Constellation - flaming take off!

(Photo: Mike Lehmann.)

Some airliners came and went without much notice. Not so with the The Constellation, or Connie as it was nicknamed. 


This airplane with its unique, sleek lines became a familiar sight in airports all over the world, and represented an era in air travel. This was before jet engines became the preferred propulsion of larger airplanes, and the radial engines was a sight to behold on take off.


The Lockheed Constellation was powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. During 1943 to 1958 a total of 856 airplanes was made with its triple-tail design and fuselage resembling a dolphin. It was a fast airliner in its day, capable of transatlantic flight. As jet airliners, like the de Havilland Comet and the Douglas DC-8, was introduced, the piston-engined Constellation became obselete. Yet, it continued to operate on domestic routes for some years.