Classic Airliner circa 1954

[n2ize]

When people think of old airliners they often think of the Lockheed Constellation, or the early Lockheed L-188 Electra, or the DC3. All excellent reliable aircraft and state of the art for its day.

This video however is about another great airliner. Namely the Douglass DC7. Climb aboard as this DC-7 takes you from New York's Idlewild Airport to Los Angeles and travel in style.

[N7YA]

Thats a classic, for sure! I absolutely LOVE those old radial engines on start up. Its rare, but every so often, you can see one flying high above on their way to an airshow, you just cant mistake that sound, and how slow they really are. In Alaska, i saw them working, not just being used as demonstration or airshows, etc...but being used for cargo and passengers. It takes on a different vibe when its not being all gussied up for tourists to take pictures of. Instead, just sitting on the side of an overgrown runway with warming blankets over the cowling and oil stains down the wings. It will always be a special thing for me. :)

[K4PIH]

Nice post, thank you . Does an old Air Force guy good.

[n2ize]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. I love old propliners. When I was a kid living in Brooklyn I remember the Constellations rumbling low overhead as they approached Idlewild or LaGuardia airport. That sound was awesome. Of course aroubnd that time they were gradually being replaced by jets. Back when Mohawk airlines (a small local NY based airline) was still in operation they had a fleet of DC3's that you would often see passing overhead. And later on they replaced the DC3's with a fleet of FH-227 turboprops.

[suddenseer]

Slow hawk better than Mohawk.

[NQ6U]

Radial engines are way cool, but they have this unfortunate tendency to disassemble themselves catastrophically at inopportune moments. Ask Harrison Ford about that; it happened to him quite recently.

[K7SGJ]

Radial engines are way cool, but they have this unfortunate tendency to disassemble themselves catastrophically at inopportune moments. Ask Harrison Ford about that; it happened to him quite recently.

If he'd of had a real engine in it, like a Merlin. it would have been no problem. He wouldn't have needed the plane. It's amazing what you can do with a Merlin and a prop. It's like Grandma used to say. "Pure fucking power". I do miss her, a lot.

[NQ6U]

If he'd of had a real engine in it, like a Merlin. it would have been no problem. He wouldn't have needed the plane. It's amazing what you can do with a Merlin and a prop. It's like Grandma used to say. "Pure fucking power". I do miss her, a lot.

Yeah, for sure. But a Merlin isn't a radial engine, of course, it's a V-12. A really, really big V-12. Water cooled rather than air cooled as well.

[K7SGJ]

He only had a 160 hp engine in that thing. If it were me, I'd yank a P&W R-2800 out of a Corsair and fly that bad boy to the moon, Alice. Of course, I'd have to add a nose wheel. Close to 2000 hp, that's even enough for Tim the toolmans' riding lawn mower.

[N7YA]

Maybe his rubber band broke.