Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Lockheed L-049 Constellation
Country	USA
Role	Transport – Airliner
First flight	January 9, 1943
Built	88

The Lockheed L-049 Constellation 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.

Source: Lockheed L-049 Constellation on Wikipedia

Lockheed L-049 Constellation Walk Around
Photographer	John Heck
Localisation	Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson
Photos	138

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General Characteristics and Role

The Lockheed L-049 Constellation, often simply called the “Connie,” was the first production model of the famous Constellation family of aircraft. It was a four-engine, pressurized, long-range transport aircraft designed by Lockheed for Trans World Airlines (TWA) in the early 1940s. Its distinctive features—the triple-fin tail and the elegant, dolphin-shaped fuselage—made it an icon of the piston-engine airliner era. Although initially intended for civilian use, all L-049s were pressed into military service during World War II as the C-69 Constellation. Following the war, the C-69s were converted back for commercial service as the L-049, inaugurating the golden age of pressurized, non-stop transatlantic travel.

Property	Typical Value (L-049)
Type	Long-Range Pressurized Airliner
National Origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Corporation
First Flight (C-69)	9 January 1943
Crew	5 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator)
Capacity (Passenger)	44 to 81 passengers (varies by configuration)
Length	29.03 m (95 ft 3 in)
Wingspan	38.47 m (126 ft 2 in)
Maximum Takeoff Weight	40,500 kg (89,300 lb)

Powerplant and Performance

Engine: 4 x Wright R-3350-B7 Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engines.
Power Output (Each): 2,200 hp (1,640 kW).
Maximum Speed: 547 km/h (340 mph).
Cruising Speed: 483 km/h (300 mph).
Range: Approximately 6,400 km (4,000 mi).
Design Note: The R-3350 engines were initially plagued by reliability issues that required substantial engineering efforts to fix before the Constellation could reach its full commercial potential.

Service and Legacy

Initial Service: The L-049 was the first Constellation to enter commercial service, beginning with Pan American World Airways and TWA in 1946.
Pressurization: It was one of the first successful airliners with a pressurized cabin, allowing it to fly higher than weather disturbances, providing a smoother ride and reducing travel time.
Evolution: The L-049 set the stage for later, more advanced variants like the L-649, L-749, and the final, stretched L-1049 Super Constellation.
Transatlantic Pioneer: Along with the Douglas DC-4, the L-049 Constellation played a key role in making commercial long-haul and transatlantic air travel routine and comfortable in the immediate post-war period.