EC-121T Super Constellation

[Marlin]

Progress is also being made on long time Helena resident EC-121T 52-3417 (N4257L). As reported previously on this website, the Evergreen Air and Space Museum acquired this aircraft in May 2009 and plans to restore and fly the veteran aircraft to its McMinnville, Oregon museum facility. Karl Kruger, a former instructor at the UM-Helena College of Technology, has joined the museum as the Director of Restoration and is the museum’s project point man in Helena. Constellation experts JR Kern and Tim Coons traveled to Helena in late July and performed a thorough inspection of the aircraft. JR and Tim reported that the inspection revealed a few things that need attention, but overall the aircraft proved to be in remarkably good condition for having been exposed to the great Montana outdoors for 28 years. Apparently the biggest issue is going to be the removal of 28 years worth of bird droppings and nests. The condition of the engines is still in question, but the museum is hopeful that the current engines can be coaxed into making the short ferry flight to Oregon. The current plan is to get a crew to Helena next month to start the process of removing the accumulated bird droppings and nests. After this is completed, the aircraft will be towed off the school’s property and moved to another location on the airport. Evergreen curator Stewart Bailey has been in touch with Frank Wright of the Yanks Museum and Frank has provided him with some good advice on how to best proceed with the project. Bottom line is that it looks like the aircraft can be made airworthy for the ferry flight, which probably won’t occur until at least the summer of 2010.
http://www.conniesurvivors.com/1-connie_news.htm#AUG26A

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I stopped by the airport today, and the folks there opened the door for me and let me have at it. :applause::wiggle::wavey::icon_lol::applause:

The sequence of shots start and stop in the cockpit with a trip all the way to the tail. I hope you enjoy and maybe they will be of some help to the Connie project underway.



http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0012.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0013-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0014-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0015-1.jpg

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0016-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0017-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0018-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0019-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0020-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0021-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0022-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0023-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0024-1.jpg

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0027.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0028-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0029.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0030.jpg

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http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0034.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0042.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0043.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0044.jpg

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0045.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0046.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0047.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0048.jpg

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http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0050.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0053.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0054.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0055.jpg

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0056.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0057.jpg

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http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0059.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0062.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0063.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0064.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0065.jpg

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0067.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0068.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0069.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0070.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0071.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0073.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0074.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0075.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0076.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0077.jpg

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0078.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0079.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0080.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0081.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0082.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0085.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0086.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0088.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0089.jpg

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0090.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0092.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0093.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0094.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0096.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0097.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0098.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0099.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0100.jpg

I have more, but it is late and I HAVE to go to bed. I'll post them if you are interested.

[Ian Warren]

Marlin , They are one impressive set , series of photos :applause: ...... Thank the guys who open the door to show us all , i wonder .. the internals , for the new , Bazza's Connie :icon_lol:

don't hesitate to post more ... WICKED !

Its impressive to look , the weight , how to displace that on a wing , each little piece adds to something extra ,

Brilliant photos
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[dharris]

It certainly brings back a lot of memories. I can visually walk down the aisle and see all that I had to work on, and remember the good stories and the bad. Thanks to all who is bringing this up and passing on the information. Don

[Bone]

Great pics! I'm surprised at how much equipment is still on the plane.

[dharris]

A:engel016:fter all these years, to still have that much equipment left, is kind of amazing. I was on the survivors website and read about how V-tech has tried to perform upkeep on the plane with student volunteers, but they could only do so much with their budget and time, but hats of for their efforts.

[Bone]

A:engel016:fter all these years, to still have that much equipment left, is kind of amazing. I was on the survivors website and read about how V-tech has tried to perform upkeep on the plane with student volunteers, but they could only do so much with their budget and time, but hats of for their efforts.

Kudos to the V-Tech team for keeping all the parts together. The completeness of this plane makes it very special.

[stansdds]

That's the makings of one impressive restoration. So much of the original equipment is still in place and in good condition. :applause:

[peter12213]

Really nice pics!

[Marlin]

Thanks for all the comments.

Yes it is remarkable that this thing is still just about in flyable shape. The radar equipment is ALL there and in working condition from what the staff says.:applause:

Later tonight I'll upload the rest of the shots after we get back. They are mostly exterior shots.:monkies:

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0102.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0107.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0108.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0109.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0110.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0111.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0112.jpg

[Marlin]

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0113.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0114.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0116.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/Marlint/Super%20Connie/IMG_0120.jpg