Lockheed C-69 Constellation

Country of Origin: us United States | Type: Transport

Introduction

Design work on the Lockheed Model 049 large airliner began in 1939 to meet a TWA requirement, which ordered an initial nine in early 1940. Pan American and KLM added a further 75 to the order book but even before the first aircraft was flown the project was turned over to the USAAF, as was the case with many civil airliners as America entered the Second World War in December 1941.

Military Use

The Constellation was given the military designation C-69 and by late 1941 260 were on order for the military comprising 50 C-69s from the TWA and Pan America orders), 30 C-69As (also Pan Am with accommodation for 100 troops) and 180 C-69Bs, newly ordered for the USAAF and intended to carry 94 troops. In the event, the vast majority were cancelled before and after VJ Day with only 21 C-69s and a single C-69C 43 seat VIP transport built during the war years. Of these, only 14 C-69s and the C-69C were taken on charge, the remainder delivered to BOAC and TWA after the cessation of hostilities.

Prototype

The first C-69 flew on 9th January 1943, the aircraft revealing its distinctive fuselage shape, triple fins, stalky tricycle undercarriage and advanced features such as cabin pressurisation. The prototype was handed over to the USAAF in July 1943 but deliveries proper began in April 1944 and continued at a leisurely pace until September 1945.

Problems

The C-69 was plagued by problems with its R-3350 engines (the same as installed on the Boeing B-29) which inhibited its development and its level of acceptance by the military despite its obvious load carrying and range capabilities. As a result, the programme was afforded a low priority, a situation reflected in the production figures. The problems were regarded as being so serious that in 1944 C-69 flights outside the USA were banned.

Sold Out

With the exception of the prototype, the surviving C-69s were sold to civil operators after the war. The prototype became the XC-69E with Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines and in 1950 was rebuilt as the first stretched Super Constellation.

Specification

Dimensions

Powerplants

Accommodation

Weights

Performance

Production

Production of the aircraft totalled 856, including:

Operators

Three-view Schematic

To view the schematic, click on the image below:

Specification view of a C-69