Aircraft / Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Aircraft / Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
The Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation is a four-engine radial piston airliner made by the Lockheed Corporation, headquartered in Calabasas, California, USA. Lockheed later merged with Martin Marietta to become what is now known as Lockheed Martin, which is now headquartered at Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Also known colloquially as the Super Connie, the L-1049 Super Constellation is a stretch version of its predecessors, the World War II-era Lockheed L-049 Constellation built at the request of Howard Hughes, and the L-049’s successor aircraft, the postwar generation Lockheed L-749 Constellation. It was developed in response to the successful Douglas DC-6 airliner, which could seat 23 more passengers than the L-749.
Introduced into service in December 1951, the L-1049 Super Constellation received over 500 improvements compared to the L-749, including greater fuel capacity, rectangular windows, larger cockpit windshields, better quality cabin soundproofing, improved heating and pressurization, and higher cruising speed. Although it lacked the range of the Douglas DC-6B, it otherwise had identical performance characteristics do the DC-6B and had a larger payload capacity, as well as up to 120 passenger seating capability. All configurations featured reading lights for every seat, a new innovation at the time.
Production of the L-1049 variant ran from 1951 to 1958 with with a total of 579 aircraft delivered, including over 300 military versions. Seventeen variants were developed over time, including freighter, combi and AEW&C versions. A late variant of the L-1049, the L-1149, used Allison 501D turboprop engines. The L-1049 was subsequently replaced by the newer generation turboprop-powered Lockheed L-1249 Super Constellation and the final model of the Lockheed Constellation line, the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner.
The L-1049 series flew in service with overseas air carriers worldwide. The type has been retired from both passenger and cargo service, but at least one L-1049 owned by an Australian historical aircraft group continues to fly. Others can also be found on static display in various parts of the world.
Source: Wikipedia
Stats
Stats displayed are for the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation quad-engine piston airliner.
Name: Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation
Final Assembly Site: Burbank, California USA
Role: Four Engine Airliner
First Introduction: 15 December 1951
Status: Out of Production; In Private Service Only
Cockpit Crew: Five
Capacity: 47-106 passengers standard depending on configuration
Engines: 4 x Wright R-3350
Cruise Speed: 290 knots (530 km/h; 330 mph)
Range: 4480 nmi (8290 km; 5150 miles)