Civilian Aviation

Every now and then if you are lucky enough you get to see a really beautiful looking aircraft, I was that lucky today when the Breitling Super Constellation HB-RSC arrived at Duxford for Flying Legends. The Super constellation has to be one of the best looking airliners ever (in my opinion anyway) and I hadn't seen one for many years. It was due at noon but bad weather caused it to divert to Farnborough and it finally arrived just after 6pm at what was the sunniest time of the whole day, the museum closes at 6 but the staff were very relaxed about it and didnt ask anyone to leave until it was parked - thanks folks!
I've got plenty of photos of other aircraft present but they will ahve to wait for now, I hope you enjoy these as much as I did taking them....

touch down with quite a bit of tyre smoke
9434 HB-RSC super constellation by sickbag_andy, on Flickr

taxiing in - they soon had flags out and the door open!
8405 HB-RSC super constellation by sickbag_andy, on Flickr

this way please...
8486 HB-RSC super constellation by sickbag_andy, on Flickr

and finally head on, about to shut the engines down..
9500 HB-RSC super constellation by sickbag_andy, on Flickr

thanks for looking at them

Very nice, and here this shows something I've wanted to know for years...going back to when the Connie ruled the airways...Why do they taxy in with the door open?. The airliners could often be seen chugging along to the pan with the crew door open.

Very nice indeed, Andy.

That head on shot made me gasp! Really really nice Andy.

many thanks everybody.

Beautifully caught Andy. I was lucky enough to see it last year at Fairford - made a wonderful sound when it departed on the Monday.

Absolutely stunning.

Superb mate

thanks for all the positive comments folks - and to think that I was about to leave and almost missed it!

Again I ask a question I've asked all over the place for many years but never got an answer

Why, and this is bourne out by pics when in service too, do Constellations taxy in with the crew door open. Both front in this case but usually only the starboard. It is a common event with the type.

Gary - I asked the crew that question when I went on board at duxford, they simply said it was for ventilation as it got quite warm and 'stuffy' in side so they like to get the door open as soon as possible

Thanks ...it seemed to have been pretty standard

I entered another photo of thin in this month's SPOTM and whilst I was editing it I decided to do a few more as it's such a lovely beast, here we go:

the first two I re-edited:
HB-RSC Super Constellation Breitling Duxford 11-07-2014 9434A by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

HB-RSC Super Constellation Breitling Duxford 11-07-2014 9486A by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

HB-RSC Super Constellation Breitling Duxford 11-07-2014 9493c by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

HB-RSC Super Constellation Duxford 13-07-2014 8737A by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

HB-RSC Super Constellation Duxford 13-07-2014 8793A by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

HB-RSC Super Constellation Duxford 13-07-2014 8796a by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

the first three were taken on 11th July when it arrived and the last three were taken on the Sunday of the show (13th) when the aircraft displayed - worth going for.

Lovely shots of a beautiful lady. Sadly yet to see a Connie fly, but saw this one on the ground at Sion some years ago.

These really are good - thanks for posting.

Some outstanding shots there...