Lockheed C-121 Constellation – Fotos e Vídeo

O Lockheed C-121 Constellation was a military transport version of the Lockheed Constellation. A total of 332 aircraft were constructed for both the United States Air Force and United States Navy for various purposes.

Fonte: Lockheed C-121 Constellation na Wikipédia

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.