The elegant Lockheed Constellation was born from requirements put forth in 1939 by Howard Hughes for Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA) Lines. The first version, Model 49, flew in January 1943 with Eddie Allen (on loan from Boeing) at the controls. The war interrupted TWA's plans, and the airplane was pressed into military transport service as the C-69. The "Connie" was improved after the war with greater fuel capacity and payload and more powerful engines. Lockheed introduced the further-enlarged 1049 Super Constellation in 1950, part of an epic battle with its Southern California rival, Douglas.
The 1049G "Super G" was the most successful version of the Super Constellations and one of the last great piston-engine airliners. For long range operations, the Super G could be fitted with extra wingtip tanks, increasing the fuel capacity by two-thirds more than the original Connie models. The first flight of the G-model Constellation was on December 7, 1954, and it was introduced to commercial service by Northwest Airlines on July 1, 1955. The Super G was a popular choice among the airlines, with 42 being flown by domestic carriers and 59 by foreign airlines. However, soon after the plane's introduction, it became clear that jet airliners were the future.
The Museum's Constellation was delivered to Trans-Canada Airlines in 1954 as a 1049C and was later converted to the 1049G standard. TCA's Connies were replaced by Douglas DC-8s by 1962. After a career flying passenger and later cargo with World Wide Airways, the aircraft retired from flying in 1965. It sat in derelict condition for many years in different locations in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. It was partially restored and made into a museum during this period. Later, it was converted into a hotel cocktail lounge and lunch delicatessen at the Toronto airport during 1996-2002.
The Museum eventually acquired the aircraft in 2005. Following extensive restoration to its original appearance in TCA colors in Rome, New York, it was trucked to the Museum's main campus in Seattle in 2009.
The elegant Lockheed Constellation was born from requirements put forth in 1939 by Howard Hughes for Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA) Lines. The first version, Model 49, flew in January 1943 with Eddie Allen (on loan from Boeing) at the controls. The war interrupted TWA's plans, and the airplane was pressed into military transport service as the C-69. The "Connie" was improved after the war with greater fuel capacity and payload and more powerful engines. Lockheed introduced the further-enlarged 1049 Super Constellation in 1950, part of an epic battle with its Southern California rival, Douglas.
The 1049G "Super G" was the most successful version of the Super Constellations and one of the last great piston-engine airliners. For long range operations, the Super G could be fitted with extra wingtip tanks, increasing the fuel capacity by two-thirds more than the original Connie models. The first flight of the G-model Constellation was on December 7, 1954, and it was introduced to commercial service by Northwest Airlines on July 1, 1955. The Super G was a popular choice among the airlines, with 42 being flown by domestic carriers and 59 by foreign airlines. However, soon after the plane's introduction, it became clear that jet airliners were the future.
The Museum's Constellation was delivered to Trans-Canada Airlines in 1954 as a 1049C and was later converted to the 1049G standard. TCA's Connies were replaced by Douglas DC-8s by 1962. After a career flying passenger and later cargo with World Wide Airways, the aircraft retired from flying in 1965. It sat in derelict condition for many years in different locations in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. It was partially restored and made into a museum during this period. Later, it was converted into a hotel cocktail lounge and lunch delicatessen at the Toronto airport during 1996-2002.
The Museum eventually acquired the aircraft in 2005. Following extensive restoration to its original appearance in TCA colors in Rome, New York, it was trucked to the Museum's main campus in Seattle in 2009.