Lockheed L-749 Constellation

L-749 Constellation

A Trans World Airlines L-749A at London's Heathrow Airport. Note the "Speedpak" under fuselage freight container.
Role	Airliner
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Designer	Clarence "Kelly" Johnson
First flight	March 14, 1947^[1]
Introduction	April 18, 1947
Retired	1993
Status	Retired
Primary users	Trans World Airlines Air France KLM South African Airways Air India Eastern Air Lines Qantas Airlinte Eireann
Produced	1947 - 1951^[2]^[3]
Number built	119
Developed from	L-649 Constellation
Variants	C-121 Constellation PO-1W/WV-1 Constellation

The Lockheed L-749 Constellation was the first Lockheed Constellation to regularly cross the Atlantic Ocean non-stop. Although similar in appearance to the L-649 before it, the L-749 had a larger fuel capacity, strengthened landing gear, and eventually weather radar.

Design and development

An L-749A of CAUSA.

In early 1947 the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation unveiled the L-749, a derivative of its L-649 Constellation with fuel tanks to increase its range by 1,000 miles. Due to the increased weight, the landing gear and tires had to be strengthened. Jet stacks were also introduced, increasing speed by 15 mph (24 km/h). These jet stacks increased the noise calling for more insulation. As with the L-649, ten different layouts of the internal cabin were possible. Airlines originally attracted to the L-649 changed their orders to the L-749. The L-749 was to become the standard version of the regular Constellation.^[3]^[4]^[5]

The L-749 first flew on March 14, 1947,^[1] and received certification that same month. The first L-749 was delivered to Air France on April 18, 1947. Pan American World Airways received its first L-749 in June. L-749 service began with Pan Am in June 1947 on their "Round The World" service. The L-749 also entered service with TWA and various other airlines, including KLM, Cubana de Aviación, Línea Aeropostal Venezolana, Avianca and Iberia. In March 1947, 1,200 jobs were lost at Lockheed, bringing production of the aircraft to a near stand-still. A large order from the United States Air Force for 10 L-749A aircraft designated the C-121 Constellation, saved the Constellation program from cancellation. The United States Navy followed in, ordering two L-749A aircraft designated the PO-1W Constellation (later WV-1). The first L-749A aircraft off the production lines were destined for the military.

The Aviadrome's C-121A Constellation in the colors of a KLM L-749.

Lockheed started producing the improved L-749A in 1949. It had a strengthened fuselage, further strengthened landing gear and a Plycor floor. This increased weight by over 4,000 pounds and increased the MTOW. A slightly redesigned engine cowling, and new Curtiss Electric propellers were also introduced. Lockheed also offered a L-749 to L-749A production kit. The first civil customer for the L-749A was South African Airways, but its largest customer was Trans World Airlines, which had 26 L-749A aircraft. The last of TWA's aircraft would not be retired until 1967. A cargo version of the L-749A based on the military C-121A was offered, but no airlines showed interest and it never left the drawing board. An L-749B turboprop version was envisaged, but this too never left the drawing board as no reliable engine was found. Production of the L-749A ended in 1951 to give way to its stretched successor, the L-1049 Super Constellation.

Variants

^[3]

Main articles: Lockheed Constellation, Lockheed L-049 Constellation, Lockheed L-649 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

A Skyways of London L-749A at Manchester (Ringway) Airport on August 11, 1963.

An L-749A of Air Algerie at Paris Orly Airport on May 31, 1957.

L-749: Standard production version powered by four Wright R-3350-749C18BD-1 radial engines. 60 built.

L-749A: Reinforced structure and an increased MTOW. 59 built.

L-749B: Proposed turboprop version. None built.

L-849: Planned version of L-749 powered by Wright R-3350 TurboCompound engines.

L-949: Proposed Speedfreighter combi version of L-849 with an 18 ft 4 in fuselage stretch.

Specifications (L-749)

The cockpit of an L-749

Data from the American Museum of Aviation.^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 4 Pilots 2-4 Flight Attendants
Capacity: 60-81 Passengers
Length: 97 ft 4 in (29.667 m)
Wingspan: 123 ft (37.49 m)
Height: 22 ft 5 in (6.8326 m)
Wing area: 1,650 sq ft (153.29 sq m)
Empty weight: 56,590 lbs (25,668.8 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 107,000 lbs (48,534.4 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Wright R-3350-749C18BD-1 radial engines, 2,500 hp (1,864 kW) each
Propellers: 4 propellor

Performance

Cruise speed: 345 mph (555.22 km/h)
Range: 4,995 mi w/maximum fuel load
2,600 mi w/maximum payload (8,038.7 km w/maximum fuel load
4,184.3 km w/maximum payload)
Service ceiling: 24,100 ft (7.34568 km)

References

Citations

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The American Museum of Aviation - Lockheed L-749 Technical Specifications; Retrieved 9/6/11
↑ US Warplanes - C-69/C-121; Retrieved 9/6/11
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Breffort, Dominique. Lockheed Constellation: from Excalibur to Starliner Civilian and Military Variants. Histoire and Collecions, 2006, pp. 40-45.
↑ Lockheed Constellation Survivors - L649/L749 Constellation; Petersen, Ralph M.; Retrieved 9/6/11
↑ California Classic Proliners - Lockheed Constellations; Gibson, Tom; 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 that explains information and whereabouts of surviving Constellations of all variants, including the L-749 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