Lockheed Constellation: books - history and models

Queen of the Skies - The Lockheed Constellation

A revolutionary commercial propeller transport, the Lockheed Constellation burst on the aviation scene in the early 1940s. Unheralded for the most part, due to wartime secrecy, it finally entered commercial service in 1946, and promptly set new standards for speed, range, reliability, and passenger comfort. The Connie, as it was affectionately known, pioneered new flight paths in many parts of the globe.

Connies ultimately flew commercially for more than thirty years, and underwent countless modifications and upgrades during that time. They continued to be utilized by the military as well; in fact, Connies were involved in a number of endeavors that remain shrouded in secrecy to this day.

This, then, is the story of a remarkable and distinctive airplane. It is also the story of the people who made the Constellation great, including aviation legends like Howard Hughes and Clarence "Kelly" Johnson. Most importantly, however, it is a story that sheds light on the dynamics of technology, politics, and society in the years 1940 to 1980.
This revised edition contains an additional chapter on Constellations that are still flying today, as well as an additional appendix of the Constellation's operations manual.

Information

Author:	Claude G. Luisada
Details:	424 pages, 26.5 x 18 x 4 cm / 10.4 x 7.1 x 1.57 in, hardback
Illustrations:	51 b&w photos and drawings
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2014)
ISBN:	9780764346392

Lockheed Constellation - A Legends of Flight Illustrated History (Legends of Flight)

NEW

The Lockheed Constellation was the leading propeller-driven airliner of the postwar era. Developed during World War II by a renowned team that included Howard Hughes and Kelly Johnson, it became an icon of early commercial aviation.

This book presents a richly illustrated history of the Constellation, featuring several hundred vintage photographs of aircraft and airlines worldwide. It covers the three main commercial variants: the Constellation, the Super Constellation, and the Starliner. The military versions used during wartime are also included.
Known as the "Mona Lisa of the Skies, " the Constellation was admired for its elegant design, representing the golden age of air travel. One chapter highlights the special features and luxury amenities offered by premium airlines, while another focuses on freighter models and conversions.

Information

Author:	Wolfgang Borgmann
Details:	144 pages, 22 x 22.5 x 1.3 cm / 8.7 x 8.9 x 0.51 in, hardback
Illustrations:	260 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2024)
Series:	Legends of Flight
ISBN:	9780764368226

Lockheed Constellation

NEW

Developed in response to a 1939 request from Howard Hughes and TWA, the Lockheed Constellation introduced a groundbreaking design for airliners. Known as the "Connie, " it set new standards in performance, efficiency, and passenger comfort. However, Lockheed's close ties with TWA and Hughes limited sales to other airlines, affecting profits. International sales, particularly in South America and Europe, were stronger, but the post-World War II market remained challenging.
Lockheed found a crucial customer in the U.S. military, whose support helped sustain production. This also benefited civilian airlines, leading to the development of the Super Constellation and Starliner. However, the rise of jet aircraft soon overshadowed these models. Major airlines phased out the Constellation, though some remained in service until the late 1960s, with the last passenger flight occurring in 1978 in the Dominican Republic.

This extensively illustrated book follows the Constellation from its creation to retirement, highlighting its unique contributions to aviation history.
This is a new edition of "Aeroplane Classic Airliner: Constellation".

Information

Details:	96 pages, 20 x 14 x 1 cm / 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.39 in, paperback
Illustrations:	profusely illustrated
Publisher:	Key Publishing Ltd (GB, 2024)
Series:	Historic Commercial Aircraft (8)
ISBN:	9781802823745

Lockheed Constellation : A History

Clarence 'Kelly' Johnson's design for the Lockheed Constellation, known affectionately as the 'Connie', produced one of the world's most iconic airliners. Lockheed had been working on the L-044 Excalibur, a four-engine, pressurised airliner, since 1937. In 1939, Trans World Airlines, at the instigation of major stockholder Howard Hughes, requested a 40-passenger transcontinental aircraft with a range of 3,500 miles, well beyond the capabilities of the Excalibur design. TWA's requirements led to the L-049 Constellation, designed by Lockheed engineers including Kelly Johnson and Hall Hibbard.

Between 1943 and 1958, Lockheed built 856 Constellations in numerous models at its Burbank, California, factory - all with the same distinctive and immediately recognisable triple-tail design and dolphin-shaped fuselage. The Constellation was used as a civil airliner and as a military and civilian air transport, seeing service in the Berlin and the Biafran airlifts.
Three of them served as the presidential aircraft for Dwight D. Eisenhower. After the Second World War, TWA's trans-Atlantic service began on 6 February 1946 with a New York-Paris flight in a Constellation.
Then, on 17 June 1947, Pan Am opened the first-ever scheduled round-the-world service with their L-749 Clipper America.

In this revealing insight into the Lockheed Constellation, the renowned aviation historian Graham M. Simons examines its design, development and service, both military and civil.
In doing so, he reveals the story of a design which, as the first pressurised airliner in widespread use, helped to usher in affordable and comfortable air travel around the world.

Information

Author:	Graham M. Simons
Details:	320 pages, 25 x 17.5 x 2.8 cm / 9.8 x 6.9 x 1.1 in, hardback
Illustrations:	175 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Air World (GB, 2021)
ISBN:	9781526758866

Lockheed C-121 Constellation (Naval Fighters)

In 1943 the Lockheed Model 49 Constellation was the fastest and most modern airliner in the world. They were purchased by the USAAC as C-69s and in 1948 the larger more capable Model 749 was purchased as the C-121A.

This early Naval Fighters Series volume first published in 1983 covers the USAAC / USAF C-121A, the Navy PO-1W/WV-1 AEW version of the Model 749 from 1949, the stretched Model 1049 Navy transport R7O-1/R7V-1 from 1952, the Air Force Model 1049 versions C-121C/EC-121S/C-121G/AC-121/EC-121R, Navy WV-2/EC-121K AEW and Air Force EC-121C/EC-121D AEW platforms, and the experimental WV-2E/EC-121L AEW aircraft and the turbo-prop R7V-2/YC-121F transport.

The book includes brief Navy squadron histories, detail drawings, and essays on flying the Connie, Vietnam, College Eye / Big Eye, 552nd AEW, Bat Cat and AEWBARRONPAC.

Information

Author:	Steve Ginter
Details:	78 pages, 28 x 22 x 0.5 cm / 11 x 8.7 x 0.2 in, paperback
Illustrations:	b&w photos
Publisher:	Specialty Press (USA, 1983)
Series:	Naval Fighters (8)
ISBN:	9780942612080

Lockheed Constellation - Königin der Löfte

The Lockheed "Constellation" is considered by many to be the embodiment of the classic propliner. The aerodynamically optimized, curved shape of the fuselage led to it being considered one of the most beautifully designed and elegant commercial aircraft ever built.
Only a handful of these majestic propliners are still flying worldwide and wherever they appear they attract thousands of enthusiastic spectators.

Wolfgang Borgmann makes this book, with wonderful contemporary images, technical data and current material, the standard illustrated book on the Constellation in German.

Information

Author:	Wolfgang Borgmann
Details:	176 pages, 24 x 30.5 cm / 9 x 12 in, hardback
Illustrations:	160 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2018)
ISBN:	9783613040359