Lockheed C-121 Constellation – Φώτο &; Βίντεο

Teh Lockheed C-121 Ο Αστερισμός ήταν μια στρατιωτική έκδοση μεταφοράς του αστερισμού Lockheed. Συνολικά κατασκευάστηκαν 332 αεροσκάφη τόσο για την Πολεμική Αεροπορία των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών όσο και για το Πολεμικό Ναυτικό των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών για διάφορους σκοπούς.

Πηγή: Lockheed C-121 Αστερισμός στη Βικιπαίδεια

The Lockheed C-121 Constellation was a military transport version of the Lockheed Constellation, a four-engine propeller-driven airliner. The C-121 was used by the United States Air Force and the United States Navy for various missions, including VIP transport, cargo transport, airborne early warning, and electronic warfare.
The C-121 was derived from the civilian L-749 Constellation, which had a longer fuselage and more powerful engines than the earlier L-649 model. The first C-121A was delivered to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) in 1948, and was used to transport high-ranking officials and dignitaries, such as President Harry S. Truman. The C-121A had a distinctive dorsal “speedpak” pod that could carry additional cargo or passengers.
The Navy ordered a modified version of the C-121A, designated R7V-1, which had a strengthened fuselage and landing gear, and could be fitted with wingtip fuel tanks. The R7V-1 was used for long-range maritime patrol and reconnaissance, as well as transport duties. Some R7V-1s were later converted to R7V-2s, which had more powerful engines and a larger fuel capacity.
The C-121C was a further development of the C-121A, based on the civilian L-1049 Super Constellation, which had a longer wingspan and a pressurized cabin. The C-121C was delivered to MATS in 1955, and was used for transatlantic and transpacific flights. The C-121C could carry up to 97 passengers or 25,000 pounds of cargo.
The most famous variant of the C-121 was the EC-121 Warning Star, which was an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. The EC-121 had a large radome above the fuselage that housed a powerful radar system that could detect enemy aircraft and missiles at long ranges. The EC-121 also had various electronic countermeasures (ECM) and communication equipment. The EC-121 was operated by both the Air Force and the Navy from the 1950s to the 1970s, and played a vital role in the Cold War and the Vietnam War.
The C-121 was retired from active service in the late 1970s, but some were preserved as museum exhibits or restored as civilian aircraft. The C-121 was one of the most successful and versatile military adaptations of the Lockheed Constellation, and served with distinction in various roles and theaters.