General Aviation

Lockheed Constellation

Manufacturer: Lockheed

The Lockheed Constellation is a four‑engined, propeller‑driven airliner that first flew in 1943. It was the world’s first widely used pressurised cabin aircraft, giving passengers a smooth ride above most weather and making long‑haul travel safer and more comfortable.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
lockheed-constellation
Class
General Aviation
Registry Count
6
Example Registration
N422NA

Specifications

Wingspan
38.46 m / 126 ft
Length
35.41 m / 116 ft
Height
7.54 m / 24 ft
Max Speed
607 km/h / 377 mph
Cruise Speed
550 km/h / 340 mph
Range
8700 km / 4700 nmi
Ceiling
7300 m / 24000 ft
First Flight
1943-01-09
Production Start
1943
Production End
1958
Total Built
856

Aircraft Overview

History

Lockheed began building the Constellation in 1943, producing 856 units through 1958 at its Burbank plant. The type served both civilian airlines and military transport roles during World War II as the C‑69 and later as the C‑121. After the war it became a fast, popular passenger aircraft for carriers such as TWA, Pan Am, Air France, BOAC, KLM, Qantas, Lufthansa, Iberia, Cubana de Aviación, and many others. The Constellation also flew in humanitarian missions like the Berlin and Biafran airlifts. Three aircraft were used as presidential transports for Dwight D. Eisenhower; one is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Design

The Constellation’s design featured a pressurised cabin, a distinctive triple‑tail that allowed it to fit into existing hangars, and a dolphin‑shaped fuselage with compound curves. Its wing was similar in shape to the P‑38 Lightning but larger. The aircraft had hydraulically boosted controls, deicing on leading edges, a maximum speed of about 375 mph (600 km/h), a cruise speed near 340 mph (550 km/h) and a service ceiling of 24,000 ft.

Variants

Key variants include the original L‑049 and its fuel‑extended L‑149; the more powerful L‑649 and L‑749; the unbuilt L‑849 and L‑949; the stretched L‑1049 Super Constellation; proposals such as the L‑1149 and L‑1249; and the final civilian L‑1649 Starliner. Military versions were the C‑69, C‑121, and EC‑121 Warning Star.

Operations

The Constellation operated worldwide for airlines like TWA, Eastern Air Lines, Pan Am, Air France, BOAC, KLM, Qantas, Lufthansa, Iberia, Panair do Brasil, TAP Portugal, Trans‑Canada (Air Canada), Aer Lingus, VARIG, Cubana de Aviación, Línea Aeropostal Venezolana, Northwest Airlines and Avianca. It also served in military transport roles for the U.S. Army Air Forces, Navy and Air Force, and was used in notable airlifts such as those over Berlin and Biafra.

Notable Facts

  • It was the first pressurised airliner to achieve widespread use, allowing flights above most bad weather.
  • Its triple tail design enabled it to fit into existing hangars without modification.
  • A TWA L‑1649A set a record for the longest nonstop passenger flight by a piston‑powered aircraft (18 hours 32 minutes).
  • Three Constellations served as presidential aircraft for Dwight D. Eisenhower; one is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
  • Lockheed produced 856 Constellations between 1943 and 1958.

Variants

  • 1049H-82- 1 registrations - Example N6937C
  • 1649A-98- 1 registrations - Example N974R
  • 749-79- 1 registrations - Example N749NL
  • C-121- 1 registrations - Example N422NA
  • C-121A- 1 registrations - Example N8610
  • EC-121- 1 registrations - Example N548GF

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources