Constellation Q&A Forum

Q & A FORUM

QUESTION – "UNIDENTIFIED CONSTELLATION” – Pete Fothergill – February 11, 2013
I’ve recently purchased a slide scanner and am now in the process of scanning all my old slides (1970-1984) into my PC. My interests are mainly airliners & I’ve come across a picture you may be interested in, taken I think in 1982. That year I was on vacation trip from here in the UK to Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi & Georgia, but as to where I took the picture, I’m afraid I have no idea. Perhaps you may be able to help with the location & identity of the aircraft. If not, please feel free to use the picture anyway. ANSWER
Pete,
The photo was taken in New Orleans and the aircraft is L049 N864H c/n 2068. According to Peter J. Marson's Lockheed Constellation book, it was originally delivered to KLM as PH-TAU in May 1946 and sold a few year later to Capital Airlines in July 1950 as N86531. Retired by Capital in December 1960, it flew for a number of small airlines over the next 10+ years. It was flown to New Orleans in early 1973 for use as the “Crash Landing Bar/Nightclub”. Then as an attraction at the “Millionaires Club” by late 1975 followed by the “Crash Landing Disco” in about 1981 and finally the “Village Place” in 1982. It was scrapped a year later in 1983.
Ralph
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QUESTION – "DATE AND LOCATION OF EC-121T 52-3425 PHOTO” – Ernie Newman – May 11, 2010
This image is from the "Peter J. Marson" collection. This Connie was assigned to the AFRES 1 Aug 1976, with stops at Keflavik, Homestead and Sacramento until it was dropped from the Air Force inventory 30 Sep 1978. Is there anyone out there that knows where this picture was taken? Please send your reply to colorockymthi@comcast.net This beautiful aircraft is now the centerpiece of the airpark at the Peterson Air and Space Museum, Peterson AFB, CO. www.petemuseum.org ANSWER
If anyone has an answer for Ernie, please email him directly at his email address and please copy me so I can include the information on this website.
Ralph
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QUESTION – "SUPER CONSTELLATIONS OPERATED BY LOCKHEED” – Peter Merlin – October 29, 2009
I’m trying to track down some information about a Super Constellation that was operated by Lockheed during the 1960s. Between January 1961 and May 1968, Lockheed operated three Connies from Burbank as personnel/cargo transports. The first aircraft in the fleet was the L-1649A prototype (registered as N60968 and later N1102). In July 1963, Lockheed leased L-1049H (N6922C) from Air America. Kelly Johnson lists a third aircraft as an L-1049G but the only pictures I have seen (bad photocopies) don’t show the tail number. I am trying to find the date that the L-1049G was added to Lockheed’s fleet, the airplane’s registration number, and eventual disposition. If you can help or point me in the right direction, I would be grateful. Thanks!

ANSWER
Peter,
Lockheed operated the following Constellations.
(1) L1649A N1649/N90968/N1102 (c/n 1001) – 1959 thru 1970
(2) L1049H N6922C (c/n 4825) – 1963 thru 1970
(3) L1049G N9723C (c/n 4680) – 1963 thru 1970
(Source – The Lockheed Constellation – Peter J. Marson, Air Britain 2007)
Note: N6922C went on to fly with AMSA as HI-542CT and has been stored in poor condition at Aquadilla-Borinquen Airport, PR. since 1992, when it was involved in a ground collision with a DC-4.
Ralph
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QUESTION – "SQUARE TIP PROP BLADES ON CF-TGE” – Del Mitchell – June 30, 2009
I just received my latest addition of Propliner Magazine, and I see your article on page 11 of the Trans-Canada Airlines Connie CF-TGE, c/n 4544. Great article, and great pictures. I have a question. What's with the squared props? Was that a modification to that particular aircraft? I've seen squared props on other Connies, but they were usually modifications in test trials, or on the YC-121F's and RC-121D's, but I'm not familiar with commericials. Can you educate me? Thanks. ANSWER
Del,
The props on CF-TGE are authentic...they are Curtis Electric props and they were indeed installed on Trans-Canada Super Connies. Most Super Connies had Hamilton Standard props but KLM, Pakistan International, Qantas, Seaboard and Western and Trans-Canada had Curtis Electric props installed on at least some of their aircraft. Hope this helps. (Source – The Lockheed Constellation – Peter J. Marson, Air Britain 2007 pages 109 and 110)
Additional information received from Peter Marson on August 12th. "Curtiss Electric had two types of props for the 1049 series with square tips, the C634S-C502 & C634S-C504 and one type with rounded tips, the C634D-A4. The two "S" types were with extruded hollow steel blades, the "D" with dural (aluminium) blades. The difference between the two with square tips were the former had fluid anti-icing, the latter was with electric de-icing. The "D2 type also had fluid anti-icing."
Ralph
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QUESTION – "SOUTH AMERICAN CONSTELLATIONS” – John MacDonald – March 29, 2009
Back in the early 80's we went down to Peru and Ecuador. I clearly remember there being at least three Constellations at the end of one of the runways, but I can't remember which airport. I am pretty sure I have some pictures, but if so, they are in storage. Did you ever hear about Constellations in either Peru or Ecuador? Thanks

ANSWER
John,
Most likely it was Lima, Peru. There were no Constellations or Super Constellations registered in Ecuador but quite a few registered in Peru flying for LANSA, RIPSA, Trans Peruvana and COPSIA. Many of these aircraft were stored in Lima after being retired and there probably would have been some remaining in the early 1980's.
Ralph
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QUESTION – "EASTERN AIRLINES AIR SHUTTLE SUPER CONNIES” – Norm Bernstein – March 26, 2009
I wandered into your website today… very interesting! I was wondering if you had any knowledge of the use of Constellations by Eastern Airlines, in the mid to late 1960’s, on their ‘shuttle’ service between either Newark NJ, or LaGuardia, NY, and Boston. My sister entered college in Boston in 1966, and as I dimly recall, some of the aircraft used on those shuttle runs were indeed Constellations. I entered college in Boston in 1969, and often took the shuttle between Newark and Boston, but the Connies were gone by then… I think. Any clue as to when Eastern Airlines discontinued the use of Constellations on that service… and where those planes ended up? Thanks

ANSWER
Norm,
Eastern Airlines began “Air Shuttle” service on April 30, 1961 with Super Constellations between Boston, LaGuardia, Newark and Washington, DC. These aircraft continued flying the “Air Shuttle” until February 14, 1968 when L1049G N6232G flew the last Super Connie flight from Boston to Newark and then on to Washington, DC. While replaced as front line aircraft by Lockheed Electra’s in September 1965, the Super Connies continued to serve as “second section” aircraft for another couple of years. After retirement, most were flown to Southern Florida for storage at the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Opa-locka airports. While most of the L1049 and L1049C aircraft were scrapped in Florida during the early 1970’s, quite of few of the L1049G aircraft were sold to California Airmotive and flown to Fox Field in Lancaster, CA where they met a similar fate. Since the aircraft were passenger aircraft and not freighters, they were essentially worthless on the second-hand market and very few had careers beyond Eastern. Sadly, none of these aircraft survive today.
Ralph
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QUESTION – "TURBOPROP POWERED YC-121F AND R7V-2 SUPER CONNIES” – John Bartlett – March 23, 2009
Does anyone have any information on the YC-121F and R7V-2 Pratt &Whitney T-34 Powered Connies? Any pictures after they left military service? Are they still around today? Thanks

ANSWER
John,
Sorry to say but none of the four aircraft still survive and I do not have any photos after the aircraft left military service. Here’s a brief history of each aircraft.
YC-121F 53-8157 and 53-8158
The Flying Tiger Line acquired the two YC121F's and also two former LAV L1049G's, YV-C-AME and YV-C-AMI (c/n's 4636 and 4674 respectively). The fuselages of the two YC121F's, being basically identical to the civilian L1049H (apart from the passenger windows, which didn't really worry Flying Tiger, being an Air Cargo Company) were then mated to the wings, power plants and tail units of the 2 L1049G's. 53-8157 was combined with YV-C-AMI, re-registered N9746Z and shortly thereafter N173W. 53-8158 was combined with YV-C-AME, re-registered N9794Z and shortly thereafter N174W. Both N173W and N174W ended up flying for North Slope Aviation Company in Alaska. N173W was written off in June 1973 by Aviation Specialties (its final owner) and N174W was written off in May 1970 by North Slope. For additional details, see David Wood's post on the Propliner.Com discussion website. (Source - David Wood/The Lockheed Constellation – Peter J. Marson, Air Britain 2007)
R7V-2 BuN 131630 and 131631
BuN 131630 was retired to Litchfield Park in December 1956 and struck off record in April 1959 with 109 total hours. It remained at Litchfield where it was cannibalized for spares. The rear cargo door was cut out and used for converting L749A N5596A (c/n 2619) to a cargo aircraft. BuN 131631 was converted by Rohr Aircraft in late 1956 to Allison 501D engines with Aeroproducts 606 4-bladed props for the engine test program for the Lockheed Electra. (120 hrs TT). After being damaged at Palmdale, CA it was struck off record (882 hrs TT) in July 1959. Sent to Litchfield Park for storage it was sold to California Airmotive as N7938C in May 1960. Fuselage and other parts were used in the rebuild of L1049G N7121G (c/n 4648) in 1960. Remainder of aircraft scrapped at Litchfield. (Source – The Lockheed Constellation – Peter J. Marson, Air Britain 2007)
Ralph
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QUESTION - "MYSTERY EVERGLADES SUPER CONNIE AND AVIODROME CONNIE" - Peter Ferraro - February 27, 2009
I recall as a young boy going to visit my grandparents who lived in Naples FL. My family flew into Miami and then drove across what I believe was US 41, known as the Tamiami Trail. I'm guessing that this was around 1970 or so, so my memory is rather vague, but I do distinctly remember a Connie that was along the road mounted on top of a gas station or restaurant or something like that. I fairly sure that it was the Tamiami Trail and not the interstate 75. Do you have any info on that airplane and what perhaps ever became of it? I think also I recall seeing a picture of it in a magazine sometime later as well.

Another Connie memory as well, although this one is much clearer. I was flying for the old Business Express airlines back in the early 1990's. This one particular night we left Boston late in the evening headed for Presque Isle, Maine for a layover. The weather was foggy, so we shot an approach and landed north. As we turned off the runway, my jaw absolutely dropped as the landing lights illuminated in the murk, of all things, a triple tail sitting on the ramp! I was shocked to say the least. Luckily, the airplane was still on the ramp the next morning when we went back out to the airport to return to Boston. I borrowed one of the ramp tugs and went around to where the airplane was sitting. It turned out to be the Conifair 749 that I believe went to AZ for restoration and then to Amsterdam. The crew was there and I chatted with them for a bit. They were stuck waiting for the weather to clear as well as dealing with a fuel sump drain valve that wouldn't shut. I recall the mech, drenched with avgas running down his arm, trying to close the valve with a screwdriver without success. It was a cold, raw day so he wasn't having any fun. They let me take a quick look in the cockpit, which as a Connie lover I had to do. I was struck that these guys were flying all the way to Arizona with VFR sectionals! Unfortunately, it was getting closer to departure time so I had to scoot. I would have loved to have spent alot more time talking to them. As I drove away on the tug, that mech, cussing a blue streak, was still struggling with that fuel drain too.

ANSWER
Peter,
The aircraft you describe is L1049G c/n 4617, which was delivered to the Portuguese flag carrier TAP as CS-TLB in July 1955 and retired in mid-1967. It was sold to International Aerodyne and flown to Miami, FL in September 1967 and registered N4624 in April 1969. Sold to Air Cargo Operations Inc in June 1969 and to Leasing Consultants the same month, the aircraft never flew again but was used instead for spares. Disassembled in October 1969, the aircraft was transported to Everglades, FL and by September 1971 was placed atop a restaurant at the Dade Collier/Oasis Airport, Tamiami Trail. The restaurant closed and the building was later used as a garage with the aircraft remaining there until early February 1978 when the garage closed. The aircraft was taken about a mile away and cut up for scrap in February 1978. (Source – The Lockheed Constellation – Peter J. Marson, Air Britain 2007) Here's a link to a photo of the aircraft on the Airliners.net website.

The aircraft you saw at Presque Island, Maine was indeed former Conifair L749A (C-121A) N749VR being ferried by a Constellation Group crew from Mont Joli, Canada to the group's headquarters at Avra Valley Airport (now Marana Northwest Regional Airport) near Tucson, AZ in September 1994. Stored at Avra Valley without its props for almost seven years, this aircraft was restored by Dutch Aviodrome volunteers and mechanics from The Constellation Group between March 2001 and September 2002. The aircraft was re-registered N749NL and flown to The Netherlands in September 2002. It is currently painted in 1950's era KLM colors and is stored in airworthy condition at the Aviodrome's facility in Lelystad, The Netherlands. The Aviodrome is currently working through the FAA bureaucracy to get a flight crew certified to fly the aircraft during the 2009 European airshow season. Here are some links from my website with some additional information about the aircraft that you might find interesting.
N749NL History
N749NL Photo Metamorphous
Connie's Comeback From the Cockpit
Restoration of L749A N749NL
I hope this answers your questions.
Ralph
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UPDATE - "ANCHORAGE FIRE DUMP CONNIES" - Michael S. Prophet - December 24, 2008
I was browsing your website and landed on your new feature questions/answers. I thought it would be nice to show you these two scans, which I made on my first trip to Alaska in August/September 1987. I arranged to be escorted by the ANC airport ramp control to the remote storage/fire training area area where the TWA Staliner and DC-6 spent their last days! The L1649 was the N7315C and the DC-6 was the N65L ex RAA. ANSWER
Michael,
Thanks very much for the two very interesting photos. By the time I made it to Anchorage in 2005, these two aircraft were long gone and had been replaced in the firedump by an Electra! I will include your email and photos in an update to the website. This will probably not happen until next week since my FTP connection is “broken”, as the result of a server crash last week, and won’t be back up and running until next week.
Ralph
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QUESTION - "C-121C 54-0153" - Paul Ray - December 24, 2008
Regarding the subject Connie (54-0180) at Charleston AFB, the hierarchy at Charleston in 1985 wanted the City of Charleston 40153 colors on the bird. I believe the actual 40153 went down in the Azores. It was a great treat flying to old gal back home. I was 15 years non current but made one of my best landings at the end of the nonstop flight to Charleston (I cheated and only used 50% flaps). Very memorable day as it was my 19th wedding anniversary and my wife swore I loved Connie more than her. I have a couple of pictures some where of the great brake/hydraulic fire we had in the chocks following final shutdown. Easy way to make the front page of the Charleston News & Courier. Thanks for the great web site.

ANSWER
Paul,
After 7 years of service at Charleston AFB, the “real” 54-0153 went to the New Jersey ANG in December 1962. It served there until May 1973 when it was flown to the boneyard at Davis Monthan. By June 1976 it was on its belly with no engines and it was sold for scrap in March 1978. (Source – The Lockheed Constellation – Peter J. Marson, Air Britain 2007)
Ralph
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QUESTION - "SPEEDPACK" - Danforth E. West - December 3, 2008
Over the years, I've seen photos of Constellations with a piece of equipment attached which I believe was called a "Speed Pack" or something like that. What it was was an auxilliary cargo compartment that was attached to the underneath of the fuselage to carry extra cargo. I know it was used by Qantas and at least one US carrier, but I've never seen it written about anywhere. Quick on/off with a special trolley. Was it successful? Who used it? Is there one or more still out there somewhere? Was it pressurized/heated/cooled? What did it typically carry? Thanks in advance for your reply!

ANSWER
Dan,
The Speedpack could be termed a modest success with 75 units being built by Lockheed. The 649 Constellation was the first model to carry the external freight container on scheduled airline service. It was developed by Lockheed engineers at the request of Eastern Air Lines and first tested on L049 Constellation c/n 1979. The Speedpack was 33ft 4in long, 7ft wide and 3ft deep and weighed 1,836 pounds empty. The payload was 395 cu ft and up to 8,200 lbs of cargo in seven compartments. A built-in electric hoist lowered the Speedpack to the ground for loading or unloading. For ease of movement on the ground, two semi-recessed wheels were mounted underneath each end of the Speedpack. Cruise speed was reduced by only 10 mph and range by 4%. Eastern and KLM ordered 14 and 7 units respectively in late 1946 and TWA, Air France and Qantas also ordered units. The four Speedpack attachment points were included on L049 Constellations c/n 2076 onward and on all L649 and L749 Constellations. (Source – The Lockheed Constellation – Peter J. Marson, Air Britain 2007)
Ralph
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QUESTION - "ANCHORAGE FIRE DUMP CONNIES" - Steve B - November 30, 2008
What a great website you have there! Although I'm not quite old enough to have seen Connies in regular airline service, they are one of my all-time favourite planes. The elegance of the design has never been matched in my opinion. I came across your website while I was trying to track down some information about a couple of Connies I saw at Anchorage way back in February 1977. I passed through Anchorage on my way to Tokyo, and noted that I saw two TWA Connies on the fire dump there. I was trying to identify these two Connies. I have strong evidence that one of them was N7315C L.1649A (c/n 1017). Do you have any idea what the other one was? I appreciate any help you may be able to offer on this. Many thanks, and keep up the great work on the website.

ANSWER
Steve,
L1649A N7315C was definitely one of the aircraft. It was finally scrapped in 1995 after all of the usable parts were removed. The other aircraft was L1049H N6919C (c/n 4819), which was also scrapped at Anchorage some time after 1978. If anyone has a more exact date of when this aircraft was scrapped, this information would be much appreciated.
Ralph