Sky Liner

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Last updated on 29 September 2023.

Sky Liner movie poster .

Movie (1949)

Starring:
Richard Travis (Steve Blair)
Pamela Blake (Carol)
Rochelle Hudson (Amy Winthrop)
Steven Geray (Bokejian)
Steve Pendleton (Smith)
Ralph Peters (Joe Kirk)

FBI Agent Steve Blair finds himself caught up in Cold War espionage when he boards a plane heading west. Some sensitive papers have disappeared and Steve must keep tabs on a suspect without giving himself away.

Douglas DC-4A/ C-54B Skymaster

United Air Lines operated the model since 1946 for a decade at least, either ex USAAF ( C-54) or new factory's built ( DC-4). Impossible to say what variant is seen here, but the livery is Masked Mainliner 1 - Blue sheet line/Red writting of the early era (1933-1947).

Douglas DC-4A or C-54B Skymaster of United Air Lines.

The same seen later in a reverse cliché.

Douglas DC-4A or C-54B Skymaster of United Air Lines.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation (Desk model)

Lockheed L-049 Constellation (model) of TWA-Trans World Airline.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

TWA Flight 153, central location of the film, is presented all along the time by different aircraft, including some very surprising ones (see below). The years 1948-49 saw the adoption of the new TWA-Trans World Airline without s livery, which would not come until 1950.
Let's start with the non-identifiable seen at the beginning, probably at New-York LaGuardia Airport..

Lockheed L-049 Constellation of TWA-Trans World Airline.

Convair 240 to the right in background.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation of TWA-Trans World Airline.

In the sky. So elegant airplane!

Lockheed L-049 Constellation of TWA-Trans World Airline.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

TWA Flight 153 is embodied this time by the L-049 Constellation registered N90814, c/n 2076, named Star of Cairo/نجمة القاهرة . Delivered new to TWA-Transcontinental & Western Air in October 1946. Changed to TWA-Trans World Airline in 1948. Withdrawn from use at Long Beach in March 1962. Broken-up in 1964.

Reg.N90814 Lockheed L-049 Constellation Star of Cairo of TWA-Trans World Airline.

Or in an hollywood's studio?

Reg.N90814 Lockheed L-049 Constellation Star of Cairo of TWA-Trans World Airline.

First stage of Flight 153 at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW/KMDW).

Reg.N90814 Lockheed L-049 Constellation Star of Cairo of TWA-Trans World Airline.

Return to N90814 Star of Cairo at the end of the film.

Reg.N90814 Lockheed L-049 Constellation Star of Cairo of TWA-Trans World Airline.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

A TWA-The Transcontinental Line livery now to feature our same TWA Flight 153.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation of TWA-Transcontinental & Western Air.

Lockheed C-69 Constellation

From Lockheed's archive. Flight of the first series registered 43-10310, c/n 1961. Delivered new to the USAAF in April 1944. Transfered to Civil registration N86520 after WWII. Sold to Intercontinental Airways in 1947, registered N38936. Written off in Burbank in January 1953, due to a wheels up landing. We are far from our TWA Flight 153.

Reg.43-10310 Lockheed C-69 Constellation of the USAAF.

Lockheed L-749 Constellation

The photo has been reversed but we can clearly see that it is not even a plane from TWA. See Discussion Tab.
Registration VH-EAB, c/n 2565. A Lockheed L-749-79-31 Constellation delivered new to Qantas Empire Airways in October 1947, named Lawrence Hargrave. Operated sometimes with 'Speedpak' additional baggage pod under the fuselage (see the present picture). Converted to L-749A in October 1951. Sold to B.O.A.C in February 1955, registered G-ANUR named Basildon. Leased to Skyways of London in July 1959. Fitted with a large rear cargo door by B.O.A.C in 1960. Sold to Skyways of Landon in July 1962. Taken over by Euravia in September 1962. Leased to ACE Freighters in July 1965. Bought by American National Bank (WW Tilton) in May 1967, registered N1949. Sold to Aerolíneas Uruguayas in January 1968, registered CX-BHC. Wfu in January 1970. Presumed scrapped.

Reg.VH-EAB Lockheed L-749 Constellation Lawrence Hargrave with 'Speedpak' optional pod of Qantas Empire Airways.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

An impromptu stopover on an Air Force base, named Jackson Field, after the crime perpetrated on the TWA Flight 153 in which another airplane is shown again.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation of TWA-Transcontinental & Western Air.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Still remarkable views of Flight 153 that do not match the other planes identified above or below.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation of TWA-Trans World Airline.

A Douglas DC-3 on the ground to the right.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation of TWA-Trans World Airline.

Douglas DC-3 of TWA-Trans World Airline through the windscreen of a L-049's cokpit.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation of TWA-Trans World Airline.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

TWA Flight 153 is featured in some footage of the film as N86504, c/n 2025. Delivered new to TWA-Transcontinental & Western Air in April 1946, named Star of France/Etoile de France. Changed to TWA-Trans World Airline in 1948, then TWA-Trans World Airlines in 1950. Sold to Nevada Airmotive in March 1962. Sold to Paradise Air Lines in July 1963. Written of March 1964 after a crash in approach to Lake Tahoe Airport, CA.
Foreground, N86504 Star of France in its final taxiing.
To the left background, Convair 240 of Western Airlines. 3x American Airlines Douglas DC-4 in front of the hangar, and another to the right.