Lockheed L-049 Constellation - Bilder og videoer

Den Lockheed L-049 Konstellasjon was the first model of the Lockheed Constellation aircraft line. It entered service as the C-69 military transport aircraft during World War II for the United States Army Air Forces and was the first civilian version after the war. When production ended in 1946 it was replaced by the improved L-649 and L-749 Constellation.

Kilde: Lockheed L-049 Constellation on Wikipedia

The Lockheed L-049 Constellation was a pioneering aircraft that revolutionized the aviation industry in the mid-20th century. It was designed by Lockheed in response to the vision of Howard Hughes, the owner of Trans World Airlines, who wanted an airliner that could fly faster, farther and higher than any other. The L-049 was the first model of the Constellation series, which also included the L-649, L-749 and L-1049 Super Constellation. The L-049 entered service as a military transport aircraft during World War II, designated as C-69, and was later converted to a civilian version after the war. It had a distinctive appearance with a triple-tail design and a dolphin-shaped fuselage. It was powered by four Wright R-3350 radial engines that gave it a cruising speed of 500 km/h and a range of 6,430 km.
Den kunne frakte opptil 81 passasjerer i en trykkabin som tilbød komfort og luksus. L-049 ble operert av flere flyselskaper rundt om i verden, som TWA, Pan American, American Overseas og BOAC. Den ble også brukt til noen spesielle flyvninger, for eksempel Berlin Airlift og den første non-stop flyturen fra London til New York. L-049 ble produsert fra 1942 til 1946, med totalt 88 enheter bygget (14 militære og 74 sivile). Den ble erstattet av de forbedrede L-649 og L-749 Constellation-modellene, som hadde kraftigere motorer, større drivstofftanker og økt nyttelast. L-049 Constellation var en bemerkelsesverdig prestasjon av ingeniørkunst og design som markerte en ny æra i kommersiell luftfart.