
Lockheed L-049 Constellation | |
|---|---|
| Krajiny | Spojené štáty americké |
| Úlohu | Doprava – dopravné lietadlo |
| Prvý let | 9. januára 1943 |
| Postavený | 88 |
Komisia Súhvezdie L-049 bol prvým modelom radu lietadiel Lockheed Constellation. Do služby vstúpil ako vojenské dopravné lietadlo C-69 počas druhej svetovej vojny pre letectvo armády Spojených štátov a bol prvou civilnou verziou po vojne. Keď sa výroba v roku 1946 skončila, bola nahradená vylepšenými L-649 a L-749 Constellation.
| Lockheed L-049 Sprievodca súhvezdím | |
|---|---|
| Fotograf | John Heck |
| Lokalizácia | Múzeum letectva a vesmíru Pima, Tucson |
| Fotografie | 138 |
Pozri tiež:
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) |
|---|---|
| Typ | Long-Range Pressurized Airliner |
| National Origin | Spojené štáty americké |
| Výrobca | Lockheed Corporation |
| First Flight (C-69) | 9 January 1943 |
| Posádky | 5 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Flight Engineer, Navigator, Radio Operator) |
| Capacity (Passenger) | 44 to 81 passengers (varies by configuration) |
| Dĺžka | 29.03 m (95 ft 3 in) |
| Rozpätie krídel | 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.
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