Lockheed Constellation
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| Constellation | |
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| A Qantas Empire Airways L-749 Constellation. | |
| Type | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| Designed by | Clarence "Kelly" Johnson Hall Hibbard |
| Maiden flight | 9 January 1943 |
| Introduced | 1943 with USAAF 1945 with TWA |
| Retired | 1967, airline service 1978, military |
| Primary user | Trans World Airlines |
| Produced | 1943-1958 |
| Number built | 856 |
| Variants | EC-121 Warning Star |
The Lockheed Constellation, affectionately known as the “Connie”, was a four-engine propeller-driven airliner built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in four models, all distinguished by a distinctive triple-tail design and graceful, dolphin-shaped fuselage. It was used as both a civilian airliner and U.S. military air transport plane, seeing service in the Berlin Airlift and as the presidential aircraft for U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
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[edit] Design and development
[edit] Excalibur: the Constellation's predecessor
Since 1937, Lockheed had been working on the L-044 Excalibur, a four-engine pressurized airliner. In 1939 Trans World Airlines, at the encouragement of major stockholder Howard Hughes, requested a 40-passenger transcontinental airliner with 3,500 mile (5,630 km) range[1] - well beyond the capabilities of the limited Excalibur design. TWA's requirements led to the L-049 Constellation, designed by such Lockheed engineers as Kelly Johnson and Hall Hibbard.[2] Willis Hawkins, another Lockheed engineer, maintains that the Excalibur program was purely a cover for the Constellation.[3]
[edit] Development of the Constellation
The Constellation's wing was effectively the same as that of the P-38 Lightning, differing only in scale.[4] The distinctive triple tail kept the aircraft's overall height low enough so that it could fit in existing hangars,[3] while new features included hydraulically-boosted controls and a thermal de-icing system used on wing and tail leading edges.[1]
With the onset of World War II, the TWA aircraft entering production were converted to an order for C-69 military transport aircraft, with 202 aircraft intended for the United States Army Air Forces. The first prototype (civil registration NX25600) flew on 9 January 1943, a simple ferry hop from Burbank to Muroc Field for testing.[1] Eddie Allen, on loan from Boeing, flew left seat, with Lockheed's own Milo Burcham as copilot. Rudy Thoren and Kelly Johnson were also on board.
With only 22 C-69s delivered before the end of hostilities, the military cancelled the remainder of the order. Aircraft already in production were thus finished as civilian airliners, with TWA receiving the first on 1 October 1945. The first transatlantic proving flight departed Washington, DC on 3 December 1945, arriving in Paris on 4 December via Gander and Shannon.[1]
Rumors persist that Hughes himself was influential in the design of the Constellation, but these are untrue. His only input was suggestions on the required performance and cockpit layout. He left the rest of the design work to Lockheed.[3]
[edit] Operational history
Trans World Airlines opened post-war commercial intercontinental air service on 6 February 1946, with a New York-Paris flight in a Constellation. On 17 June, 1947, Pan American World Airways opened the first ever regularly-scheduled around-the-world service with their L749 Clipper America. The famous flight Pan Am 101 remained in service for 50 years.
As the first pressurized airliner in widespread use, the Constellation helped to usher in affordable and comfortable air travel for the masses. Some of the more famous operators of Constellations were TWA, Eastern Air Lines, Pan American World Airways, Air France, BOAC, KLM, Qantas, Lufthansa, Iberia Airlines, Panair do Brasil, TAP Portugal, Trans-Canada Airlines (later renamed Air Canada), Aer Lingus and VARIG.
[edit] Initial difficulties
The Constellation suffered three accidents in the first ten months of airline service, temporarily curtailing its career as a passenger airliner.[5] On 18 June 1946, the engine of a Pan American aircraft caught fire and fell off. The flight crew was able to make an emergency landing with no loss of life. However, on 11 July of the same year a Transcontinental and Western Air aircraft fell victim to in-flight fire, crashing in a field and taking the lives of five of the six on board.[5] The accidents prompted the suspension of the Constellation's airworthiness certificate until Lockheed could modify the design to avoid repeats of the problems.
The Constellation proved prone to engine failures (thanks to her R3350s), earning the nickname "World's Finest Trimotor." in some circles.[6]
[edit] Records
Sleek and powerful, Constellations set a number of records. On 17 April 1944, the second production L049, piloted by Howard Hughes and TWA president Jack Frye flew from Burbank, California to Washington D.C. in 6 hours and 57 minutes (c. 2,300 miles at an average 330.9 mph). On the return trip, the aircraft stopped at Wright Field to give Orville Wright his last plane flight, more than 40 years after his historic first flight. He commented that the Constellation's wingspan was longer than the distance of his first flight.[2]
On 29 September 1957, an L1649A Starliner flew from Los Angeles to London in 18 hours and 32 minutes (approximately 5,420 miles at 292.4 mph). The L1649A still holds the record for the longest-duration non-stop passenger flight — during TWA's inaugural London to San Francisco flight on 1-2 October 1957, the aircraft stayed aloft for a remarkable 23 hours and 19 minutes (approximately 5,350 miles at 229.4 mph)
[edit] Obsolescence
The advent of jet airliners, with the de Havilland Comet, Boeing 707, and Convair 880, rendered the piston-engined Constellation obsolete. The first routes lost to jets were the long overseas routes, but Constellations continued to fly domestic routes. The last scheduled passenger flight of a four-engined piston-engined airliner in the United States was made by a TWA L749 on 11 May 1967 from Philadelphia to Kansas City, MO.[7] Many Constellations continued to serve as fast freighters for years to come.
[edit] Timeline
- June 1939 - Initial design started
- May 1943 - Construction begins on model L-049
- January 9, 1943 - First flight
- October 19, 1946 - First flight of model L-649
- April 18, 1947 - First production model L-749
- October 13, 1950 - First flight of model L-1049, the "Super Constellation".[1]
- October 11, 1956 - First flight of model L-1649, the "Starliner"
[edit] Variants
The Constellation was produced in both civil and military versions. The initial military versions carried the Lockheed designation of L-049; as World War II came to a close, some were completed as civil L-049 Constellations. The first purpose-built passenger Constellation was the more powerful L-649, followed by the L-1049 Super Constellation and L-1649 Starliner. Military versions included the C-69 and C-121 for the Army Air Forces/Air Force and the R7O R7V-1 WV-1 (L-1049G) WV-2 (L-1049H) (famously Willie Victor) and many variant EC-121 designations for the Navy [8][9]
[edit] Operators
Constellations were used by dozens of airlines and air forces around the world. After TWA's initial order was filled following World War II, customers rapidly accumulated, with over 800 aircraft built. In military service, the US Navy and Air Force operated the EC-121 Warning Star variant until 1978, nearly 40 years after work on the L-049 began. Pakistan International Airlines was the first airline from an Asian country to fly the Super Constellation.
[edit] Surviving examples
- Two Constellations, the VC-121E Columbine III, used as Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential aircraft, and an EC-121 Warning Star are fully restored and on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Several former Air Force One craft are on display at the Pima Air Museum, Tucson, used by President Eisenhower and his successors.[10]
- A military C-121A (Bataan) is on display at Planes of Fame in Valle, Arizona. This plane is in flying condition.
- Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling has sponsored a restoration of a Constellation that has since been featured in its ads.[11]
- The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) secured and restored a former USAF C-121C Super Constellation (54-0157). The aircraft was subsequently painted in pseudo-QANTAS livery (with the usual QANTAS lettering along the fuselage replaced with the word "CONNIE") and registered in Australia as VH-EAG. The aircraft is currently based in Wollongong.[12]
- An L-1049G (Super G) Constellation that was built originally for cargo carrier Slick Airways was restored in 1986 by the "Save-a-Connie" organization, now the Airline History Museum, and repainted in the 1950s livery of TWA to resemble its original "Star of America" Constellation. The aircraft appeared at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport at the original TWA terminal designed by Eero Saarinen to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the airline. With the paint job said to have been donated by retired TWA workers in Kansas City, the "Star of America" continues to appear at air shows and was even used in The Aviator, the 2005 film depicting the life of TWA's one-time owner Howard Hughes---the man often credited with helping design and develop the original Constellation series. As of 2008 The Airline History Museum has come into financial difficulties, with the Connie, grounded for two years and due for engine overhaul, her future remains uncertain.
- One Super Constellations is parked on an unused runway in the Rafael Hernandez International airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It was struck by a runaway DC-4 at Aguadilla-Borinquen Airport, on 3 February 1992, resulting in damage to the right wing and main spar.
- N4257U c/n 4336 Final registration - N4257U, Delivered to USAF October 1954 as RC-121D 52-3418, Redesignated EC-121D 1962, Converted to EC-121T but upper radome not removed, Reassigned to USAF Reserves at Homestead AFB, FL by July 1974, Retired and flown to Davis Monthan AFB for storage 7 April 1976, Reassigned to the Combat Air Museum, Topeka, KS, March 1981 as N4257U and ferried to Topeka, KS June 1981 with Frank Lang in command, On display at the Combat Air Museum, Topeka, Ks.
[edit] Specifications (L-1049G Super Constellation)
Data from Great Aircraft of the World[13] and Quest for Performance[14]
General characteristics
- Crew: 5 flight crew, varying cabin crew
- Capacity: typically 62-95 passengers (109 in high-density configuration)
- Length: 116 ft 2 in (35.42 m)
- Wingspan: 126 ft 2 in (38.47 m)
- Height: 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m)
- Wing area: 1,654 ft² (153.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 79,700 lb (36,150 kg)
- Useful load: 65,300 lb (29,620 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 137,500 lb (62,370kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Wright R-3350-DA3 Turbo Compound 18-cylinder supercharged[citation needed] radial engines, 3,250 hp (2,424 kW) each
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0211
- Drag area: 34.82 ft² (3.23 m²)
- Aspect ratio: 9.17
Performance
- Maximum speed: 380 mph (330 kt, 610 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 354 mph (310 kt, 570 km/h) at 22,600 ft (6,890 m)
- Stall speed: 100 mph (87 kt, 160 km/h)
- Range: 5,400 mi (4,700 nm, 8,700 km)
- Service ceiling 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,620 ft/min (8.23 m/s)
- Wing loading: 87.7 lb/ft² (428 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.023 hp/lb (39 W/kg)
- Lift-to-drag ratio: 16.0
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e Taylor 1993, p. 606–607.
- ^ a b Yenne 1987, p. 44–46.
- ^ a b c Boyne 1998, p. 135-137.
- ^ Johnson, Clarence L. "Kelly". Kelly: More Than My Share of it All. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books, 1985. ISBN 0-87474-491-1.
- ^ a b "The Star of Lisbon." Time, 22 June 1946.
- ^ Stringfellow and Bowers 1992, p. 120 caption.
- ^ Germain 1998, p. 89.
- ^ Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter M. United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1976. ISBN 0-87021-968-5.
- ^ Fahey, James C. The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, volumes 1-4, 1939-45. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1965.
- ^ Pima Museum iCrew Digital Productions, 2006.
- ^ Super Connie
- ^ Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Super Constellation
- ^ Cacutt 1989, p. 314-322.
- ^ Loftin, L.K. Jr. Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft. NASA SP-468. Retrieved: 22 April 2006.
[edit] Bibliography
- Boyne, Walter J. Beyond the Horizons: The Lockheed Story. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998. ISBN 0-31224-438-X.
- Cacutt, Len, ed. “Lockheed Constellation.” Great Aircraft of the World. London: Marshall Cavendish, 1989. ISBN 1-85435-250-4.
- Germain, Scott E. Lockheed Constellation and Super Constellation. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 1998. ISBN 1-58007-000-0.
- Marson, Peter J. The Lockheed Constellation Series. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians), 1982. ISBN 0-85130-100-2.
- Smith, M.J. Jr. Passenger Airliners of the United States, 1926-1991. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 1986. ISBN 0-933126-72-7.
- Stringfellow, Curtis K. and Bowers, Peter M. Lockheed Constellation: A Pictorial History. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks, 1992. ISBN 0-87938-379-8.
- Taylor, Michael J.H., ed. “Lockheed Constellation and Super Constellation.” Jane’s Encyclopedia of Aviation. New York: Crescent, 1993. ISBN 0-517-10316-8.
- Yenne, Bill, Lockheed. Greenwich, Connecticut: Bison Books, 1987. ISBN 0-51760-471-X.
[edit] External links
- Lockheed Martin official site
- Connie Survivors
- Goleta Air and Space Museum: Lockheed Constellation Survivors
- Warbird Alley: Connie page
- Gallery of civilian and military Lockheed Constellations worldwide and links to other galleries.
- A photograh and description of VH-EAB and two colored promotional posters for Qantas Empire Airways's Constellation services, Qantas Empire Airways Lockheed L749 Constellation VH-EAB.
- One of four similar aerial photographs of VH-EAB by Frank Hurley, with brief annotation
- MATS Connie; aircraft specifications
- Save a Connie, Inc
- Super Constellation Flyers Association
- Many detailed close-up photographs of the Constellation from the Airline History Museum
- [1]
- Travelling by the Constellation. Air France clips and pictures from the 1950's (in French)
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
- List of Lockheed aircraft
- List of models of the Lockheed Constellation
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
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