in this plane last year and I don't think I ever want to fly on a tur
Thanks! Glad you were able to recognize your old haunts!
Fantastic Video...Just love that sound...Nothing like it....Wish I was around when my father flew the Super Constellation....Spectacular view to top it off... :) Take care...
The engines and wing looks so shiny
Those Wright R-3350 "Turbo-Compound" engines also powered Eastern's Super Constellations, both were marketed as "Golden Falcons."
Golden Falcons... man what a time it must have been to live!
oh do i wish there were vids of others like this!! Like DC-6's, Stratocruisers, Convairliners and 580's...i was a passenger on all these, except my DC-7 flights were on a United DC-7B, and a Northwest Orient DC-7C (the long range one)...still if you havent been on a piston powered airliner, or like a Lockheed L-188 Electra..vids like this give you some idea...too bad theyre gone
Gracias por llevarme en este hermoso vuelo y maravillosa maquina.
What a beautiful airplane.
Beautiful! I worked on a Convair 240 at OpaLocka
A&P/IA
Very cool!
Fantastic - real flying
Great shot of the engines, pity that was all to watch,nice sound, the DC7 was a good looking and comfortable aircraft to fly in a shame there aren't more around in flying condition.
Very nice! If I go to Miami, I just might have to do that.
@neverboardproduction, That's for the Constellation, The DC-7 can only top out at 13,000 to 18,000 feet.
This aircraft has turbocharged radial piston driven propeller engines. This was Douglesses last piston prop airliner. The radial piston engines themselves make a putting sound, that's similar to that of a Briggs & Stratton. The props make your basic "box fan sound" sound in taxiing, and the "Bumblebee" sound in takeoff and inflight. It's funny how the 60 cycle flicker of the computer or TV screen creates optical illusions of the props going slow or backwards.
awsome video,love that plane.
I love that sound, I hope that i to board one this. :( Gracias por compartirlo.
After the flight, it was unclear whether we would be parking back at the FBO (where we departed) or on their own ramp. It was the ramp.
Phenomenal video. Thanks!
thanks so much for the niiiice video
Incredible!!
The 60 cycle flicker of the computer or TV screen creates optical illusions of the props going slow or backwards. Some say that driving a vehicle with a manual transmission is real driving. I say that flying in a prop plane is real flying. I believe that the DC-7 was the last widely used piston prop airliner before jets and turboprops came along.
Wrong. I regularly flew on DC-7s, 7Bs and 7Cs at 21,000 feet back in the day. United DC-7 Flight 718 and TWA Super Constellation Flight 2 collided at 21,000 over the Grand Canyon on June 30, 1956.
Was it loud in there
@dpohunter, I don't think there's a name for that effect and I also seriously doubt that there's any way to correct it, I think that's just how digital photography is.
I love these old piston engine airliners but i don't understand why this airplane is flying so low? The service ceiling was over 8000 meters.
The one drawback of digital video is evident when filming the props, with that visual stuttering effect, wheras they'd otherwise appear blurred as the human eye sees them. Is there a name for this and any way to correct it? Just curious.
The Pratt and wittney symphony
Why are they flying so damn low? Take that Good Ol' DC-7 up to a normal cruising altitude for it like 18,000 to 25,000 feet and cruise at 300 mph, Do a full circle flight of the Keys & then head back to Miami, Save this low altitude stuff for landing OK? Or is there a specific reason for this low altitude?
The rock group Grand Funk Railroad had a DC-7C that was also used in the film "American Graffiti" and repainted as "Magic Carpet Airlines" that Richard Dreyfuss's character Curt Henderson boarded to fly to college on the East Coast, Unfortunately, I'm afraid that plane has probably been stripped of its engines & cut up for scrap if it's not sitting in the Arizona desert aircraft boneyard.
why were they shouting about ramps?
I'd rather fly in one of these than any of the modern junk
I didnt know flights like that existed :p why would they use such a old aircraft for a job like that? It might crash one day : l
Great video if you enjoy staring at engines the entire time. What about the interior? I guess we'll never know.
Most of geeks like the engine shots! :)
@pulsery2zk1 I know that, I was just messing with you, I'm not as idiotic as you think I am, I personally think the Boeing Stratocruiser was a MUCH better plane than the DC-7, Maybe it wasn't as pleasing to look at but it was WAY bigger and roomier!!! In a way, It was the forerunner of the 747 with the separate lounge, I'll take a Stratocruiser over a DC-7 any day!!! Oh yeah!!!! You have to learn to lighten up and put up with certain kinds of BS!! I know full well what I said was incorrect, I w