Walk-Around: Lockheed Constellation
Our look inside and out of the 'Connie' from Peterson AFB.
by Dan Alex

July 3, 2009 - We recently had a trip out west, visiting the Peterson Air Force Base just east of Colorado Springs. They keep a fantastic outdoor air park on the premises that's free of charge. You do have to get clearance from the base ahead of time before dropping in for a visit as this is an active AF base. Just be sure to bring along your identification items and phone ahead to schedule your stop.

Anyhow, one of the outdoor exhibits is one that you can actually take a stairway up to see the beast from within. This particular aircraft is non other than the Lockheed Constellation, an aircraft that gave famed aviator Howard Hughes a run for his money, was the norm for much of the passenger-traveling world in its time and even served as US President Dwight D. Eisenhower's "Air Force One" (2 Constellations) known as "Columbine II" and "Columbine III".

The aircraft on display is an air force model used as an airborne early warning platform suitable for marking and tracking other airborne targets. These systems were utilized heavily in the post-war years leading up and through the Cold War, seeing service all over the world including over the Atlantic Ocean and even as late as in the Vietnam War.

The Lockheed Constellation first flew on January 9th, 1943 and was introduced with the United States Army Air Force that same year. Trans World Airlines (TWA) began passenger service with the type in 1945. Military Constellations appeared in 22 production C-69 forms during the latter stages of World War 2 with many serving as high-speed troop transports. Pan American World Airways became the second commercial passenger carrier to utilize the aircraft.

The original Constellation was improved during the type's production run and gave birth to the "Super Constellation". Many-a-vet simply called these airframes "Connie" for short. Airline transport Connies were all retired in 1967 while the militarized ones served up until 1978. In all, some 856 Connies were produced between 1943 and 1958 while the type served for close to 40 years. Military models began with the L-049, C-69, C-121, R7O, R7V-1, WV-1, WV-2 and the EC-121 "Warning Star". The EC-121 "Warning Star" was used by both the USAF and the USN.

All was not rosy with the Connie, however, as mechanical failures proved quite common in the early months of her use as a passenger airliner. Many-an-engine caught fire, some falling off of their aircraft and forcing emergency landings. Despite hits, the Constellation did go on to set distance records in the ensuing years. The arrival of the jet age brought about the end of the Constellation as a civilian passenger transports. Lockheed left the civilian airliner business altogether by 1983.

On our trip, a kind veteran - a volunteer on staff there at the base - was closing the Connie up when we had arrived. It's through his good graces that we were able to get inside and get a tour of the craft's in's and out's with some great historical background thanks to this gentlemen. This article is for you sir.

Our entry for the Lockheed Constellation / Super Constellation