Lockheed L-1649 Starliner
Lockheed · United States · first flew 1956 · airliner
The Lockheed L-1649 Starliner was the last model of the Constellation line of airliners. It was powered by four Wright R-3350 turbo-compound engines.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Slim, dolphin-shaped Constellation fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four Wright R-3350 turbo-compound piston engines on a long low wing
- Triple-fin Constellation tail
- Slim, dolphin-shaped Constellation fuselage
It looks like a Super Constellation but with a longer span of about 46 metres. Four engines, a low wing and a three-fin tail mark it out.
Specifications
- The Lockheed L-1649 Starliner has a length of 35.41 m (116 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 45.72 m (150 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 607 km/h (377 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was developed from the L-1049 Super Constellation and designed under Clarence "Kelly" Johnson. The first aircraft flew on 10 October 1956, and Lockheed built the type at Burbank from 1956 to 1958.
Variants
The L-1649 was the final Constellation development. A total of 44 were built, including the prototype.
Where you'll see it
It entered service on 1 June 1957, with Trans World Airlines as the primary operator. It could carry 99 passengers and was retired by the early 1980s.
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