Lockheed Constellation: Classic Airliners

by Jim Winchester

One of the most elegantly designed airliners to ever grace the skies was the Lockheed Constellation. This book charts the propliner's design and development from prewar proposals to the sophisticated Starliners of the 1950s. Operational use and airlines that flew the "Connie" are detailed, as are several military variants that developed early in the Cold War. A technical "walk-around" and descriptions of the differences between variants are included, and the volume concludes with a look at the surviving aircraft.

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2001

Reviews

[Daniel L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Queen as Star of the Skies

What? Another book on the Connie? Sure, why not. We propliner enthusiasts can never get too much of a good thing. But for a new entry into an already crowded market place (not to mention one's own bookshelves!), the book had better be worthwhile. And worthwhile it is. The book opens with a chapter on the design and the development of the Constellation, which is very intereseting, as it is the only book I know to feature some unusual nose designs Lockheed proposed for final version of what would become Lockheed's first four-engine airliner. What is surprising, however, is the omission of the earlier "paper airplane," the Lockheed Model 44 Excalibur. For that, readers will need to check out Stringfellow and Barrows's fine book. The chapter chronicles the building and testing of the earliest Connies, which would be taken over by the U.S. Army. The flight testing, working out bugs, and Howard Hughes's publicity stunt in setting a world record with an Army Constellation painted up with TWA markings make for interesting reading. This book does a fine job covering each major Constellation variant, including flight deck and cabin pictures and how the inside of the plane kept pace with the technological advances of the exterior. Included are a production list, a list of Connie survivors, and a compilation of accidents and incidents. Unfortuately the AMSA and Aerochargo (and other) Constellations that were still gracing the skies when this book was written have had their wings clipped. Aficionados of the military variants will also not be disappointed, as these are all described; unfortunately none of the books I have read show what these mysterious birds looked like on the inside. Overall, Winchester's book is a welcome addition to the stable of Constellation books out there. No single book covers everything, but having three (or more) books on this graceful airliner isn't such a bad thing either.