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| Design of the Lockheed L-49 began in 1939 to meet the requirement of Pan American Airways and Transcontinental & Western Air (now Trans World Airlines), for a 40-passenger airliner for use on domestic routes. Manufacture was initiated but with the outbreak of World War II aircraft on the production line were commandeered for service with the USAAF as transports under the designation C-69, the first being flown on 9 January 1943. A total of 22 entered USAAF service before the contract cancellations following VJ-Day. Production of civil aircraft then began under the company designation L-049 Constellation, using components that had been intended for C-69s, but with the interiors completed to airline standard and with basic accommodation for 43 to 48 passengers, or a maximum of 60 in a high-density layout. The first Constellation was certificated for civil operations on 11 December 1945, the type entering service first with Pan Am and TWA, the latter inaugurating a regular US-Paris service on 6 February 1946.
The first true civil Constellations were Lockheed L-649 aircraft with 2,500hp Wright 749C-18BD-1 engines and far more luxurious interiors seating 48 to 64 passengers as standard, or 81 in a high-density arrangement. This version was replaced in production during 1947 by the longer-range L-749 with additional fuel yet able to carry the same payload, but by the end of 1949 the demand for air travel was increasing and operators were then looking for aircraft of greater capacity. This brought development of the L-1049 Super Constellation, with the fuselage lengthened by 5.59m, and Super 'Connies' entered service during their production life with a variety of interior layouts that could seat a maximum of 109 passengers. Last of the civil Constellation-derived airliners was the L-1649A Starliner, with a completely new wing of increased span and with far greater fuel capacity, providing a range considerably in excess of any of its predecessors. When production ended in the late 1950s a total of 856 aircraft of all versions, both civil and military, had been built.
| MODEL | L-749 |
| PASSENGERS | 48-81 |
| ENGINE | 4 x 2500hp Wright R-3350-749C18BD |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 48534 kg | 107000 lb |
| Empty weight | 25670 kg | 56593 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 37.49 m | 123 ft 0 in |
| Length | 29.66 m | 97 ft 4 in |
| Height | 6.83 m | 22 ft 5 in |
| Wing area | 148.20 m2 | 1595.21 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Cruise speed | 555 km/h | 345 mph |
| Ceiling | 7350 m | 24100 ft |
| Range | 4185 km | 2601 miles |
 | A three-view drawing (600 x 372) |
| Ray Holguin, e-mail, 30.06.2012 23:13 I flew on the "connies" from 61-62 as an FTS. I was stationed in Moffett Fld, Calif. VR-7 and VR-8. We flew to Hickham,Hawaii and all points west. It was an experience. A few years ago, We drove to The Grand Canyon on our way to Vegas, and on the way to the canyon, to my surprise,I saw a connie on display in a tourist area. I don't know if it is still there. Brought back some memories. reply | | Guy Font, e-mail, 03.06.2012 06:33 Was on Midway "AEWBARRONPACMIDET" 1962 to 1964 Had an EC-121 Take off every 3 hours for two years.They flet the wagon wheel from Midway TO Alaska.The prettiest plane ever.Island would rumble on take off.The mail plane was also a Super Connie but no raydomes and the tails were painted Orange.Only remember one Hanger Queen AC 15 I think,Swear that plane made more weird sounds in the air than any plane ever been on.1st 3 months on Island I was at Inflight Mess which was so much better than reg mess hall and we had to pack the food for the barrier flights Box lunches and steaks The crews ate well.And so did we till we went back to regular duty.Twas was fun for a 17 year old on the Kiddy Cruise. reply | | Steve McKee, e-mail, 01.06.2012 02:40 Thanks for the backup Kerry. Your statements are correctand yes 555 is on display at WPAFB Air force Museum. I flew on the EC 121H models out of Otis AFB MA from 1963 to 1969. We never had parachutes on our aircraft but I had to take the training in case I needed to use one. Never could figure that one out. 53-535 was the last H model in existence until mid 2011. It was sold to a group in Australia for spare parts and the rest scrapped. Sorry to see that happen. reply | | Kerry I Keehn, e-mail, 31.05.2012 19:39 Royce,
Steve is correct, triple nickle (555) flew out of McClellan AFB.and was an EC121. I was stationed at McClellan from 1965 till discharge in 1968.I was in the 963rd. I flew on 555 a few times, as well as other EC121's. as a Radar operator. Skip,when I was there we had no parachutes anymore, we did get them back when we were over the pond. As to the post stating that she was an oily bird, all I can say is that if you didn't see a puddle of oil you
wondered what was wrong.And finally I think 555
is on display at Wright Pat in Ohio.
Best Regards
Kerry reply | |
| | Steve McKee, e-mail, 31.05.2012 15:42 Royce 555 Triple Nickle was a EC-121D AEW aircraft. Don't believe it was used to ferry passengers. reply | | Royce Ingram SMS USAF RET, e-mail, 09.04.2012 17:36 C-121 Super Connie triple nickle 555 was one of the 121's that flew the weekley embasy flight from Charleston to Dharan Saudi Arabia. Many time it had to wait for parts (engine - radar - etc) to be brought in on the next weeks flight before making the return trip. reply | | Royce R. Ingram SMSGT RET, e-mail, 09.04.2012 17:33 C-121 Super connie was one of the 121's that flew the weekley embasy flight from Charleston to Dharan Saudi Arabia. Many time it had to wait for parts (engine - radar - etc) to be brought in on the next weeks flight before making the return trip. reply | | Skip, e-mail, 14.03.2012 01:05 Flew out of McClellen AFB 965 AEW&C Sqdn from 1959 - 1961 The Pacific was our responibility. I can still remember the day they took our Parachutes away from us. I kind a got comfortable knowing that it was hanging there just above my head. Had many interesting missions on Triple Nickle. reply | | ROGER FULTON, e-mail, 18.02.2012 23:31 I FLEW AS A RADAR TECH VW11 ARGENTIA NEWFOUNDLAND FROM 1956 1960 WE LOST 5 PLANES DURING THAT TIME 4 IN NEWFOUNDLAND ONE IN PAX RIVER reply | | Chuck Cass, e-mail, 18.12.2011 23:14 My step-dad,Roland "Marty" Martin, was a crew chief on the C-119 (Flying Boxcar)at McClellan AFB when he was in the AF Reserves.We lived on I street in Rio Linda and the runway was at the end of the street.I used to sit and watch the planes take off and thought the Connie RADAR planes were the most beautiful planes in the sky. reply | | Richard Parker, LCdr,NAO-C, US, e-mail, 10.10.2011 04:44 The model 749 Connie was the second operational AEW (AWACS) aircraft. The first was the Boeing PB-1W, a modified B-17G. Two were built as prototypes for the AEW program as PO-1Ws, later WV-1s, and took part in many NATO fleet exercises. It was flown by VW-2 in 1951-52 and then by VW-1. They had the same APS-20 radar as the PB-1W but also had a prototype top mount APS-45 heigth-finder radar. reply | | Hal Schedler, e-mail, 18.08.2011 07:52 I was an AC /IP /WC ( Weapons Controller) on the Connie for 10 years, (1959-1969) and have many fond memories. I flew at least one mission when I didn't see more of the runway than the runway lights out of my left side window (rain and fog). The "Connie" took us through ALL kinds of weather (including icing) and brought us home. I flew out of Otis AFB on Cape Cod. reply | | Ralph Mayer, e-mail, 23.06.2011 00:38 I served in VW-3 and later Vw-1 on Guam 59-61. The hum of those 3350's usually put me to sleep during takeoff. We had 7-8 wv's with radomes and one for transportation with all the seat facing aft. I have never felt as safe as while flying in a connie. A marvelous aircraft! reply | | Lynn McAtee, e-mail, 13.05.2011 11:44 I waw flight engineer on the EC-121D & t, from 1970 thru 74, assigned to the 963rd AEW&C, McClellan AFB CA. TDY many times to Keflavik, Kwang Ju Korea, Korat and "Other" armpits of the world. Was on the crew who flew radar control on the first bird at Hanoi on Dec 22, 1972. Loved the aircraft, a real sweetheart. Always loved to hear the engine noise at start up. Pop and bang and rumble, complete with huge clouds of blue smoke.
Also, the tension as I set "Max Power" on Heavy Weight Take Off. Solid, steady power. A real head trip even in my own mind today, these many years later. reply | |
| | Larry Gibson, e-mail, 30.04.2011 23:00 No one has mentioned anything about the fact that this was Harry Truman's Air Force One. I still think it is one of the finest looking aircraft ever. My two favorite planes are the P-38 and SR-71. Never a pilot but did serve four years in the USAF. reply | | CHUB ERWIN, e-mail, 17.04.2011 01:08 we had 4 of these "connies" in our airborne early warnig sq. in jax. fla. vw-4 navy "hurricane hunters"......1955-1957 reply | | James David Hudson, e-mail, 08.03.2011 21:14 I works as a mechanic on Air Force "Connies" from 1970 to 1972 at McClellan AFB,CA as part of the 552nd Periodic Maintenance Squadron. When I was taken to the hangar by my SSGT, and he we entered the hangar and I laid my eyes on my first Connie, I asked my SSGT. is this what I am going to be assigned to? He answered yes airman, and I quickly asked him, where are all the jet's and helicopter's at? And he replied, well airman, you should be proud to be part of the "AEW&C wing. We / you and the Connie's keep our nation safe from attack. We tell them what's up, then the jet's and helicopter's take over! At the time, I really did not understand what me meant, but within time I did. I am one proud veteran, a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran. reply | | Herb Aiwohi, e-mail, 05.03.2011 10:31 I works as a mechanic on Air Force "Connies" from 1955 to 1958 at McClellan AFB,CA as part of the 552nd Periodic Maintenance Squadron. I joined the FAA in 1961 and later flew as a Flight Engineer on the L749As. The FAA had five L749A aircfraft stationed in HNL doing Flight Inspection and Calibration of Nav Aids. One Connie crashed at Canton Island and on crached at Tachikawa, Japan. Beautiful aircraft, fun to fly. reply | | Olen Barber, e-mail, 03.03.2011 21:57 Update on first posting. I was in AEWBARONPAC at Barber's Point from July 1959 until November of 1962. I was in the electronics flight crew. I had the same plane for almost the entire time I was there. Flew the Barrier out of Midway until Late in 1962 then was assigned to one of crews for the Johnson Island Bomb Test. In Japan I was assigned to VR7A at Tachie AFB. Not sure of the Spelling. We flew inter theater medical air-avac out of NAM, Clark AFB in the PI. and moved troupes in and out of Korea. I retired in July 1973. reply | | Olen Barber, e-mail, 03.03.2011 21:01 I went to Barber's point HI July 1959 and flew on the WV's or WC121 version until November of 1962.Then went to Japan and flew on the R7V version until November 1965. Then I went to VP31A which was Comnavairpac's Plane which was one of the old R7V's that had been converted into a VIP Plane until 1967.
Loved that Plane for getting home safely for about 6,000 Hours of Flight time. reply |
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