Lockheed C-121C Constellation Walkaround By Michael Benolkin

Last month, we covered a celebration at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) commemorating 100 years of flight and 75 years of LAX flight operations. Appearing at this display was one of the worlds last airworthy Lockheed Constellations, this one a C-121C flown out of Camarillo, CA. The aircraft displays serial number 4175 on the side, which turns out to be its contract serial number, which in turn translates into USAF serial number 54-156. According to my references, many of the aircraft in this production batch, including possibly this one, were modified into EC-121C and EC-121S configurations. Another clue to its previous life is the turbine-powered auxiliary power unit (APU) located in the rear of the aircraft, not exactly standard equipment on vanilla Connies. Let's take a closer look:

Here is C-121C "Camarillo Connie" getting ready for engine start.	A close-up of the cockpit, note the stubs over the windscreen that used to mount the windshield wipers.
The Connie's long nosegear.	A closer look at #2 engine
The starboard cowl flap on #2 engine.	A look at the port main landing gear.
Looking up at the horizontal stabilizer and two of the vertical stabs.	Here is the APU just ahead of the tail on the starboard side.
The starboard main landing gear.	A view past #4 engine at the graceful nose and awkward nosegear.