The Constellation: Lockheed's Graceful Masterpiece

by Alexander Clifton

The airline business is a hundred years old. In that time uncountable airliners have been conceived, designed and built but, for all their diversity, less than a hundred types have ever sold in large numbers and, unlike military aircraft, only a handful are truly iconic. The shortlist, in fact, is so brief (rarely more than six) they can be named in a sentence. Because such rankings can spark passionate debates among the cognoscenti, it’s better that you write your own. All that can be said is that you will be hard-pressed to leave out one of the few commercial aircraft that still stirs hearts across the world: Lockheed’s graceful masterpiece — the Constellation. Her elliptical wings, triple tail, insect legs and dolphin-shaped fuselage still make her instantly recognisable to almost everyone, even those who could identify few other aeroplanes. For post-war travellers she came to symbolise panache and elegance in what is sometimes known as flying’s ‘Golden Age’. Today, eighty years after her birth, she is loved by another generation for her retro-style and 1940s glamour.

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2021

Reviews

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. I just love anything aviation and this book did not disappoint. It tells the story and development of the constellation planes through history from war planes to commercial airlines.  I enjoyed the rivalry between the different plane manufacturers. This book is packed full of amazing photographs both black & white and colour. These showed each plane, development of the planes engines through time. My favourite where the pictures of the advertising posters created.

It also looks at how each plane was developed and whether or not they proved popular.  It was such a fascinating read for me. So much so I had to read it in just one sitting.  

I thought the black & white pictures were great as they really showed the era of the planes and gave the book a great sense of atmosphere. 

If you like learning about the history of plane development and travel then this book would be a great read for you. Because there are so many pictures in this book it would be great if you love books that show a pictural guide on the changes of planes through the history of commercial air travel. I loved the seamless follow of the book and how it was all explained using simple language.  I learnt so much from reading this book.  

So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating this wonderful history book. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author and publishers. 

[Kirsten Rielly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with historical facts about the lifetime of the Constellation aircraft, affectionately known as the ‘Connie’, from its inception in the 1940s right up to the 1960s when it stopped being used as such a common commercial passenger airliner.

There are many pictures and images used throughout the chapters, both in colour and black and white, which break up the information text, and at times the aeroplanes span a double-page spread to illustrate the scale of this type of flying machine. I liked the distinctive design of the triple tail fins of the Connie which I hadn’t seen on any other aeroplane before.

The book explains why this specific aircraft became popular both in terms of its military and commercial use, as well as illustrating a few design tweaks over the years. I also discovered how Howard Hughes was involved with this type of aircraft and more about the aviation industry in general.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in aviation history as it is very detailed and well researched. I learned a great deal from reading it.

[J T]

All you could wish to know about The Constellation

This book is packed with facts about this iconic aircraft as well as giving a detailed history of its development; its deployment - first of all as a military plane and then in the commercial sector (passengers and freight), eventually spending its final days aloft carrying freight alone; and its context - both in the world of aviation and within the social history of its time.

The resulting book gives a comprehensive and full picture (and it does indeed include numerous interesting photos and posters) of the 'life' of The Constellation. It makes a compelling read for any fan of aviation history but it also offers good context for other readers. Particularly fascinating in these days when climate issues are to the fore is the fact that it took until 2005, according to a Dutch report, for modern jet engines to match The Constellation's fuel efficiency!

[Danni Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy learning about the history of plane development then I would recommend this book for you to read. The book has a wealth of historical facts about the Constellation aircraft from the early days of 1940s when the aircraft was first made up until the 1960s when it was no longer used as a commercial passenger aircraft. I also enjoyed reading about the different airlines; overall, the book offers a lot of historical knowledge. In addition, the book offers a lot of interesting pictures and posters, which are great to look at and an interesting talking point when sharing the book with others.

[Joseph]

This book will be well liked by anyone who is interested in the history of aviation, especially in the usa, and the development of aircraft. The book focuses on the constellation aircraft, the people that designed them and why they were designed the way they are. The book is peppered with great contemporary photos which adds to the immersive experience. It's also interesting to read about the Lockheed company and gives insight to how they became the behemoth that they are today. The writing style is clear and Informative, making it an easy reading book, but not necessarily a gripping page Turner.

Overall I would say a good read for the aircraft lover or history buff.

[Emily Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re fascinated by aviation, then this book is right up your street. The book goes right back to where it all began. Makes you realise the intensity of the development. Alongside not only the amazing writing, the photos to support are beautiful. You can learn a lot reading this book. I personally, not a massive fan of aviation, but found myself fascinated by plenty of parts. An amazing historical book… It even touches on the rivalry between airlines, and what it took for them to overcome that. That is a part I found intriguing.