Lockheed Super Constellation

The Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation is an American aircraft, a member of the Lockheed Constellation aircraft line. The L-1049 was Lockheed's response to the successful Douglas DC-6 airliner, first flying in 1950. The aircraft was also produced for both the United States Navy and Air Force as transport and AWACS aircraft.

Development
Since 1943 Lockheed had been planning a stretched variant of the Constellation family. The first was an L-049 with a fuselage lengthened by 13 feet (4m). The next was an L-749 lengthened by 18 feet (5.5m). Neither was built due to the lack of suitable engines on the civilian market.

The idea was relaunched after a rival aircraft appeared, when Douglas launched a stretched version of its DC-6 airliner as a cargo transport, designated DC-6A, for both military and civilian operators. Douglas was soon to launch a passenger version (the DC-6B) of this new aircraft. The DC-6B could carry 23 more passengers than Lockheed's current production L-749 Constellation. In 1950 Lockheed had repurchased the XC-69 Constellation prototype from the Hughes Tool Company. The XC-69 however, was equipped with four Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines instead of the Wright R-3350s used on production models (Lockheed had made that installation on the prototype to test the R-2800 as a possible engine option for the L-049). Lockheed lengthened XC-69 by 18 feet (5.5m), to become the basis for the L-1049 Super Constellation. The aircraft first flew later that year still fitted with R-2800 engines, then was refitted with R-3350 956-C18CA-1 engines with jet stacks for slightly increased thrust. Later modifications included strengthened landing gear and larger vertical stabilizers. Being impressed, Eastern Air Lines had placed an order for 10 aircraft, while Trans World Airlines (TWA) followed with a larger order for 14 aircraft. The L-1049 had some 550 improvements and modifications compared to the L-749, including increased fuel capacity, rectangular portholes, larger cockpit windshields and improved heating and pressurization.

In 1953 the R-3350 Turbo-compounds were made available for civilian use. Lockheed incorporated them into the L-1049C, which first flew on February 17 of that same year. The R-330-972-TC18DA-1 turbo-compound engines used by the L-1049C included a new turbine system called a Power Recovery Turbine (PRT), located aft of each row of nine cylinders. This allowed the engine to produce more power by driving gasses through the triple-stage turbine, increasing the engine's output by 550 hp (410kW). One drawback of the PRT was a significant flame in the exhaust pipes; this was resolved by placing armor plating 2 in (5.08 cm) thick under the stack. The L-1049C had an increased cruising speed and climb rate. Although still lacking the range of the DC-6B, the L-1049C was now identical in performance to the Douglas and was now capable of carrying a larger payload. The wings of the new model were strengthened, cabin soundproofing was increased, and the landing gear retraction system was improved. A new series of interior layouts was offered for the new model; "Siesta" (47 Passengers with increased luxury), "Intercontinental" (54 - 60 Passengers) and "Inter-urban" (105 Passengers). Each of these new layouts included reading lights attached to each seat. In all, 48 L-1049C models were constructed, being used by Eastern, TWA, Air France, KLM, Trans-Canada Air Lines, QANTAS, Air India, Pakistan International Airlines, Avianca, Iberia, Linea Aeropostal Venezolana and Compania Cubana de Aviacion.

A freighter version, the L-1049D, first flew in August 1954. It incorporated two cargo doors on the left side and a reinforced magnesium floor as used on the R7V-1 military variant of the L-1049B. The L-1049D could carry a total of 36,916 lb (16,745 kg) and had a volume of 5,579 ft³ (158 m³). At the time of its first flight, the L-1049D was the largest cargo aircraft. In the end, only four were produced and all were delivered to Seaboard & Western Airlines. Two of the four L-1049D aircraft were later converted to L-1049H standards.

The L-1049E was more successful; 28 were delivered to eight airlines. Although similar to the L-1049C, the L-1049E was able to carry the same maximum load as the L-1049D. Despite this, the L-1049C and L-1049E could not cross the Atlantic Ocean without a stop-over due to possible weather issues. Lockheed thought of fitting a new variant based on the L-1049E with more powerful powerplants, but the project was cancelled. A different variant surfaced: using the L-1049C as a base, R-3350-972-TC18DA-3 Turbo-compound engines were fitted. The aircraft would carry 71 to 95 passengers at a speed of 331 mph (533 km/h). Wingtip tanks of 1,037 gallon (3,925 L) total capacity were incorporated, which increased the range of the new model by 1,110 miles (1,770 km). This configuration could fly transatlantic or from Los Angeles to Boston nonstop, which the Douglas DC-7 was unable to do if headwinds existed. A new Bendix or RCA weather radar could be installed in the nose, which changed the nosecone shape. New Hamilton Standard or Curtiss Electric propellers were offered. This new version of the L-1049 had over 100 separate modifications from the L-1049C. This new variant was unveiled in June 1953 as the L-1049G (L-1049F being already used for the military C-121C). Over 100 L-1049G aircraft were ordered by sixteen airlines. The L-1049G first flew on December 17, 1954 and first entered service with Northwest Orient Airlines in 1955. The nickname "Super G" (which was first used by TWA) was later adopted for the L-1049G.

The L-1049H first flew on November 20, 1956. Called "Super H" and "Husky", the L-1049H was a convertible passenger/freight aircraft, mating a C-121C based fuselage with L-1049G components. The cargo hold was 188 ft (57.3 m) long with a volume of 565 ft³ (16 m³) when including the lower hold. The aircraft in passenger configuration could carry 94 to 120 people with seats, luggage lockers and toilets all available for use along with the option of decorating the walls of the aircraft. When not in use, the luggage lockers and seats could be stowed in the lower hold. The aircraft entered service with QANTAS a month later. Some L-1049G and H aircraft in later production were fitted with the TC-18EA series engines used on the L-1649 Starliner. A final variant was planned in 1957, known as the L-1049J. Powered by four four R-3350-988-TC-18EA-6 engines, the L-1049J was based on the L-1049H with the wings of the R7V-2 Constellation and an extra fuselage-mounted fuel tank.

Operational History
The first production example of the L-1049 first flew on July 14, 1951 and received certification in November 1951. However, the planned powerplants, Turbo-compound versions of the R-3350 were not yet available for civilian usage, leaving Lockheed to use a less powerful version. The aircraft entered service with Eastern Air Lines in December 1951, used on the Miami to New York run. Eastern would later operate both the L-1049C and L-1049G. TWA followed, flying from New York to Los Angeles. TWA also used L-1049G aircraft on transatlantic services, doing 50 crossings per week. In 1956, a TWA L-1049 collided with a United Airlines DC-7 over the Grand Canyon, leading to the deaths of all onboard both aircraft. KLM introduced the L-1049C on the Amsterdam to New York run; it also used L-1049Gs between Tokyo and Sydney. Air France used its L-1049C aircraft on the airline's first regular transatlantic services. Seaboard & Western Airlines used L-1049Ds on unscheduled transatlantic cargo flights to Germany and Switzerland. From the summer of 1955 to the spring of 1956, the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) leased three of Seaboards' L-1049D aircraft for passenger operations. Northwest Orient Airlines used L-1049G aircraft on Pacific routes originating in Seattle, Washington and heading to either Tokyo, Okinawa or Manila. The scheduled freight operator, Flying Tiger Line, used the L-1049H variant on North American routes and service for the Military Air Transport Service. One Flying Tigers L-1049H was the last Constellation to be constructed (in 1959).

Most Super Constellations were retired by their original operators after the advent of the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 let airliners. The last commercial flight of the L-1049 Super Constellation occurred in 1993, when the Federal Aviation Administration banned all airlines from the Dominican Republic that flew Constellations to the United States (this done due to safety concerns). At the time, the Dominican airlines were the last operators of any version of the Constellation.

Numerous military versions were operated by the United States Navy and United States Air Force. The aircraft were operated as transport aircraft and AWACS platforms. These aircraft served in the Vietnam War, in several roles including transmitting television programs from the United States for the troops on the ground, and in observing the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The last US Military Super Constellations were retired in 1982 by the Air Force. The Indian Air Force and Indian Navy used former Air India L-1049C, E and G versions converted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for use as Sea Air and Rescue aircraft. They were retired between the years of 1981 and 1983 and were replaced by Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft. The Indian Military was the last military operator of the Constellation.

Civilian

 * L-1049
 * Initial production version. 24 Built.


 * L-1049C
 * Improved version powered by four R-3350 972TC-18DA1 Turbo-compound engines. 48 Built.


 * L-1049D
 * All freight version constructed for Seaboard & Western Airlines with the same powerplants as the L-1049C. 4 Built.


 * L-1049E
 * L-1049C with an increased MTOW. 28 Built.


 * L-1049G
 * L-1049C with an increased MTOW and four R-3350 972-TC-18DA-3 engines. The options of tip tanks and weather radar were available.


 * L-1049G/01
 * Version built for Varig with a strengthened wing, increased MTOW and R-3350 988-TC18EA3 engines.


 * L-1049H
 * Convertible passenger/freight version of the L-1049G. 53 Built.


 * L-1049H/01
 * Version built for the Flying Tiger Line with increased MTOW and powered by R-3350 988-TC-18EA-3 engines.


 * L-1049H/02
 * Different landing gear and R-3350 988-TC-18EA-6 engines. Two built.


 * L-1049H/07
 * Similar to the L-1049H/02. Two built.


 * L-1049J
 * Proposed version of the L-1049H/02 with a lengthened wingspan and an extra fuel tank.


 * L-1149
 * Proposed version of the L-1049G and L-1049H to be powered by Allison 501D turboprop engines.

Military

 * L-1049A
 * Manufacturer's designation for the WV-2, WV-3 and RC-121D.


 * L-1049B
 * Manufacturer's designation for the R7V-1, RC-121C and VC-121E.


 * L-1049F
 * Manufacturer's designation for the C-121C with strengthened Landing Gear.