Lockheed L-649 Constellation

L-649 Constellation

An Eastern Air Lines L-649 Constellation, with the optional belly-mounted cargo hold
Role	Airliner
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Designer	Clarence "Kelly" Johnson
First flight	October 19, 1946
Introduction	1947
Status	Retired
Primary users	Eastern Air Lines Chicago and Southern Airlines Trans World Airlines (Operated one L-649)
Produced	1946 - 1951^[1]^[2]
Number built	22
Developed from	L-049 Constellation
Developed into	L-749 Constellation

The Lockheed L-649 Constellation was the first real civilian version of the Lockheed Constellation line, as the Lockheed L-049 Constellation was a simple redesign from the military Lockheed C-69 Constellation. The L-649 was planned to be the new standard version of the Constellation, but the L-749 Constellation, a co-jointly produced improved deritative, was chosen over the L-649 by most airlines. Most of the few L-649 aircraft built were delivered and operated by Eastern Air Lines.

History

^[2]^[3]^[4]

When Curtiss-Wright offered an improved version of the Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone, Lockheed began developing an improved version of the L-049 Constellation airliner to be powered by this engine. The new project was designated L-049-84. In addition to the engine change, the wing and fuselage structure were strengthened to allow an increased gross weight. The cabin was redesigned and made more luxurious, incorporating changes such as retractable overhead sleeping berths, modernised air conditioning and retractable seats. Ten different cabin layouts were offered. Due to the loudness of the R-3350 engines, the insulation had been augmented through the use of multiple materials including non-inflammable cloth and fiberglass. The problem of overheating that plagued the original engines had been eliminated through the newer design of the R-3350 and the oil tanks being moved away from the engine nacelles. The oil tank capacity was also increased by 9 gallons. The payload was increased by 1,846 pounds. An extra removable cargo hold was designed to increase the payload of the aircraft. This was called a "Speedpak", and was to be used for shorter flights. The result was a completely new design, causing Lockheed to redesignate the aircraft L-649 due to the significant changes.

The first L-649 flew on October 19, 1946, and it received its certification in May 1947. The first L-649 was also delivered to Eastern Air Lines in May 1947. Eastern had modified its original order for 14 L-049 Constellations to 14 L-649 Constellations. Eastern was also the only airline to receive the L-649 straight from the production line itself, as Trans World Airlines and Air France converted their ordered L-649 aircraft into the improved derivative, the L-749 Constellation, which was to be produced alongside the L-649. In fact, the L-749 entered service a month before the L-649 did. A further incident occurred when TWA suffered a pilots' strike, causing them to cancel the original order for 8 L-049 and 18 L-649 aircraft. Only 16 original L-649 aircraft were produced. Six others were converted to L-649A standard and delivered to Chicago and Southern Air Lines. Most of the L-649 and L-649A aircraft would later be converted to L-749 and L-749A standards. When Chicago and Southern merged with Delta in 1953, several of these airplanes were sold to TWA.

Variants

^[2]

Main articles: Lockheed Constellation, Lockheed L-049 Constellation, Lockheed L-749 Constellation, Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, Lockheed L-1249 Super Constellation, Lockheed L-1649 Starliner, Lockheed C-69 Constellation, Lockheed C-121 Constellation, Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star and List of models of the Lockheed Constellation

L-649: Standard production version, powered by four R-3350-749C18BD-1 engines. 16 built.

L-649A: Strengthened structure and extra fuel capacity for longer distances. 6 built.

Specifications (L-649)

Data from the American Museum of Aviation.^[5]

General characteristics

Crew: 5 (2 pilots, flight engineer, 2 stewards)
Capacity: 60-81 Passengers
Length: 95 ft 3 in (29.03 m)
Wingspan: 123 ft (37.49 m)
Height: 23 ft 8 in (7.214 m)
Wing area: 1,650 ft² (153.29 m²)
Aspect ratio: 9.17
Empty weight: 55,000 lb (24,950 kg)
Useful load: 39,000 lb (17,690 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 94,000 lbs (42,640 kg)
Powerplant: × Wright R-3350-749C18BD radial engines, 2,500 hp (1,865 kW) each
Propellers: 4 , 3 blades per engine

Performance

Cruise speed: 327 mph (284 kt, 526.26 km/hr)
Range: 3,995 mi w/max fuel load; 2,290 mi w/max payload (6,430 km w/max fuel load; 3,685 km w/max payload)
Service ceiling: 24,442 ft (7,450 m)
Wing loading: 57.0 lb/ft² (278.2 kg lb/m²)
Power/mass: 9.4 lb/hp (5.72 kg/kW)

References

Notes

↑ US Warplanes - C-69/C-121; Retrieved 9/6/11
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Breffort, Dominique. Lockheed Constellation: from Excalibur to Starliner Civilian and Military Variants. Histoire and Collecions, 2006, pp. 36-38
↑ Lockheed Constellation Survivors - L649/L749 Constellation; Petersen, Ralph M.; Retrieved 6/5/11
↑ California Classic Proliners - Lockheed Constellations; Gibson, Tom; Retrieved 6/5/11
↑ The American Museum of Aviation - Lockheed L-649 Technical Specifications; Retrieved 9/6/11

Bibliography

Breffort, Dominique. Lockheed Constellation: from Excalibur to Starliner Civilian and Military Variants. Paris: Histoire and Collecions, 2006. Print. ISBN 2-915239-62-2

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lockheed Constellation.

Lockheed Constellation Survivors - A website with information and whereabouts of surviving Constellations of all variants, including the L-649 Constellation.

Lockheed and Lockheed Martin aircraft

Manufacturer
designations

Basic Model Numbers	L-1 L-2 L-3 L-4 L-5 L-6¹ L-7 L-8 L-9 L-10 L-11 L-012 L-13¹ L-014 L-015 L-016 L-017 L-018 L-019 L-020 L-021 L-022 L-023 L-024 L-25¹ L-026 L-027 L-28¹ L-029 L-030 L-031 L-032 L-033 L-034 L-035 L-36¹ L-037 L-38¹ L-39¹ L-040 L-041 L-042 L-044 L-045 L-049 L-050 L-051 L-052 L-060 L-061 L-062 L-075 L-080 L-081 L-082 L-083 L-084 L-085 L-086 L-087 L-088 L-089 L-090 L-091 L-092 L-093 L-094 L-092 L-099 L-100 L-133 L-140 L-141 L-193 L-245 L-246 L-300 L-301 L-329 L-351 L-382 L-500 L-645

Lockheed-California Temporary Design Numbers	CL-282 CL-288 CL-295 CL-320 CL-325 CL-329 CL-346 CL-379 CL-400 CL-407 CL-475 CL-595 CL-704 CL-760 CL-823 CL-901 CL-915 CL-934 CL-981 CL-984 CL-985 CL-1026 CL-1195 CL-1200 CL-1400 CL-1600 CL-1700 CL-1800 CL-1980

Other projects	SR-72

By role

Airliners and civil transports	Vega Sirius Altair Orion Electra Electra Junior Super Electra Lodestar Constellation (L-049 L-649 L-749) Super Constellation (L-1049 L-1249) Starliner Saturn Electra L-402 Jetstar L-100 L-1011

Military transports	Y1C-12 Y1C-17 Y1C-23 Y1C-25 C-36 C-37 C-40 C-56 C-57 C-59 C-60 C-63 C-66 C-69 UC-85 UC-101 C-104 C-111 C-121 C-130 / C-130J / HC-130 / KC-130 / LC-130 / MC-130 C-139 C-140 C-141 C-5 JO XRO R2O R3O XR4O R5O R6O / R6V R7O / R7V R8V / GV / UV Tristar

Attack and bombers	Y1A-9 A-28 A-29 XB-30 B-34 B-37 AC-130 A-4AR F-117 FB-22

Drones/UAVs	Q-5 Q-12/D-21 AQM-60 MQM-105 P-175 RQ-3 RQ-170 See also: DC-130

EW and reconnaissance	O-56 F-4 F-5 F-14 YO-3 EC-121 EC-130 / EC-130H WC-130 EP-3 RB-69 U-2 / TR-1 A-12 SR-71 PO / WV XW2V

Fighters	XFM-2 XPB-3 YP-24 P-38 XP-49 XP-58 P-80/F-80 XF-90 F-94 F-97 F-104 (F-104 variants) YF-12 F-16 YF-22 F-22 F-35 FO XFV

Helicopters	CL-475 XH-51 AH-56 VH-71

Maritime patrol	PBO PV P2V P-2 P3V P-3 P-7 S-3 CP-122 CP-140

Trainers	AT-18 T-33 T-40 TO / TV T2V / T-1

Experimental	M-21 NF-104A QT-2 Senior Peg Senior Prom XC-35 XF-104 VZ-10 / XV-4 X-7 X-17 X-26B X-27 X-33 X-35 X-44 X-55 X-56

Names

¹ Not assigned.

Lockheed Constellation family

Constellation	L-049 (C-69) L-149 L-549 (C-69C) L-649 L-749 (C-121A/B PO-1W/WV-1)

Super Constellation	L-1049 (C-121C/G/J EC-121 R7O-1/R7V-1 WV-2/WV-3) L-1249 (YC-121F * R7V-2)

Starliner	L-1649

See also List of models of the Lockheed Constellation List of Lockheed Constellation operators List of accidents and incidents involving the Lockheed Constellation