Several L-188’s tragically broke up in flight due to a phenomenon called “whirl mode flutter” in 1959. Lockheed discovered and resolved the issue but the damage had been done. Commercially it was dead, however, it enjoyed a very successful career as the military P-3 Orion. Great to know that a few of these magnificent turboprop’s are still flying !
As I recall the six that flew domestically in Australia were very much loved by travellers and aircrew. Ansett in fact converted theirs to very successful freighters and even bought a fourth.
I agree about the vibration coming thru the wings causing fatigue and fracture at the root. Now, having said that, VARIG flew them regionally, non stop, for 30 years.
The Electra still operates all over the world, conducting intelligence and anti-submarine missions, hauling cargo, performing search and rescue operations, fighting fires, and monitoring severe weather conditions. The Electra, in its civilian and military forms, is a famously tough aircraft.
That is really neat you got to experience flying on an Electra! Luckily we still have quite a few flying around Canada, but they are only in wildfire or cargo configuration. Still nice to see the classics!
I love the old Electra as well, wish I had the opportunity to fly on one. YCG definitely has some interesting terrain surrounding it, makes for some fun spotting and flying!
In case you're wondering about all the brazilians flooding the comments section, Varig had a shuttle service between Rio and São Paulo that operated for 30 years so folks tend to get all nostalgic when they see an Electra. I had the privilege to fly from Congonhas to Santos Dumont, just 2 years before they were replaced with 737s. An approach into Santos Dumont on an Electra has to be one of the highlights of my 43 years!
I was always wondering why this video received so many views in Brazil. Thanks for the information! That must have been a great experience flying aboard an Electra, would have loved to have had that opportunity. I hope these ones get to keep flying fighting fires up here for years to come.
In 1960 my grandmother, brother and I flew fro m Burbank to San Francisco on an Electra at Christmas. I was about 8 years old and loved airplanes. I sat next to a window on the right side in line with the prop and was fascinated at how the pitch changed as we began rolling down the runway. The Flight Attendant later took us up to the cockpit for a look. As we landed the fog was extremely thick. My parents waiting for us told us that only 2 planes were allowed to land because of the fog and they had ''special instruments'' to guide them. That was my first airplane flight and I will never forget it. You could feel the huge power as soon as those props bit into the air. I was thrilled to hear that my best friend's dad worked on building the wings on the Electras at Lockheed. He used to give us 1/4'' stepped drill bits with built in pilots that were used on the wings. I still have a few. Great video, thanks!
Thanks for the memories. I remember watching L-188's take off and land at Lindbergh Field in San Diego. Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) used those for many years.
Thanks for watching glad to hear you enjoyed the video. That would have been great seeing the Electra flying passengers, that's something I'm sad I missed out on.
@@TheHDAviation I didn't post about it, but my first ride in a passenger plane was in an L-188. It was a 1/2 hour sight seeing flight around San Diego. A local news personality, Bob Dale, was commenting on the sights. At one point, during a turn, the pilot banked the plane, so all you could see out of one side was sky, and all you could see on the other side was the ground. Loved it!!
I flew them as freighters during the 1990’s. We covered the whole of Europe, the Middle East and down to sub-Saharan Africa. It was a joy to fly. It saddens me to arrive at work these days and see the last one I flew waiting to be used for fire training, she deserves better.
I have loved the Electra since seeing them fly regularly as a kid in the 70's. Eastern Airlines flew them on regular routes from MIA to the Bahamas. So cool!!
Jet fuel and really fast prop speeds. Note the short wing span. No need for lots of wing lift with that kind of airflow generated by the turbo prop motors,
In Brazil the "Electras" (as we Brazilians call them) are regarded as "flying legends" as they reliably and proudly flew for 30 years (1962-1992) in the most important air route in Brazil: the São Paulo-Rio bridge flight, operated by Varig Airlines.
That's interesting to hear the Electra played such a large role in Brazilian aviation, it would have been a great experience to fly on one of these classic turboprops.
@@TheHDAviation yes, in fact they played that role here. When I was a kid I lived righ below the glide slope path of São Pauo CGH airport. The Electra's particular "hollow whistle" (as heard in 2:21 to 2:28) recalls my very fond childhood memories!
Thanks for the video, the scenery around the airport certainly added to it. I've always felt the airplane had the best name in the business, it was introduced when I was in my early teens. When I heard the name "Electra" I thought it was powered by electricity.
At 55 years old these are indeed "The working horses of the skies". The footage of this beauty is fantastic with the close-by taxiing and powerful engine sounds! Liked very much! :-D
So right. Those Allisons made a special kind of music, especially with those huge squared off props. Never forget my first Electra experience - all too short, AA Buffalo to LaGuardia in 1963, but instantly fell in love. Nothing sounded - or felt - like an Electra! Sought her out every time I could, until the pure jets squeezed her out.
These videos remind me of being a kid in the mid - late '60s and getting all dressed up (of course) and going to the airport to pick up incoming family members or to "see them off". Back then it was common for passengers to have to walk outside between the terminal and aircraft and use the boarding stairs, and the terminal had a rooftop observation deck where you could stand right over the gate where your passenger was arriving or departing and wave and call out your greetings or goodbyes to them while they walked to or from the aircraft. Such trips to the airport were always an exciting, big event, and in retrospect exposed me to a "who's who" of mid to late '60s airlines and aircraft. Lots of TWA 707s, United DC-8s, American 727s, and Delta DC-9s. Many Electras and assorted other prop aircraft were operating then, especially with regionals such as Allegheny and Piedmont. Being outside on the terminal roof gave us the full effect of the sights, sounds, and scents of the prop, turboprop, or ear splitting jets of the day as they taxied up to or past the gates. On one such trip we were out on the rooftop deck when two fighters took off together in full afterburner and shook the airport (F-100s I believe). On another occasion in 1969, I was excused from school to be picked up by family to go to the airport to "see off" my Marine big brother, who had been home on leave but had to report back to Pendleton for deployment to Vietnam. Being in such close proximity to aircraft of that era made an impression on me at a young age, and I eventually ended up in the USAF on heavy jets.
Lockheed had the luxurious, cutting edge airliners; the Electra was no exception. The epitome of prop airliners with jet like cruise performance, faster than any of its competitors. It lives on as the P-3 P-3 Orion.
Navy's gonna retire it. The UK had an even older aircraft with Rolls-Royce PISTON engines; it was a Lancaster knock-off with the Merlin engine [Spitfire, Mustang, etc] replaced by a bigger engine called the Griffon.
For decades on end, Varig's Electras were very familiar to inhabitants of Rio and São Paulo. Both cities have very central downtown airports and Varig operated some 100 flights a day between the two cities with those aircraft. Back then, as a teen, I'd sit near the runway threshold at Rio's Santos Dumont airport watching them come and go. Good memories. Watching the Electra sights and sounds here was like revisiting an old friend. Many thanks for posting.
+corisco tupi That is very interesting, I had no idea the Electra had such a presence in Brazil in the past. I'm really glad you enjoyed the video and that it brought back some good memories. Thanks very much for watching!
The same here. I remember seeing them cutting the skies on low altitude over a friend's house, near the airport here in Sao Paulo. Although I've never had the chance to fly on an Electra, it brings me good memories of the 80's, especially its peculiar sound. I could recognize it until today.
@@TheHDAviation I worked in Italian Air Force as Lieutenant, I was an air traffic controller in Sigonella TWR ( LICZ ) in Sicily -Italy from 1983 to 1985 december; in Sigonella Base there was US Navy, and US Navy had P3 Orion Antisom to search russian submarines in Mediterranean Sea. As well there were Convair C131 Samaritan used as hospital medevac flight for US Navy people to bring them to US Hospital in Neaples - Italy. I loved those two planes. Old good memories...
That bad boy looked heavy going off the departure end. :) Love the L188. Special place in my heart for them. My first ride on an airliner was back in August 1973... I was 8 years old and flew "unaccompanied" on a Holiday Airlines Electra from Oakland to Lake Tahoe to visit my cousin. He and I made a few trips back and forth between OAK and TVL during our elementary school years. Holiday went bankrupt soon after our first trips, but Air California and PSA kept flying Electras to Tahoe for another couple of years. I think I did that round trip four times over a couple of years. Love the sound of those Allisons turning those big fat blades. I still hear the very occasional P3 making the same sound (one flew over my house from MCC a couple years ago) and the C130 sounds much the same.
+curtisccr That's a very special memory, that must have been great to fly on the Electra for your first flight! I love the sound of these powerful turboprop's as well, definitely something special. Thanks for watching!
A Varig teve uma frota de Electras que fizeram a ponte aérea São Paulo/Rio durante décadas, são aparelhos ótimos e confiáveis. Depois foram substituídos pelos jatos.
+Billy Goat Mathias, a Air Spray recebeu quatro dos antigos Electras da Varig (um, porém, ironicamente para um avião usado no combate a incêndios florestais, foi perdido num incêndio no hangar). Esse do vídeo não é um deles, mas há outros na frota dessa empresa que foram da Varig. A Air Spray é a última operadora civil do Electra no mundo atualmente (embora haja versões militares derivadas em uso em várias forças aéreas do mundo).
For many years I flew almost 5000 hours in the powerful L188 Loockeed Electra of origin of American Airlines, which were sold to Aerocondor Airlines and whose painting and design was of my great friend Frances Michael Vandame, who not only designed this plane in his painting and logos, but the Boeing 720 and Boeing 707 and Airbus A300-10B4 of the Aerocondor fleet. The L188 was a large cargo and passenger plane that we flew throughout Colombia and in the US, so we experienced all the vicissitudes of an aerial operation with bad weather in the Caribbean and Central America, where Topography is incidental and volcanic. It was a great aircraft and in our operation two aircraft of these were injured.
Amazing! 👋👋👋 Foram 27 anos de operação pela nossa VARIG sem nenhum acidente no Brasil! Mais uma lenda da Lockheed Martin, assim como foram o Constelation, o Blackbird SR-71 e por aí vai! Saudades!
Em 5 Fev 1970, o PP-VJP partiu de São Paulo com destino a Porto Alegre, levando 51 pessoas a bordo. Chegando lá, realizou um pouso duro e muito curto no Aeroporto Salgado Filho, quebrando o trem de pouso principal direito. A aeronave adernou e a asa direita chocou-se contra a pista, sofrendo sérios danos e provocando, também, o rompimento de uma das hélices, que foi arremessada contra a fuselagem. Houve um princípio de incêndio, rapidamente controlado pelos bombeiros. Ninguém se feriu, mas a recuperação do VJP foi considerada inviável e ele nunca mais voltou a voar, servindo como fonte de peças de reposição para os outros aparelhos da frota. Não foi o único acidente com o Electra, mas este com o VJP foi o único com perda total que não voltou a voar.
Nada era tão glamoroso, com uma espera ansiosa para os mais inesquecíveis 50 minutos a bordo dos *Electra II* da Varig. Bons tempos aqueles. Sem demagogia.
I grew up in the 60s and 70s not far from Lockheed Airport, where the Lockheed factory and Skunk Works were located. every day Electras and P-3 Orions would land there with that particular whistle those Allison turbo props had. great days for a kid who loved airplanes.
The Electra has variable prop blades, etc. but if I recall correctly from the Eastern Air Lines days - the last of the big carriers to have these beauties in service - the throttle settings were full, reverse and off, which accounts for the wind up before take off. Beautiful crabbing after rotation. Like seeing a fully restored 57 Chevy 2-Door.
I flew on the Electra several times in the 1970s. The prop noise was ridiculous. But I will say it really accelerated during the takeoff roll and climbed hard for a prop plane.
Love this symphony sound! This legendary aircraft worked in Brasil for 30 years for the Varig company, especially on the airlift Rio-São Paulo. Unforgettable times!
Symphony sound? What symphony sound? The only ones that produce symphony sound are the big radials. The sound from these turboprops are boring, unexciting.
Seeing props turning whether piston engine or turbo and listening to the music of it beats a jet anytime. You can't have nothing go wrong as they have to clear those mountains immediately after liftoff.
@@TheHDAviation I wish I would have visited Alaska in the 1980s. Reeves Aleutian had a small fleet of them still flying passenger routes in the northwest.
Thanks very much for your quality videos of aircraft; this one of the Electra and your other video showing 489 in action are superb! I live in Castlegar and get quite excited at our local action during the summer (an affliction that pilots have!) The Electra is a great machine for our hot temperatures; it has good climb out capabilities. I remember the DC-6 tankers; they literally gasped their way up to altitude on some of our hotter days!
Thanks very much for watching! I get excited to see the forest fire aircraft in action during the summer months, always impressive to see. It was great to get to see the Electra's last summer, they truly are an impressive machine and it's great to see them in action after all these years.
I recall being a pssgr on an AA Electra in May 1967. Flew from ROC to LGA. I thought it was old then but in hindsight it was plush. The flight didn't take much longer than the BACss which American usually used. It was daytime in CAFB weather, just excellent.
I love this plane. I am very fortunate that I live in Abbotsford BC where Conair operates these. I believe they have 2, one in Conair markings, and the other one is this one with Air Spray markings. These babies are very loud in person. I hope they will still live on, as we currently are converting Dash 8's into water bombers. Amazing video btw.
Very nice, you must get to see a lot of wildfire aircraft action living in Abbotsford. I hope these classics get to keep flying for quite a while too, nothing beats the sound of these old turboprops.
collomps yeah...I know. The one I flew on was very roomy and flew low enough that the scenery was spectacular. I wouldn't mind a hop on one myself right now.
You know those pilots are chuckling to themselves, sitting in one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built, in a beautiful airport and getting PAID to be there
The L-188 Electra was the first transport type aircraft I ever sat at the controls of. A very impressive, powerful aircraft to a budding aviator. The early models had a design flaw that led to several fatal accidents before the flaw was identified and corrected. But by that time the damage to reputation had been done, and jet airliners were making their presence known. Interestingly, the L-188 wasn't much slower than the jets that took over. It would also out climb the earlier jets of its size. I remember Western Airlines started Los Angeles/Mexico City service with the L-188. Don't recall the other airlines that were operating the B-707 at the time, but flight time between the two cities was only 15 minutes faster than the L-188. In later years I checked out in the Convair 580 which used two of the same engines as the L-188, and weighed about half as much. I had expected the CV-580 to perform like the L-188, but it was about 100 knots slower. The difference was the Convair was a mid 1930s design converted to the Allison Turbo Props while the L-188 was designed for those power plants.
Great video, a still camera-rare these days- Aircraft is outstanding- always loved these planes. Too bad they're not in commercial flights anymore. Very capable and stable. Thanks guys.
a powerhouse ; when those giant paddle props go to coarse pitch for takeoff the airplane is a going machine. 3750shp and 14 foot four blade props, way to go
+Barcelona - El Prat Int'l ✈ i was like hypnotized (for the lack of better words) with the sound of those engines and propellers ........................
+eloyex .... you just gave me an idea to sleep better. Put a CD together with interior noise from different piston engine's like this one, dc-3 etc. Hook up my girlfriend's vibrator for the right vibration to the bed frame...... YEAH that will work better than the thunderstorms CD. "keep the faith people, and keep on keeping on"
Allison is today part of Rolls-Royce. The AE2100D3 engines that power the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules military transport are descendants of the T56/501.
This video is incredible, Excellent catch, I love these Electra's, I always hoped to fly in one of these but never have, The company I work for makes parts for these & also for the P-3 Orion (Military Version of the Electra) WOW talk about using all the runway. Thanks so much for sharing this historical aircraft.
Ed Whisenant Thanks very much, I appreciate it! It really did seem to use up most of the runway, definitely a tricky airport with the steep hills on both ends of the runway. I'd love to see a P-3 Orion in person some day, hopefully I'll get lucky!
The Turbopros Alisson D513 and beautiful song this is a perfect combination for Electra and others aircrafts!! But Electra is especiality!!! Wonderful!!
We all have to have respect for the Electras, they flew for 30 years in Brazil by Varig Brasil, mainly in the Rio-São Paulo airway, the Electras were iconic planes both in Brazil and Varig. This plane only brings us good memories. I miss you, my Electra. The aerial bridge was never like before without you.
I love the old Electra, and am very happy this one is still flying in tis new role as a wildfire fighting aircraft. Nothing beats these classic turboprops!
TheHDAviation I love the Electra and Varig, all of us Brazilians missed the Electra and Varig, the aerial bridge Rio-São Paulo never will be the same without Electra
+Roy Sankar Thanks very much! This one has quite a few modifications for carrying fire retardant. It was very nice to see this classic still going strong!
Whatta beautiful bird! It reminds me the 70's and early 80's, in my childhood, when VARIG used to fly a shuttle service between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with these brave airplanes :) its unique and amazing sound's gonna be forever in my memory! Sure thanx for sharing :)
The aircraft... superb...the prop sounds... lovely...the feeling that aviation enthusiast's get when watching these videos...wow...!!!!! thanks for sharing!!!
Awesome video. I've heard this aircraft was with airCal a long time ago. If so, I've flown it many times, and worked it on the ramp often. Those L-188 are impressive.
This reminds me of the PSA Electra. I flew on it twice. Once out of Burbank to Lake Tahoe, and then the return flight. I was always paranoid it was going to crash, and on the return flight, we hit severe winds, and the plane dropped quite a bit, and it freaked me out. Now, I would love to fly on it, and wished they still offered commercial flights in/out of TVL.
At about 2:20, you get this howling sound from the Allison which is one of the best parts, as you know it's about ready to take off. Then when they go full power the howling increases in pitch then goes away. Must be some airflow dynamics from the exhaust, but it's pure music for sure.
US Navy is still flying a derivative aircraft, the P-3 Orion, as a sub hunter. The Australians sent theirs out to look for that missing airliner a few years back. The Navy had them based in Brunswick, Maine. While in Hilo, HI I saw Orion's with various squadron markings doing touch'n'go landings at the civilian airport there almost every day. They'd make an approach from the north parallel to the town's major thoroughfare, H-19 Hawaii Belt Road. Same plane would circle around so it must have been training or practice using that runway as an alternative landing strip.
A former co-worker, and, retired Navy P-3 crew chief said the original Electras did not have a system to synchronize the propellers. When the blades, of the props, cross the wing chord at different times it set up a vibration that created metal fatigue and caused the wings to break off. the problem was identified and a fix applied.
flew an Electra AA in 4 the grade. buffalo ny airport had open house, AA gave 5$ plane rides from buffalo to Niagara falls and back. the pilot circled over the falls on both sides so we could see the falls, what fun it was.my first plane flight
TheHDAviation especially on your first plane ride, AA was an Electra crew base in buffalo NY, flew the viscounts and dc6 from Buf to order in the 60s with my mom on the way to Seattle on UA after UA acquired capitol when they got the viscounts.
The Electras used to come apart in the air because of vibration problems, as I understand. They obviously fixed it with the "Orion" variant. Even without the faults, the Electras would have been out-of-favour by the early '60s once that jets had come in.
TheSirjohn2012 vnmsenior → The US Navy's Lockheed P3's are being phased out, replaced by the Boeing P8, which is a military version of one of their airliners. I *think* it is the 737, but I am not certain of that.
Per molti anni ho volato quasi 5000 ore nella potente L188 Loockeed Electra di origine dell'American Airlines, che è stata venduta ad Aerocondor Airlines e la cui pittura e design era della mia grande amica Frances Michael Vandame, che non solo ha progettato questo aereo nella sua pittura e loghi, ma Boeing 720 e Boeing 707 e Airbus A300-10B4 della flotta Aerocondor. La L188 era un grande aereo cargo e passeggeri che abbiamo sorvolato in Colombia e negli Stati Uniti, quindi abbiamo vissuto tutte le vicissitudini di un'operazione aerea con condizioni meteorologiche avverse nei Caraibi e nell'America centrale, dove la topografia è incidentale e vulcanica. Era un grande velivolo e nella nostra operazione due aerei di questi erano feriti.
Several L-188’s tragically broke up in flight due to a phenomenon called “whirl mode flutter” in 1959. Lockheed discovered and resolved the issue but the damage had been done. Commercially it was dead, however, it enjoyed a very successful career as the military P-3 Orion. Great to know that a few of these magnificent turboprop’s are still flying !
The number of crashes is insane! Just came here to find out why people love the plane…
They Regularly fight Forest fires in Northern B.C so in the End they Still have a use
As I recall the six that flew domestically in Australia were very much loved by travellers and aircrew. Ansett in fact converted theirs to very successful freighters and even bought a fourth.
I agree about the vibration coming thru the wings causing fatigue and fracture at the root.
Now, having said that, VARIG flew them regionally, non stop, for 30 years.
Voou durante décadas entre o Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo aqui no Brasil.
Era amado pelos passageiros.
Thanks for not clobbering the sound of those beautiful engines with some kind of awful music.
That was lovely to watch thanks
Liked your comment
A thousand times yes.
My mom was a stewardess on these. Her favorite plane. God bless and RIP Mom
That must have been a very interesting career, bet the old Electra was a fun one to fly on!
The Electra still operates all over the world, conducting intelligence and anti-submarine missions, hauling cargo, performing search and rescue operations, fighting fires, and monitoring severe weather conditions. The Electra, in its civilian and military forms, is a famously tough aircraft.
This is incredible, amazing catch.
Airforceproud95 Thanks a lot!
Beauty Electra in beauty scenery! We have none left over here now, I'm glad I got to fly on a few of them.
That is really neat you got to experience flying on an Electra! Luckily we still have quite a few flying around Canada, but they are only in wildfire or cargo configuration. Still nice to see the classics!
The L188 has got to be one of my favorite vintage turboprops. And that landscape in the video must look majestic from the air.
I love the old Electra as well, wish I had the opportunity to fly on one. YCG definitely has some interesting terrain surrounding it, makes for some fun spotting and flying!
In case you're wondering about all the brazilians flooding the comments section, Varig had a shuttle service between Rio and São Paulo that operated for 30 years so folks tend to get all nostalgic when they see an Electra. I had the privilege to fly from Congonhas to Santos Dumont, just 2 years before they were replaced with 737s. An approach into Santos Dumont on an Electra has to be one of the highlights of my 43 years!
I was always wondering why this video received so many views in Brazil. Thanks for the information! That must have been a great experience flying aboard an Electra, would have loved to have had that opportunity. I hope these ones get to keep flying fighting fires up here for years to come.
In 1960 my grandmother, brother and I flew fro m Burbank to San Francisco on an Electra at Christmas. I was about 8 years old and loved airplanes. I sat next to a window on the right side in line with the prop and was fascinated at how the pitch changed as we began rolling down the runway.
The Flight Attendant later took us up to the cockpit for a look. As we landed the fog was extremely thick. My parents waiting for us told us that only 2 planes were allowed to land because of the fog and they had ''special instruments'' to guide them.
That was my first airplane flight and I will never forget it. You could feel the huge power as soon as those props bit into the air. I was thrilled to hear that my best friend's dad worked on building the wings on the Electras at Lockheed. He used to give us 1/4'' stepped drill bits with built in pilots that were used on the wings. I still have a few. Great video, thanks!
Thanks for the memories. I remember watching L-188's take off and land at Lindbergh Field in San Diego. Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) used those for many years.
Thanks for watching glad to hear you enjoyed the video. That would have been great seeing the Electra flying passengers, that's something I'm sad I missed out on.
@@TheHDAviation I didn't post about it, but my first ride in a passenger plane was in an L-188. It was a 1/2 hour sight seeing flight around San Diego. A local news personality, Bob Dale, was commenting on the sights. At one point, during a turn, the pilot banked the plane, so all you could see out of one side was sky, and all you could see on the other side was the ground. Loved it!!
I flew them as freighters during the 1990’s. We covered the whole of Europe, the Middle East and down to sub-Saharan Africa. It was a joy to fly. It saddens me to arrive at work these days and see the last one I flew waiting to be used for fire training, she deserves better.
I have loved the Electra since seeing them fly regularly as a kid in the 70's. Eastern Airlines flew them on regular routes from MIA to the Bahamas. So cool!!
EASTERN had ALOT of Electra aircraft !
My maternal grandfather piloted Electra L-188s for Braniff back in the 60's, so this really hits home for me.
Thank you very much for posting this...
Nice, that must have been an exciting career he had. Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Love the sound of those big props cutting through the air!
+Paul Hebert Same here, music to my ears!
Jet fuel and really fast prop speeds. Note the short wing span. No need for lots of wing lift with that kind of airflow generated by the turbo prop motors,
In Brazil the "Electras" (as we Brazilians call them) are regarded as "flying legends" as they reliably and proudly flew for 30 years (1962-1992) in the most important air route in Brazil: the São Paulo-Rio bridge flight, operated by Varig Airlines.
That's interesting to hear the Electra played such a large role in Brazilian aviation, it would have been a great experience to fly on one of these classic turboprops.
@@TheHDAviation yes, in fact they played that role here. When I was a kid I lived righ below the glide slope path of São Pauo CGH airport. The Electra's particular "hollow whistle" (as heard in 2:21 to 2:28) recalls my very fond childhood memories!
Nice! Love the sound of those turboprops! I’m just sorry we missed the start up. Good camerawork, too!
Fifty years ago I was a Test Engineer on the P3A simulator built by Singer-Link in Riverdale, MD. What a fun time
Nice. I got to work on the Singer-Link RF-4C flight simulator at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Japan in the mid 70s.
Cool! I worked on the same simulator P3 witch is called Aurora in Canada. It was made by Link as well.
Crazy! I fly planes on X plane and smarter than all y’all.
Thanks for the video, the scenery around the airport certainly added to it. I've always felt the airplane had the best name in the business, it was introduced when I was in my early teens. When I heard the name "Electra" I thought it was powered by electricity.
It is a great name indeed, I've always loved the look of the old Electras. Thanks for watching!
The blades cutting through the air sound absolutely phenomenal
This classic does sound great, love the old Electra!
At 55 years old these are indeed "The working horses of the skies". The footage of this beauty is fantastic with the close-by taxiing and powerful engine sounds! Liked very much! :-D
Traveller Totally! It is really nice to see these classic aircraft still being put to work and doing a great job at it. Thanks a lot!
An absolute pleasure to watch, you are welcome :-D
Oh man the sound of those engines is absolutely incredible. Cant beat the Electra. A real classic. Enjoyed that mate. Liked :)
Jonathan Winton Thanks very much, I really love the sound of this classic as well!
So right. Those Allisons made a special kind of music, especially with those huge squared off props. Never forget my first Electra experience - all too short, AA Buffalo to LaGuardia in 1963, but instantly fell in love. Nothing sounded - or felt - like an Electra! Sought her out every time I could, until the pure jets squeezed her out.
These videos remind me of being a kid in the mid - late '60s and getting all dressed up (of course) and going to the airport to pick up incoming family members or to "see them off". Back then it was common for passengers to have to walk outside between the terminal and aircraft and use the boarding stairs, and the terminal had a rooftop observation deck where you could stand right over the gate where your passenger was arriving or departing and wave and call out your greetings or goodbyes to them while they walked to or from the aircraft.
Such trips to the airport were always an exciting, big event, and in retrospect exposed me to a "who's who" of mid to late '60s airlines and aircraft. Lots of TWA 707s, United DC-8s, American 727s, and Delta DC-9s. Many Electras and assorted other prop aircraft were operating then, especially with regionals such as Allegheny and Piedmont. Being outside on the terminal roof gave us the full effect of the sights, sounds, and scents of the prop, turboprop, or ear splitting jets of the day as they taxied up to or past the gates. On one such trip we were out on the rooftop deck when two fighters took off together in full afterburner and shook the airport (F-100s I believe).
On another occasion in 1969, I was excused from school to be picked up by family to go to the airport to "see off" my Marine big brother, who had been home on leave but had to report back to Pendleton for deployment to Vietnam.
Being in such close proximity to aircraft of that era made an impression on me at a young age, and I eventually ended up in the USAF on heavy jets.
It's gr8 stuff like this that makes your channel unique and a must-watch... I give you serious props for PROPS!! have a LIKEY-SLAP.
Jay's O'HareAviation Plane Spotting HD Thanks very much Jay, I really appreciate it :-)
My first international flight was in 1970 on a TEAL Electra from Christchurch, NZ to Melbourne. Love the turboprop!
Very nice, that must have been a fun experience getting up in the Electra!
Lockheed had the luxurious, cutting edge airliners; the Electra was no exception. The epitome of prop airliners with jet like cruise performance, faster than any of its competitors. It lives on as the P-3 P-3 Orion.
Navy's gonna retire it. The UK had an even older aircraft with Rolls-Royce PISTON engines; it was a Lancaster knock-off with the Merlin engine [Spitfire, Mustang, etc] replaced by a bigger engine called the Griffon.
@@russg1801 You're thinking of the Shackleton, also made by Avro which produced the Lancaster.
For decades on end, Varig's Electras were very familiar to inhabitants of Rio and São Paulo. Both cities have very central downtown airports and Varig operated some 100 flights a day between the two cities with those aircraft. Back then, as a teen, I'd sit near the runway threshold at Rio's Santos Dumont airport watching them come and go. Good memories. Watching the Electra sights and sounds here was like revisiting an old friend. Many thanks for posting.
+corisco tupi That is very interesting, I had no idea the Electra had such a presence in Brazil in the past. I'm really glad you enjoyed the video and that it brought back some good memories. Thanks very much for watching!
The same here. I remember seeing them cutting the skies on low altitude over a friend's house, near the airport here in Sao Paulo. Although I've never had the chance to fly on an Electra, it brings me good memories of the 80's, especially its peculiar sound. I could recognize it until today.
@@TheHDAviation I worked in Italian Air Force as Lieutenant, I was an air traffic controller in Sigonella TWR ( LICZ ) in Sicily -Italy from 1983 to 1985 december; in Sigonella Base there was US Navy, and US Navy had P3 Orion Antisom to search russian submarines in Mediterranean Sea. As well there were Convair C131 Samaritan used as hospital medevac flight for US Navy people to bring them to US Hospital in Neaples - Italy. I loved those two planes. Old good memories...
That bad boy looked heavy going off the departure end. :)
Love the L188. Special place in my heart for them. My first ride on an airliner was back in August 1973... I was 8 years old and flew "unaccompanied" on a Holiday Airlines Electra from Oakland to Lake Tahoe to visit my cousin. He and I made a few trips back and forth between OAK and TVL during our elementary school years.
Holiday went bankrupt soon after our first trips, but Air California and PSA kept flying Electras to Tahoe for another couple of years. I think I did that round trip four times over a couple of years.
Love the sound of those Allisons turning those big fat blades. I still hear the very occasional P3 making the same sound (one flew over my house from MCC a couple years ago) and the C130 sounds much the same.
+curtisccr That's a very special memory, that must have been great to fly on the Electra for your first flight! I love the sound of these powerful turboprop's as well, definitely something special. Thanks for watching!
A Varig teve uma frota de Electras que fizeram a ponte aérea São Paulo/Rio durante décadas, são aparelhos ótimos e confiáveis. Depois foram substituídos pelos jatos.
+Billy Goat Mathias, a Air Spray recebeu quatro dos antigos Electras da Varig (um, porém, ironicamente para um avião usado no combate a incêndios florestais, foi perdido num incêndio no hangar). Esse do vídeo não é um deles, mas há outros na frota dessa empresa que foram da Varig. A Air Spray é a última operadora civil do Electra no mundo atualmente (embora haja versões militares derivadas em uso em várias forças aéreas do mundo).
não sei pq mas admiro mais os turbohélices do que os turbofans
Pena que ele não e mais visto aqui no Brasil
Será que ainda tem o lounge? Rs
Já voei pela Varig em um avião desse , fui de São Paulo ao Rio de janeiro em 45 minutos 👉😎
For many years I flew almost 5000 hours in the powerful L188 Loockeed Electra of origin of American Airlines, which were sold to Aerocondor Airlines and whose painting and design was of my great friend Frances Michael Vandame, who not only designed this plane in his painting and logos, but the Boeing 720 and Boeing 707 and Airbus A300-10B4 of the Aerocondor fleet. The L188 was a large cargo and passenger plane that we flew throughout Colombia and in the US, so we experienced all the vicissitudes of an aerial operation with bad weather in the Caribbean and Central America, where Topography is incidental and volcanic. It was a great aircraft and in our operation two aircraft of these were injured.
nothing. and i mean NOTHING beats the sound of those allison 501-d engines. what a great machine. i've always loved the electra. thanks for the post.
+aaron bocknek They definitely do sound great ,especially four on them at full throttle. Thanks very much for watching!
Amazing! 👋👋👋
Foram 27 anos de operação pela nossa VARIG sem nenhum acidente no Brasil!
Mais uma lenda da Lockheed Martin, assim como foram o Constelation, o Blackbird SR-71 e por aí vai!
Saudades!
Verdade!! Top demais
Pouca gente sabe mas a Varig tbm operou a primeira versão do Electra, l-10e e o l-10a
Esse deve ser um ex Varig!
Muito legal sabe que um desses ainda voa!
Em 5 Fev 1970, o PP-VJP partiu de São Paulo com destino a Porto Alegre, levando 51 pessoas a bordo. Chegando lá, realizou um pouso duro e muito curto no Aeroporto Salgado Filho, quebrando o trem de pouso principal direito. A aeronave adernou e a asa direita chocou-se contra a pista, sofrendo sérios danos e provocando, também, o rompimento de uma das hélices, que foi arremessada contra a fuselagem. Houve um princípio de incêndio, rapidamente controlado pelos bombeiros. Ninguém se feriu, mas a recuperação do VJP foi considerada inviável e ele nunca mais voltou a voar, servindo como fonte de peças de reposição para os outros aparelhos da frota.
Não foi o único acidente com o Electra, mas este com o VJP foi o único com perda total que não voltou a voar.
As a 9 year old kid I flew in an Electra from Auckland NZ to Nadi, Fiji. It took off like a rocket and climbed steeply. Powerful engines.
Nice, that must have been a fun experience to fly on the Electra.
Nada era tão glamoroso, com uma espera ansiosa para os mais inesquecíveis 50 minutos a bordo dos *Electra II* da Varig. Bons tempos aqueles. Sem demagogia.
What a beauty! My heart jumped with joy when I saw this outstanding video... will watch it again for sure! :)
***** Thanks so much Matthias, this is definitely one of my favorite catches!
+TheHDAviation And here I am :) Watching it another time! Awesome!!
***** :-) It was so nice to see this classic. Hopefully I'll get to see it again next summer as well!
I grew up in the 60s and 70s not far from Lockheed Airport, where the Lockheed factory and Skunk Works were located. every day Electras and P-3 Orions would land there with that particular whistle those Allison turbo props had. great days for a kid who loved airplanes.
Just want to say thanks, beautiful video lovely framing and sound too thanks brill !!! more please
Really glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!
thank you for sharing such a beauty.. that take off and immediate right turn off the mountains in front is terrific
Thanks for watching. It was a nice opportunity to see this classic still going strong.
The Electra has variable prop blades, etc. but if I recall correctly from the Eastern Air Lines days - the last of the big carriers to have these beauties in service - the throttle settings were full, reverse and off, which accounts for the wind up before take off. Beautiful crabbing after rotation. Like seeing a fully restored 57 Chevy 2-Door.
C-FLJO is flying right now! (Another air spray Lockheed Electra) My brother saw it on flightradar! 3.9.2023 @ 00:23 (UTC +1)
That's good to hear, glad it is still being put to good use! I'm sure it had a pretty busy year this wildfire season.
Enjoyed watching the Electra flying into and out of Oakland Airport for Air California and PSA during the 60’s.
I have worked with these guys in Alberta. Very cool when you land your helicopter beside the fire and they are dropping right beside you.
Nice, bet you must get some amazing views!
I flew on the Electra several times in the 1970s. The prop noise was ridiculous. But I will say it really accelerated during the takeoff roll and climbed hard for a prop plane.
Very cool, I would have loved to experience flying on the Electra. I can only imagine the sound!
What a great piece of machinery.
Thank you for posting this video.
Love this symphony sound! This legendary aircraft worked in Brasil for 30 years for the Varig company, especially on the airlift Rio-São Paulo.
Unforgettable times!
Love seeing this classic still being put to use, the Electra is a beauty.
Reeve Aleutian was the last passenger Electra! Queen of the Aleutians!
Symphony sound? What symphony sound? The only ones that produce symphony sound are the big radials. The sound from these turboprops are boring, unexciting.
Fantastic camera work! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Seeing props turning whether piston engine or turbo and listening to the music of it beats a jet anytime. You can't have nothing go wrong as they have to clear those mountains immediately after liftoff.
I agree, it's always nice to hear and see some prop action. YCG is definitely a challenging airport with lots of terrain around.
@@TheHDAviation I wish I would have visited Alaska in the 1980s. Reeves Aleutian had a small fleet of them still flying passenger routes in the northwest.
i've flown on them with American Airlines when i was a kid. Wonderful aircraft and wonderful sound.
Thanks very much for your quality videos of aircraft; this one of the Electra and your other video showing 489 in action are superb! I live in Castlegar and get quite excited at our local action during the summer (an affliction that pilots have!) The Electra is a great machine for our hot temperatures; it has good climb out capabilities. I remember the DC-6 tankers; they literally gasped their way up to altitude on some of our hotter days!
Thanks very much for watching! I get excited to see the forest fire aircraft in action during the summer months, always impressive to see. It was great to get to see the Electra's last summer, they truly are an impressive machine and it's great to see them in action after all these years.
great video! love the looks and sound of the great electra propliner still going strong after so many years.my favorite turboprop of all time. rob
robert balboni Thanks! They are one of my favorites as well. It is great to see the classics still being put to work.
Very cool! Great to see lots of these still flying.
I recall being a pssgr on an AA Electra in May 1967. Flew from ROC to LGA. I thought it was old then but in hindsight it was plush. The flight didn't take much longer than the BACss which American usually used. It was daytime in CAFB weather, just excellent.
Very nice, that must have been a fun experience flying on the Electra.
Fantastic plane. Flew in Electras in Australia under Ansett-ANA and TAA. Love anything Lockheed
I love the Electra as well, glad a few are still getting to fly around over here. Must have been a lot of fun to get to fly on them!
I love this plane. I am very fortunate that I live in Abbotsford BC where Conair operates these. I believe they have 2, one in Conair markings, and the other one is this one with Air Spray markings. These babies are very loud in person. I hope they will still live on, as we currently are converting Dash 8's into water bombers. Amazing video btw.
Very nice, you must get to see a lot of wildfire aircraft action living in Abbotsford. I hope these classics get to keep flying for quite a while too, nothing beats the sound of these old turboprops.
Remember flying on one of those in the 70's. Beautiful.
collomps yeah...I know. The one I flew on was very roomy and flew low enough that the scenery was spectacular. I wouldn't mind a hop on one myself right now.
You know those pilots are chuckling to themselves, sitting in one of the most beautiful aircraft ever built, in a beautiful airport and getting PAID to be there
If there was ever a cadillac of the turboprops in history, this is it! L-188. And they still fly to this day! ;)
The L-188 Electra was the first transport type aircraft I ever sat at the controls of. A very impressive, powerful aircraft to a budding aviator. The early models had a design flaw that led to several fatal accidents before the flaw was identified and corrected. But by that time the damage to reputation had been done, and jet airliners were making their presence known. Interestingly, the L-188 wasn't much slower than the jets that took over. It would also out climb the earlier jets of its size. I remember Western Airlines started Los Angeles/Mexico City service with the L-188. Don't recall the other airlines that were operating the B-707 at the time, but flight time between the two cities was only 15 minutes faster than the L-188. In later years I checked out in the Convair 580 which used two of the same engines as the L-188, and weighed about half as much. I had expected the CV-580 to perform like the L-188, but it was about 100 knots slower. The difference was the Convair was a mid 1930s design converted to the Allison Turbo Props while the L-188 was designed for those power plants.
Great video, a still camera-rare these days- Aircraft is outstanding- always loved these planes. Too bad they're not in commercial flights anymore. Very capable and stable. Thanks guys.
I love the old Electra as well, I'm glad to see they get to fly on in their wildfire fighting role. Thanks very much for watching!
Wow, amazing catch! That looks pretty rare and awesome! Keep up the good work!
a powerhouse ; when those giant paddle props go to coarse pitch for takeoff the airplane is a going machine. 3750shp and 14 foot four blade props, way to go
Absolutely awesome!!! What a beautiful machine!!! Impressive!!
Barcelona-El Prat In'tl Thanks for watching, I was really happy to catch this one!
+Barcelona - El Prat Int'l ✈ i was like hypnotized (for the lack of better words) with the sound of those engines and propellers ........................
Barcelona - El Prat Int'l ✈
+eloyex .... you just gave me an idea to sleep better. Put a CD together with interior noise from different piston engine's like this one, dc-3 etc.
Hook up my girlfriend's vibrator for the right vibration to the bed frame...... YEAH that will work better than the thunderstorms CD.
"keep the faith people, and keep on keeping on"
Love the sound of those Allison turboprop engines
Allison is today part of Rolls-Royce. The AE2100D3 engines that power the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules military transport are descendants of the T56/501.
Now that’s some MTOW
Fantastic video
Thanks for watching. Was impressive to see them use all the runway!
This video is incredible, Excellent catch, I love these Electra's, I always hoped to fly in one of these but never have, The company I work for makes parts for these & also for the P-3 Orion (Military Version of the Electra) WOW talk about using all the runway. Thanks so much for sharing this historical aircraft.
Ed Whisenant Thanks very much, I appreciate it! It really did seem to use up most of the runway, definitely a tricky airport with the steep hills on both ends of the runway. I'd love to see a P-3 Orion in person some day, hopefully I'll get lucky!
I'll bet the passengers felt the intense vibes of these massive engines during the 1950's.
Definitely, would have been a lot of fun to fly on one as a passenger. Love the old props.
I really liked the video, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
The Turbopros Alisson D513 and beautiful song this is a perfect combination for Electra and others aircrafts!! But Electra is especiality!!! Wonderful!!
I love the L-188. The color looks as if it was once a PSA bird.
I love the Electra as well, nice to see some still getting to fly today.
First airliner I ever flew on; an Eastern, from OKC to STL, where I boarded a TWA Constellation for DCA. I was 9 years old.
Wow, what an amazing video, mate! Never seen this plane before, but it looks beautiful!! :) Really enjoyed this one! Big like!
mylosairplanefan Thanks very much, I was so happy to see this classic.
The only thing missing was the high pitch whine the engines made.
We all have to have respect for the Electras, they flew for 30 years in Brazil by Varig Brasil, mainly in the Rio-São Paulo airway, the Electras were iconic planes both in Brazil and Varig. This plane only brings us good memories. I miss you, my Electra. The aerial bridge was never like before without you.
I love the old Electra, and am very happy this one is still flying in tis new role as a wildfire fighting aircraft. Nothing beats these classic turboprops!
TheHDAviation I love the Electra and Varig, all of us Brazilians missed the Electra and Varig, the aerial bridge Rio-São Paulo never will be the same without Electra
TheHDAviation Electra was a iconic airplane on Brazil
To see the Electra on Varig Brasil, see this video: Lockheed Electra 1990 on Rio - São Paulo Shuttle
Absolutely Fantastic! Wottay beauty!
Did not know speedpaks were an option on the Electra!
+Roy Sankar Thanks very much! This one has quite a few modifications for carrying fire retardant. It was very nice to see this classic still going strong!
Wow! Great footage of this classic! Looked so nice climbing out over the hill!
aeroplaneman747 Thanks, it definitely looked a little tight from this angle :-)
Awesome catch and footage! A big thumbs up!
Hamburg Videos HD Thanks a lot!
Had the pleasure of flying in one from Melbourne to Sydney with AnsettANA in 1962. Lovely ‘plane.
Very nice, that must have been a fun experience flying on the Electra.
Qantas also used it on its trans-Tasman flights as well as TEAL (today Air New Zealand).
I think I never saw this plane type before! A very rare and interesting shot! Huge like and what an amazing sound!
Norges Spottingchannel Thanks very much, it was great to see this classic!
Fantastic footage of this nice plane!
walkbyfeet Thanks a lot!
Whatta beautiful bird! It reminds me the 70's and early 80's, in my childhood, when VARIG used to fly a shuttle service between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with these brave airplanes :) its unique and amazing sound's gonna be forever in my memory!
Sure thanx for sharing :)
Thanks very much for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and that it brought back some good memories!
That beautiful C sharp of the Allisson's. Brings back fond memories of Adak Alaska.
A very, very nice presentation of this cool craft ! Dodgy engines over the years but.....what the hey !! I still like this Lockheed product !
The aircraft... superb...the prop sounds... lovely...the feeling that aviation enthusiast's get when watching these videos...wow...!!!!! thanks for sharing!!!
I'm really glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for watching!
Awesome video. I've heard this aircraft was with airCal a long time ago. If so, I've flown it many times, and worked it on the ramp often. Those L-188 are impressive.
That's really neat you flew and worked on this aircraft. It's great to see it still flying.
Indeed it has. www.planelogger.com/Aircraft/Registration/C-FVFH/780417
Allison engines purring... Beautiful Electra.
Excellent video and fantastic sound from the engines/props!!
Thanks a lot!
This reminds me of the PSA Electra. I flew on it twice. Once out of Burbank to Lake Tahoe, and then the return flight. I was always paranoid it was going to crash, and on the return flight, we hit severe winds, and the plane dropped quite a bit, and it freaked me out. Now, I would love to fly on it, and wished they still offered commercial flights in/out of TVL.
That's great you got to fly on the Electra, must have been a fun experience!
WOW, you got a lockheed!!! This is so awesome! Thanks for this awesome and beautiful filmed video! :)
Pilot2101 Thanks so much, I was really happy to catch this one.
***** no problem! :) yeah definitely! :)
I lived near Moffett Field and saw many P3s doing touch and go's. Amazing
This is great. I flew TEAL/Air New Zealand from Rongatai NZ to Australia in an Electra in 1971
That's great you got to experience an Electra in person, an aircraft I'll never get to fly on in person. Thanks for watching!
At about 2:20, you get this howling sound from the Allison which is one of the best parts, as you know it's about ready to take off. Then when they go full power the howling increases in pitch then goes away. Must be some airflow dynamics from the exhaust, but it's pure music for sure.
US Navy is still flying a derivative aircraft, the P-3 Orion, as a sub hunter. The Australians sent theirs out to look for that missing airliner a few years back. The Navy had them based in Brunswick, Maine. While in Hilo, HI I saw Orion's with various squadron markings doing touch'n'go landings at the civilian airport there almost every day. They'd make an approach from the north parallel to the town's major thoroughfare, H-19 Hawaii Belt Road. Same plane would circle around so it must have been training or practice using that runway as an alternative landing strip.
A former co-worker, and, retired Navy P-3 crew chief said the original Electras did not have a system to synchronize the propellers. When the blades, of the props, cross the wing chord at different times it set up a vibration that created metal fatigue and caused the wings to break off. the problem was identified and a fix applied.
flew an Electra AA in 4 the grade. buffalo ny airport had open house, AA gave 5$ plane rides from buffalo to Niagara falls and back. the pilot circled over the falls on both sides so we could see the falls, what fun it was.my first plane flight
That's awesome, must have been a great experience to fly in the Electra!
TheHDAviation especially on your first plane ride, AA was an Electra crew base in buffalo NY, flew the viscounts and dc6 from Buf to order in the 60s with my mom on the way to Seattle on UA after UA acquired capitol when they got the viscounts.
I can't help feel nostalgic about turboprops
The Electras used to come apart in the air because of vibration problems, as I understand. They obviously fixed it with the "Orion" variant. Even without the faults, the Electras would have been out-of-favour by the early '60s once that jets had come in.
Love those Allisons turboprop engines! Very impressive plane!
Same here, great to see the classics going strong!
Allison T56! Different versions also powered E-2 Hawkeye, C-2 Greyhound (COD) and all but latest model C-130's.
*First* plane I ever flew on! A guy recently helped me ID it here on TH-cam. I had thought it was a DC-7. It was the year 1967 and I was a kid...
Very nice, I would have loved to have flown on the Electra. One great looking turboprop!
@@TheHDAviation Yeah... Even as a kid I liked the way it looked. Will never forget the stubby little propellers and that scoop on top of the engines!
I love the howl it is making at the 2:35 mark and the C-130 also has that same sound too.
C130's have the Allison T56 models. Electras and Convairs had the Allison 501 D-13. Similar hamilton & milton paddle props though.
Are these now retired from active service with the USAF/USMC today.?
If you are referring to the P3 orions. No, still in service.
TheSirjohn2012 vnmsenior → The US Navy's Lockheed P3's are being phased out, replaced by the Boeing P8, which is a military version of one of their airliners. I *think* it is the 737, but I am not certain of that.
correct..the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.... mil spec/modified 737
The first plane I ever flew in, Jan. 1962 in Australia from Melbourne to Sydney. Very nice!
Nice, that is a great aircraft to have your first flight on. Love the Electra.
Me too!
Good looking Electra and great camera work recording it.
***** Thanks very much!
I wish that most commercial airliners were predominantly turboprop. I love the sound that the props make.
Same here, turboprops are always a lot of fun to fly in.
Per molti anni ho volato quasi 5000 ore nella potente L188 Loockeed Electra di origine dell'American Airlines, che è stata venduta ad Aerocondor Airlines e la cui pittura e design era della mia grande amica Frances Michael Vandame, che non solo ha progettato questo aereo nella sua pittura e loghi, ma Boeing 720 e Boeing 707 e Airbus A300-10B4 della flotta Aerocondor. La L188 era un grande aereo cargo e passeggeri che abbiamo sorvolato in Colombia e negli Stati Uniti, quindi abbiamo vissuto tutte le vicissitudini di un'operazione aerea con condizioni meteorologiche avverse nei Caraibi e nell'America centrale, dove la topografia è incidentale e vulcanica. Era un grande velivolo e nella nostra operazione due aerei di questi erano feriti.