BusTalk

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Fellows:

It is hard to believe that the once-commonplace, massive, monolithic Boeing 747 has not operated in passenger service in the US since DELTA retired the last of their 747's in 2017.

Some 50-odd years ago, the new-age "jumbo jet" indeed was a celebrity; newspapers and magazines were chock-full of articles and photos on these massive new airliners; a tremendous amount of publicity surrounded these big jets, and the public and the media were quite enraptured by the new commercial jet.

Soon enough, the novelty and luster wore off, and the 747 soon became just another type of aircraft operated by the airlines.

Recall, too, the many carriers they once flew for, including "Fallen Flags":

PAN AM

TWA

DELTA

NORTHWEST

AER LINGUS

UNITED

AIR CANADA

VARIG

BRITISH AIRWAYS

CATHAY PACIFIC

The 747 was also replicated in toy and model form, for many years (many of these toys and models are now highly collectible items)

The 747......yet another example of how yesterday's commonplace becomes today's museum display........

"NYO"

SEE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747

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Ahhh, the timeless, classic 707!

Back in the pre-"jumbo" era, the sleek, graceful 707 was indeed the flashy playboy of many airlines, both domestic and foreign.

It seemed that, way back when, the 707 was featured in countless airline ads, not to mention gracing the covers of a multitude of timetables; Japanese toy makers had a field day replicating handsome (and, today, quite pricey) replicas of these sleek airliners.

707's were once considered the most graceful and luxurious jetliner of the day, even when compared to the smart DC-8.

707's were indeed the "star" of the classic 1970 airline disaster film, "AIRPORT" (the fictitious Trans-Global Airlines), and 1980's hilarious comedy, "AIRPLANE!", which was, a nutty spoof on airline disaster movies.

Hard to believe today, that, it has been many, many years since domestic 707's were still carrying passengers (TWA retired their 707's in 1983; the airline had been flying 707's since 1959, when the first TWA 707 flight was made from Idlewild to San Francisco)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_707

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IMHO, the triple-tailed Lockheed "CONSTELLATION" is still the undisputed "Queen Of The Skies" (how well I remember seeing TWA and EASTERN "Connies" at the old Newark Airport, back in the 1960's!)........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Constellation

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Though plagued with a number of issues and fatal crashes early on, the prop-jet "ELECTRA"* (Lockheed) eventually became a reliable workhorse for a number of airlines, here and abroad (I especially remember those of EASTERN and AMERICAN, when I was a lad; I can still hear that classic "whine" at Newark!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-188_Electra

*The last I can recall seeing had been converted into freighters for "ZANTOP" operating out of Newark, some thirty-odd years ago.

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Growing up, my family often went by car to visit the old (opened 1953) Newark Airport (this historic building, the first truly modern passenger airport in New Jersey, should have been preserved as a commercial aviation museum, instead of being destroyed)

Today's younger generation will never have my memories, of going to an airport with an OPEN OBSERVATION DECK, allowing folks to watch the planes loading and unloading (via roll-up steps, emblazoned with the insignia of different airlines), as well as listen to the classic growling, chugging, popping, and thrumming of those big props engaging, and inhaling the intoxicating, smoking, heady aroma of fuel!

No TSA agents in those days, no X-rays, no long, long lines waiting to be examined, poked, and prodded to within an inch of your life ("PROGRESS"??)

As it was with the long-haul buses and long-distance trains, most folks still dressed to travel by air; no jeans, T-shirts, or shorts to be seen....after all, this was STILL an era where folks took PRIDE in their appearance, especially when traveling!

The famed "NEWARKER" restaurant in the main terminal, known for the fellow walking around the tables with a small oven strapped to his chest, dispensing hot garlic bread, with its curtained windows and tasty menus, drew airline employees, travelers, and visitors alike.

QUITE cosmopolitan and stylish!

I can remember being on the observation deck and looking down at both classic piston props and sleek, new jetliners; indeed, it was QUITE an exciting time to savor commercial aviation, even if you were only a bystander!

It all seems so long ago, now, as if I grew up on another planet, a few hundred years ago.........

"NYO"

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One of my all-time classic "propliners" was (and still is) the fabled DC-6, the undisputed workhorse of many carriers (UNITED was still flying them into the late 1960's, on certain routes); I remember seeing (and hearing!) these now-classic planes at the old Newark Airport, well over 50 years ago.

In later years, "Sixes", like other classic American propliners, were sold to interests in Central and South America, where they carried both passengers and freight as late as the 1980's.

Many, sadly, ended their days when they were impounded by the US Government, for carrying huge cargoes of illegal drugs.

Years ago, I had an outstanding videotape, "THE PROPS OF MIAMI", which featured a number of old propliners arriving and departing Miami (hauling assorted cargoes) in all their noisy, smoking, coughing, roaring, snarling glory, back in the 1980's.......what a show!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-6

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Two outstanding, excellent soft-cover pictorials (both out-of-print, as far as I know) "SKY TRUCK" and SKY TRUCK 2" (by the late Stephen Piercey, published in 1984 and 1986) are more than worthy of inclusion in any aviation enthusiast's library.

Both books feature outstanding photos and commentaries (by the author) of old prop airliners and freighters, that were then still hauling passengers, cargo, and livestock in Central and South America, as well as overseas.

As late as 1979, "QUISQUEYANA" was still flying ancient L-049 Connies between San Juan and Santo Domingo!

A number of "Sixes" and "Sevens" were then still carrying freight and passengers, not to mention a battered B-17 or two, still hauling cargo!

Also, quite a few battle-scarred Curtis "COMMANDOS" still carrying both passengers and assorted cargo (BRANIFF once had a fleet of C-46's in cargo service, into the 1960's)

There are also neat photos of Connies, "Sixes", and "Sevens" converted to "bombers", and used either to combat forest fires or tree-destroying insects.

As recently as the early 1980's, the INDIAN AIR FORCE was still flying ex-AIR INDIA Connies!

A number of venerable DC-3's and "Gooneys" are also within these colorful pages; the late Mr. Piercey, only in his late 20's, perished in an air crash in 1984, before his first 'SKY TRUCK" was printed.

Truly a tragic loss.

This dedicated young man, literally, traveled the world to seek out the last of the old props....now THAT'S what I call DEDICATION; it was obvious that, despite his young age, he had a deep love and fascination with these prop-driven workhouses of old....sure hope he's at the controls of a "Six" or a "Connie" today, up somewhere in the wild blue yonder.........

"NYO"

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Recalling the "COMMANDO".......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_C-46_Commando

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Curtiss_C-46_Commandos

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Also now gone from American skies is the classic 727, yet another fabled BOEING workhorse for decades; I've long thought of the "727" as the "PD-4104" of the skies...........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_727

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Surviving "Connies" (many links of interest on this page)........

http://www.conniesurvivors.com

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The futuristic and startling TWA terminal at JFK (Idlewild):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_Center

This is an excellent and informative page with a great deal of historical information, as well as photos.

Indeed, a glorious relic of a long-ago time when commercial jet travel was still exciting, novel, and stylish.......that, my friends, was a loooooong time ago.......

"NYO"

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Except, perhaps, to commercial aviation enthusiasts/historians, the handsome Bristol "BRITANNIA" prop-jet is indeed a long, long-forgotten commercial aircraft.

This big prop-jet featured prominently in the 1960 drama "JET OVER THE ATLANTIC", starring George Raft (the plane was owned by "AERONAVES"), and (in the storyline) was to be flying non-stop from Spain to New York (the airport shown at the beginning of the film was actually Mexico City)

GREAT scenes of the crew in the cockpit "charging up", and, also, SHARP close-ups of the engines engaging and revving!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Britannia

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The sleek De Havilland "COMET"* had the distinction of being the world's first successful commercial airliner; hre is another fascinating history on a commercial airliner that today is mostly known only to aviation enthusiasts and historians.

(I purchased a tin friction "COMET" many years ago at an antique store for $10; the "engines" STILL emit sparks when the ancient friction motor is going!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Comet

*Today, only one complete "COMET" survives, at the RAF Museum.......

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The doughty and dependable "Little Plane That Could", the legendary DC-3; introduced in the 1930's, a number were still flying in both commercial and military services, as of 2018!

Talk about being "BUILT TO LAST"!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-3

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Once you caught a glimpse of a big, bulky, bulbous STRATOCRUISER, back in the day, you were likely never to forget it!

These distinctive airliners were replaced early on by the first jets, with the last NORTHWEST "Strat" flying in 1960.

Sadly, not one example of this massive, hulking, and QUITE distinctive propliner survive today (only 55 were built).......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_377_Stratocruiser