*Great Planes: The Lockheed Constellation* screen title.

Documentary TV Series (2014)

Production:
Winningpost Productions

This video is from the program "Great Planes" and gives the complete history of the Lockheed Constellation series aircraft.

Intro

Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation

Registration VH-EAK, c/n 4573. Delivered new to Qantas Empire Airways in January 1955, named Southern Mist. Leased to Malaysian Airways in March 1960. Leased to TEAL-Tasman Empire Airways Limited from December 1960 to March 1961. Sold to Boeing in February 1963, then to California Airmotive in 1963.
Same aircraft seen in this work and other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Landing somewhere unknown.

Lockheed Constellation

Unidentified type and livery.

Lockheed L-049D Constellation

First 1940s metal finish livery.

Lockheed L-749A Constellation

Second metal finish/red stripe Air India livery with no 'International' title.
Other views of same aircraft seen below.

Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star

USAF's EC-121 Warning Star or WV-2 from US Navy.

Lockheed VC-121A-LO Constellation Columbine II

Registration 48-8610, c/n 2602. Delivered new to the USAF in November 1948. Used as VIP Transport for President Eisenhower from February 1950 to 1959, named Columbine II. Bought by Christler Flying Service for parts in July 1970, registered N9463. Sold to Columbine II Inc. in March 1990. Santa Fe NM restored and airworthy since 4/5/90, stored Northwest Marana Regional Airport seen stored at Ryan Field AZ Jan26-1991. Bought by Dynamic Avlease, Bridgewater VA in January 2019.

Lockheed Constellation

Unidentified type and livery.

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation (Prototype)

First flight on October 13th 1950 of the prototype of L-1049 Super Constellation based upon first prototype L-049 (Modified to XC-69) of January 1943.
Registration NC25600, c/n 1961ST. First flight of Prototype Lockheed L-049-46-10 Constellation registered NX25600. Converted to XC-69 with Duplex Cyclone engines. Delivered to USAAF as 43-10309 in 1943. Back to Lockheed Aircraft Corp. as NX25600 again converted to XC-69E. Sold to Hughes Aircraft as NX67900. Bought back in May 1950 by Lockheed Aircraft Corp. for conversion to Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation. Later used as test bed for Allison YT56 turboprop engine by placing it in the #4 position 1957, also used as an aerodynamics test aircraft for the U.S. Navy PO-1W airborne early warning Warning Star, wfu and sold for parts in 12.58.
Seen again in this work:
L-1049
XC-69E
XC-69
L-1049 turboprop test bed

Reg. NC25600 Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation of Lockheed Aircraft Corp..

Lockheed L-1649A Super Starliner

Lockheed WV-2 Warning Star

No U.S.AIR FORCE title in the front of fuselage, it must be a WV-2 of the Navy.

Lockheed NC-121J Super Constellation

NC-121J BuNu 131641 of OCEANOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT SQUADRON 8 (VXN-08). Built as Lockheed R7V-1 c/n 1249A-4142 and first used by (US Navy) VR-1. Modified for Project Jenny as Blue Eagle III in July 1965 but eventually put on Blue Eagle II standart in January 1966. Sent to Vietnam where she was damaged in mortar attack at Tan Son Nhut (13 April 1966). Seen here after July 1967 (creation date of VXN-8 ... read on the front landing gear wells).
Seen again in this work.

Lockheed C-121J Super Constellation of the US Navy.

Lockheed L-1649A Super Star

Registration D-ALUB, c/n 1034. Delivered new to Lufthansa in September 1957, named Isar. Converted to freighter in July 1960. Leased to World Airways in July 1962, registered N45511. Returned to Lufthansa as D-ALUB in January 1964. Wfu and stored in November 1965. Sold to Nordflug GmbH in january 1966 for restaurant in Harttenholm near Hamburg Germany. Destroyed by fire in July 1975.
It was the only aircraft that did not receive the parabola design on its three rudders that were common at the time.
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Lockheed PO-1W (later : WV-1)

Two airframes for the US Navy :
Bu No 124437 (c/n 749-2612 built in 1949; scrapped in January 1969) and Bu No 124438 (c/n 749-2613 built in 1950) type PO-1W; both redesignated WV-1 in 1952 once transfered to the USAF.
Bu No 124438 put on storage in March 1956. Registered in February 1958 as N7624C then N120. Once the radomes removed, registered as N1206. 1966-2012 : several owners all saying purportedly going to restore to 'flyable' condition. Fly test unsuccessful and eventually registration cancelled on 4 June 2012. Final fate ?

Footage of Lockheed PO-1W (view again at 30 minutes).

Burbank Lockheed Aircraft Plant

Lockheed Vega

7 Lockheed Vega's seen on the tarmac of Burbank's Lockheed facility.

Vega's production line.

Lockheed L-10 Electra

Lockheed L-12 Electra Junior

Lockheed L-18 Lodestar

Registration F-ARTM, c/n 18-2013. Built Lockheed L-18-14 Lodestar for Régie Air Afrique in 1940 but not taken up do to WWII. Converted to Lockheed L-18-56 Lodestar and sold to SABENA Congo in August 1941, registered OO-CAI. Sold to EAA-East African Airways in June 1949, registered VP-KHA. Sold to the USA in January 1952, registered N5381N. Sold in October 1955, registered N555H. Sold to D & D Aero Inc. Rantoul KS in May 1976.

Lockheed L-18 Lodestar

Research and Development

Lockheed C-69/L-049 Constellation (profile)

3-view line drawing of the C-69/L-049

Lockheed Constellation (model)

Wind tunnel model.

Rival and/or collateral projects

Boeing 247

Douglas DC-1-109

This single aircraft, father of the famous Douglas DC-2 and DC-3 family was bought in 1933 by T&WA-Transcontinental & Western Air before being sold to Europe in the beginning of 1938.
Registration NC223Y, c/n 1137. First flight on 1st July 1933, with T&WA colours, registered X223Y. The airplane was operated by this company until 1936, registered NC223Y, named City of Los Angeles. T&WA loaned it to the U.S. government for high altitude research. In May 1938 NC223Y was sold to The Right Honourable Vicount Forbes at Croydon, 27 May 1938, and registered G-AFIF, 25 June 1938. It was re-sold to France, in September 1938. The DC-1 was again sold in 1938, this time to Spanish Republican government, and operated by Lineas Aéreas Postales Espanolas, also known as LAPE, registered EC-AGJ. Finally in April 1939, after the defeat of the Spanish Republican Armed Forces that marked the end of the Spannish Civil War, the planes belonging to LAPE's fleet were expropriated by the Francoist government and repainted with the Iberia livery. The airplane made a forced landing at Malaga, Spain, in December 1940. It was damaged beyond repair.
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Douglas DC-2-112

Registration NC13738, c/n 1288. Delivered new to Eastern Air Lines in October 1934. Sold to British Purchasing Commission in 1940. Sold to Royal Australian Air Force in May 1941, registered A30-14. Sold to Australian National Airways in October 1943, registered VH-CRH. Back to Royal Australian Air Force in February 1944, registered A30-14. Sold to Dutch Dakota Association in February 1987, registered PH-AJU. Then to Militair Luchtvaart Museum - National Military Museum in December 1988. Preserved at Aviodrome Lelystad.

Douglas DC-3

Indistinct variant and airline.

Lockheed XC-35

The XC-35 was a development of the Lockheed L-10 Electra that was designed to meet a 1935 request by the United States Army Air Corps for an aircraft with a pressurized cabin.Only one was produced. First flight in May 1937.

Lockheed P-38F-1-LO Lightning

s/n 41-7588 Lockheed P-38F-1-LO Lightning.

s/n 41-7588 Lockheed P-38 Lightning of the USAAF.

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Prototype tests

Lockheed XC-69E Constellation (Prototype)

Registration 43-10309, c/n 1961ST. Prototype XC-69 re-engined with Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp 2SC14-G (R-2800-83) engines and designated XC-69E.
See above history of this aircraft.

Reg. 43-10309 Lockheed XC-69E Constellation of Lockheed Aircraft Corp..

Lockheed P-38 Lightning in the background.

Lockheed XC-69 Constellation (Prototype)

Registration 43-10309, c/n 1961ST. Prototype XC-69 engined with Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone engines, first flight on January the 1st 1943.
See above history of this aircraft.

Reg. 43-10309 Lockheed XC-69 Constellation of the USAAF.

Lockheed C-69 Constellation

Registration 43-10310, c/n 1962. First production aircraft, delivered to the USAAF-Air Transport Command on the 17 April 1944 at National Airport, Arlington, Virginia. She carried the markings of T&WA-The Transcontinental Line and was flown by that company’s owner, Howard Robard Hughes, Jr., and T&WA’s president, William John Frye. On 31 March 1947, War Assets Administration sold 43-10310 for spare parts. It was salvaged to repair other C-69 and L-049 airplanes. In 1952, Lockheed rebuilt -310 for Inter-National Airways, Inc., which leased it to Flying Tiger Line. It was assigned civil registration NC38936. Destroyed by fire after landing accident during training/certification flight at Burbank, 22 January 1953.
Same aircraft seen in other films IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Landing at National Airport (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport nowadays). See discussion tab (1).

Douglas C-47 Skytrain on the left in the background.

At Lockheed Air Terminal Burbank.

Lockheed C-69 Constellation

War Production

Lockheed C-69 Constellation

Production at Lockheed Air Terminal Burbank. See discussion tab (2).

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

Lockheed Aircraft produced the Boeing B-17 during the WWII.

Unidentified Aircraft

Lockheed PV-1 or PV-2?

Unidentified Aircraft

Tricycle.

Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Post WWII era

Lockheed C-121 Constellation

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Lockheed L-049E Constellation

Registration G-AHEM, c/n 1978. Built in 1946 as Lockheed C-69 Constellation . Intended for USAF as 42-94557 but not delivered. Registered as N90605 owned by Lockheed Aircraft Corp.. Sold in May 1946 to B.O.A.C-British Overseas Airways Corporation registered G-AHEM. Converted to L-049D in 1952, then to L-049E in 1953, named Balmoral. Sold to Capital Airlines in December 1954, registered N2735A, named 755. Written off in December 1959 at Charleston, WV.

Lockheed Constellation

Unidentified.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Repainting from T&WA-The Transcontinental Line to TWA-Trans World Airline in late 1940s.
Registration N86503, c/n 2024. Delivered new to T&WA-The Transcontinental Line in December 1945, named NAVAJO Skychief. Changed to TWA-Trans World Airline then TWA-Trans World Airlines in May 1950, renamed 503 Star of the Nile. Sold to Nevada Airmotive in March 1962. Leased to ASA International from 1962 to May 1964, then returned to Nevada Airmotive. Brocken up in 1967.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Inauguration at Lockheed Air Terminal Burbank.
Registration PH-TAV, c/n 2069. Delivered new to KLM-The Flying Dutchman in June 1946, named Venlo. Bought back by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in July 1950, registered N86532.Sold to Capital Airlines in October 1950. Converted to L-049D, named 754 Capitaliner Liberty. Leased to Regina Cargo Airlines in February 1960. Leased to Imperial Airlines in December 1960. Leased to Coastal Air Lines in 1962. Leased to Magic City Airways in January 1962. Should be leased to Compaana Ciatra as LV-PWK but not taken up. Leased to Magic City Airways as N86532 in January 1964. Bought by Alvaro Adorisio - R Merkins in March 1965. Sold to Transportes Aereos Squelia in August 1968, registered CC-CCA. Wfu and used as a night club in Peru 1968-79. Scrapped.

Lockheed L-649 Constellation (Speedpack)

Lockheed L-649 Constellation of Eastern Air Lines-The Great Silver Fleet.

Speedpack installation under an Eastern Air Lines-The Great Silver Fleet L-049.

An Air France L-049 in the background left.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

3 aircraft of this type, including one from KLM-The Flying Dutchman in the foreground on the right.

Lockheed L-649 Constellation

Pre-TWA livery with Lockheed Aircraft title.

Lockheed L-749A Constellation

Some other views of the same aircraft seen above.

Lockheed Constellation

Unidentified.

Lockheed L-749A Constellation

Wright R-3350 engine fitted with Curtiss Electric propellers with fully reversing blades making ability of short landing moving back.

2502 or 2602 markings not found.
Short landing.

Stop on the runway.

Moving back on the runway due to reverse function.

Lockheed L-749A Constellation (Inside)

Lockheed C-121 Constellation

Lockheed VC-121B Constellation

Registration 48-608, c/n 2600. Delivered new to the USAF in November 1948. Withdrawn from use at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson (KDMA/DMA) in April 1968. Bought by Aero Tech Inc. in September 1971. Bought by Aviation Specialities Inc. and converted for agricultural application in September 1972, registered N608AS. Bought by Globe Air Inc. in April 1981. Stored at Mesa, Arizona (AZ); seen stored at Ryan Field Tucson in January 1987 intact and again in February 1990 now minus many parts, still at Ryan Field, AZ in derelict condition in May 2001.

Lockheed VC-121E Super Constellation Columbine III

Registration 53-7885, c/n 4151. Delivered new to the USAF in 1953. Used as VIP Transport for President Eisenhower from November 1953 to January 1961, named Columbine III.After President Eisenhower left office, the U.S. Air Force continued to use Columbine III as a VIP transport. The aircraft was retired from service in April 1966 and flown to the National Museum of the US Airforce, Dayton OH, for permanent display.

See discussion tab (3).

Hughes H-4 Hercules

Registration NX37602, c/n HK1. First and single flight in November 2nd 1947. Preserved at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville, Oregon.
Same aircraft in other works at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation (Prototype)

NC25600 already seen above now bought .
Lockheed L-049 Constellation in the background.

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Eastern Air Lines was the first operator of this version in 1951.

Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation

Production line at Burbank Lockheed Aircraft Corp.. First in the row, foreground aircraft for Qantas Empire Airways.

Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation

Registration VH-EAL, c/n 4574. Delivered new to Qantas Empire Airways in January 1955, named Southern Breeze. Sold back to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in November 1959, registered N9719C. Sold to Twentieth Century Airlines in 1960. Leased to TIA-Trans International Airlines in June 1962. Leased to California Airmotive Corporation in April 1964. Sold to American Flyers Airline in October 1964. Written off in September 1965, overran runway on landing at Andamooka, Australia (YAMK/ADO).

Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation

Could be Southern Sky (VH-EAH), Southern Sun (VH-EAI), Southern Sea (VH-EAA).

View just seconds before the Lockheed PO-1W (later : WV-1)) is screening again.

Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star

At Burbank Lockheed Aircraft Corp..

Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation of Qantas Empire Airways in the background left.

Lockheed PO-2W Warning Star

Registration NC25600, already mentioned above:
Prototype of L-1049 Super Constellation used as an aerodynamics test aircraft for the U.S. Navy Lockheed PO-2W Warning Star airborne early warning Warning Star, wfu and sold for parts in December 1958.

Reg. NC25600 Lockheed PO-1W Warning Star.

Lockheed PO-2W Warning Star

Lockheed EC-121D Warning Star

965th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron (1955-1971). See discussion tab (4)

Lockheed EC-121D Warning Star

In flight.

Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star

Maintenance.

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation (turboprop engine test bed)

Registration NC25600, already mentioned above:
Prototype of L-1049 Super Constellation used as test bed in 1957 for Allison 501-D1 (Lockheed L-188 Electra)/Allison YT56 (Lockheed C-130 Hercules) turboprop engine by placing it in the #4 position.

Reg. NC25600 Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation with Allison 501-D1 N°4 engine.

Lockheed YC-130A Hercules

Two firsts prototypes, equipped with 4x Allison T56-A-1 turboprops and APS-42 radar not prominent unlike all subsequent C-130s with the APN-59.
Registrations 53-3396 and 53-3397, c/n 1001 and 1002. The aircraft, serial number 53-3397, was the second prototype, but the first of the two to fly on 23 August 1954 from the Lockheed plant in Burbank, California.
53-3396 was broken up in October 1960 at Warner-Robins Air Force Base.
53-3397 was ferried to Edwards Air Force Base in August 1954. Delivered to the USAF in December 1955 as YC-130, re-designated NC-130. Wfu in October 1960 at Warner-Robins Air Force Base. Broken up in April 1962 at Indianapolis.

Reg. 53-3396 or 53-3397 Lockheed YC-130A Hercules of the USAF.

Lockheed L-188A Electra

Registration N1881, c/n 1001. Prototype, first flight on December 6th 1957. Titled LOCKHEED PROP.JET ELECTRA on the fuselage. Sold to PSA-Pacific Southwest Airlines in May 1961, registered N174PS. Sold to Regency Income Corp. in October 1968. Sold to Holiday Airlines Corp. in July 1973, registered N974HA. Wfu in 1975.
Same aircraft in other works at IMPDb: Frequently Seen Aircraft (Civil Fixed-Wing).

Reg. N1881 Lockheed L-188 Electra of Lockheed Aircraft Corp..

Reg. N1881 Lockheed L-188A Electra of Lockheed Aircraft Corp..

Lockheed L-1649A Starliner

Lockheed WV-2E Warning Star Experimental

One modified WV-2, testbed for rotating radar dome with an AN/APS-70 radar. See discussion tab (5).

Lockheed WV-2 Warning Star

At Burbank Lockheed Aircraft Corp..

Considerations for a replacement of the Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star in the late 1950s. See discussion tab (6).

Lockheed AEW&C project (model)

One never built project based upon Lockheed L-188A Electra.

Lockheed AEW&C project (artist's painting).

Boeing AEW&C project & Douglas AEW&C project

Boeing E-3 Sentry

Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation

The arrival of jets did not mean the immediate end of the aging "Connies" which were used extensively in Southeast Asia during the Viet Nam war. Here at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base which served as home to many permanent and transient Air Force squadrons, as well as many other military and civilian forces.

Lockheed NC-121J Super Constellation

Lockheed NC-121J Super Constellation BuNo 131641 of OCEANOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT SQUADRON 8 (VXN-08), US Navy (tail code JB).
Some other views of the same aircraft are seen above.

Eagle emblem of OCEANOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT SQUADRON 8 (VXN-08, US Navy).

Douglas C-47 Skytrain

2 aircraft of the type in the right at Korat Royal Thai Air Force. To the left, C-121J mentioned above.

Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star

Missions in Viet Nam.

C-121 Super Constellation in the far background.

Fairchild C-123 Provider and Douglas C-47 Skytrain (far background) to the left.

Lockheed L-1049E Super Constellation

In final landing, already mentioned above VH-EAK Southern Mist.

Somewhere unknown. Not sure it is the same airplane.

A Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando in the background right.

Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star

Stored at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DMA/KDMA),Tucson AZ.

Registration 055268 for Lockheed EC-121H-LO ex BuNo 141327 c/n 1049A-4451. WFU December 1969.

Lockheed EC-121H-LO Warning Star of the USAF.

End Credits

North American P-51D Mustang

Registration 43-6898 coded QP-J assigned to the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group from VIII Fighter Command of the USA Air Force, which was the first United States Army Air Forces unit activated in the European Theater during World War II, which was located in Essex, England.
One-time personal aircraft of Capt Howard "Deacon" Hively. Aircraft lost, shot down in melee with fifteen plus enemy aircraft on 6 June 1944 Evreux, France (pilot Major Winslow M "Mike" Sobanski Kill In Action).