Lockheed Constellation: books - history and models
A book on Lockheed Constellation airliners? Explore here illustrated books on the history, models and construction of Lockheed airliners.
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".
Product details
Details:
96 pages, 20 x 14 x 1 cm / 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.39 in, paperback
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.
Product details
Author:
Claude G. Luisada
Details:
424 pages, 26.5 x 18 x 4 cm / 10.4 x 7.1 x 1.57 in, hardback
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.
Product details
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 - A Legends of Flight Illustrated 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.
Product details
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
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.
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