Sweet on Connie

Starting in 1943, the Lockheed Corporation began manufacturing the triple-tailed Constellation series. It was the first pressurized-cabin civil airliner series to go into widespread use. Its pressurized cabin enabled commercial passengers to fly well above most bad weather for the first time, thus significantly improving the general safety and ease of air travel. TWA was a major airline client. The "Connie" wing was similar to the Lockheed P-38 Lightning in design, differing mostly in size. The triple tail design allowed the aircraft to fit into existing hangars. Several different models of the Constellation series were produced, although all featured the distinctive dolphin-shaped fuselage. The stretched L-1049 Super Constellation first flew in 1951. The C-69 Constellation transport was the first of many military variants. The C-69 was a key player during the Berlin and Biafran airlifts. Constellation production ended in 1958. In recent years, the few airworthy examples of the L-1049 have dwindled down to one in Australia.