Smitty, it is a good thing they did not have you pump the gear down. The main wheels would fall naturally, but, the nose gear had to be pumped down manually against the wind. When I used to go on test hops in the AF, we had the 1049 C-121 super Connies, the co pilot would get up and tell me to take to take his seat and pump away. When the pressure built up enough, it was a bugger on the last part as the nose gear started to rise. The wind pressure against the gear and gear door earned you a work out. Just before I left in '62, they converted from -91 to -93 3350 engines giving them just over 1 hp per cu in at take off and what a mess. They had to figure the oil milage instead of fuel milage. Just a quick up around the pattern, they had to go to the wash rack with oil dripping all over the wings and tail. They were a sweet flying old bird.
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