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Fighter / Attack:
   Bell P-39 Airacobra
   Bell P-63 Kingcobra
   Brewster Buffalo
   Chance-Vought F-4U Corsair
   Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
   Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
   Douglas A-1 Skyraider
   Douglas A-26 Invader
   Douglas SBD Dauntless
   Fairey Firefly
   Focke-Wulf Fw 190
   Grumman F4F Wildcat
   Grumman F6F Hellcat
   Grumman F7F Tigercat
   Grumman F8F Bearcat
   Grumman TBF Avenger
   Hawker Hurricane
   Hawker Sea Fury
   Lockheed P-38 Lightning
   Messerschmitt Bf-109
   Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen
   North American P-51 Mustang

   Polikarpov I-16
   Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
   Supermarine Spitfire
   Yakovlev Yak-3
   Yakovlev Yak-9


Trainers:
  
Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (C-45)
   Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
   Boeing / Stearman PT-17

   Commonwealth CA-25 Winjeel
   Commonwealth CA-1 Wirraway
   DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
   DeHavilland DH-82 Tiger Moth
   Fairchild PT-19 Cornell
   Hunting / Percival Provost
   Meyers OTW
   Nanchang CJ-6
   Naval Aircraft Factory N3N
   N. Am. BT-9 / BT-14 / Yale
   N. Am. T-6 Texan / SNJ / Harvard
   N. American T-28 Trojan

   Piaggio P149
   Ryan PT-22 Recruit

   Scottish Aviation T1 Bulldog
   Vultee BT-13 Valiant
   Yakovlev Yak-11
   Yakovlev Yak-18
   Yakovlev Yak-52


Bombers:
   Avro Lancaster
   Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
   Boeing B-29 Superfortress
   Bristol Blenheim / Bolingbroke
   Consolidated B-24 Liberator
   Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

   Douglas A-3 Skywarrior
   DeHavilland Mosquito
   Fairey Swordfish
   Heinkel He-111 / Casa 2.111

   Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon / Ventura
   Martin B-26 Marauder
   North American B-25 Mitchell


Transports:
   Beechcraft C-45 (AT-11)

   Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter (KC-97)
   Curtiss C-46 Commando
   Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Dakota
   Douglas C-54 Skymaster

   Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
   Fairchild C-123 Provider
   Grumman C-1 Trader (S-2)
   Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
   Lockheed C-69 Constellation


Utility / Observation / Special Duty:
   Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper
   Aeronca L-16 Grasshopper
   Antonov AN-2 Colt
   Auster AOP 6/9
   Avro 652 Anson
   Avro Shackleton
   British Taylorcraft I-V
   Cessna L-19 / O-1 Bird Dog
   Cessna O-2 Super Skymaster
   Cessna T-50 / UC-78 Bobcat
   Consolidated PBY Catalina

   DeHavilland U-6A / L-20 Beaver
   Fairey Gannet
   Fairey Swordfish
   Fieseler Fi156 Storch
   Grumman S-2 Tracker (C-1)
   Grumman HU-16 Albatross
   Grumman OV-1 Mohawk
   Junkers Ju 52/3m

   Lockheed P2V Neptune
   Max Holste M.H.1521 Broussard
   Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun

   Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
   North American L-17 Navion
   N. Am./ Rockwell OV-10 Bronco
   Piper L-4 Grasshopper
   Stinson L-5 Sentinel
   Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper
   Westland Lysander


Jets:
   Aero L-29 Delfin
   Aero L-39 Albatros
   Aermacchi MB-326
   Avro Vulcan
   BAC Strikemaster
   Blackburn (BAC) Buccaneer
   Canadair Tutor
   Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
   DeHavilland Vampire
   DeHavilland Venom
   English Electric Canberra
   English Electric Lightning
   Folland Gnat
   Fouga CM-170 Magister
   Gloster Meteor
   Grumman F9F Panther
   Hawker Hunter
   Hispano HA-200 Saeta
   Hunting Jet Provost
   Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
   Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star
   McDonnell-Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
   McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom
   Messerschmitt Me-262
   Mikoyan MiG-15
   Mikoyan MiG-17
   Mikoyan MiG-21
   N. Am. F-86 Sabre / FJ-4 Fury
   N. Am. F-100 Super Sabre
   N. Am. / Rockwell T-2 Buckeye
   Northrop T-38 Talon / F-5
   PZL / WSK TS-11 Iskra
   Saab J35 Draken
   Soko G-2A Galeb
   Temco Pinto & Super Pinto


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Lockheed Constellation

(Variants/Other Names: C-69; C-121; EC-121; L-649; L-1049 Super Constellation; L-1649 Starliner; PO-1W; R7V; RC-121; VW-2; WV-2; WV-3; Many others)


Lockheed Constellation

History:  Design of the Constellation began in 1939, when Pan American Airways and Transcontinental & Western Air (later TWA) issued a design requirement for a 40-passenger airliner for their domestic routes. Production of the resulting L-49 by Lockheed began, but was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. The US Army Air Corps commandeered at least 22 of the aircraft off the assembly line, designated them C-69s, and used them as transports.

After the war, when civil production resumed under several designations, the military ordered a new, longer-range version called the C-121. In the years that followed, no fewer than 20 variants were developed for military use, including the VC-121B (Presidential/VIP transport); the PO-1W (US Navy airborne early warning platform); the R7V1/C-121J (Polar ice-pack reconnaissance); VW-2/EC-121K Warning Star (Airborne Early Warning); WV-2Q/EC-121L (Electronic Countermeasures); WV-3/WQC-121N (Weather reconnaissance); RC-121D/EC-121D (USAF version of US Navy WV-2 with wingtip tanks and different interior layout); JC-121C (Avionics and systems research); and numerous others.

Civilian variants included the 48-81 passenger L-649, which was replaced in 1947 by the longer-range L-749, and then by the 109-passenger L-1049 Super Constellation in 1949. The last of the "Connies" was the L-1649A Starliner, with a completely new wing and greater fuel capacity and range. Production of all Constellations ended in the late 1950s, but the type lived on for decades as an airliner and freighter in many smaller countries.

The Constellation contributed to its national defense in so many ways that it is difficult to fully account the impact it had. The few remaining airworthy examples are increasingly appreciated for their looks, performance and versatility.

Nicknames: Connie; Po-One (US Navy PO-1 variant); Radome (US Navy WV-2 variant); Willie Victor (WV-2 Warning Star); Flying Speed Brake.

Specifications (C-121):
        Engines: Four 2,200-hp Wright R-3350-34 or -91 turbo-compound radial piston engines
        Weight: Empty 80,611 lbs., Max Takeoff 143,600 lbs.
        Wing Span: 123ft. 0in.
        Length: 116ft. 2in.
        Height: 27ft. 0in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 321 mph
            Ceiling: 23,700 ft.
            Range: 4,600 miles
        Armament: None

Number Built (All variants): 856

Number Still Airworthy: ~3

Links:
Airline History Museum at Kansas City (Formerly Save-A-Connie)
Aviation Safety Network, Constellation Accident Index, Part I
Aviation Safety Network, Constellation Accident Index, Part II
Aviation Safety Network, Constellation Accident Index, Part III
Connie's Comeback -- A C-121A (L749) operated by a Dutch group.
Connie's Place

ConnieSurvivors.com -- Ralph Petterson's comprehensive site covering Constellations around the world.
Connie Walk-Around
The Constellation Group  -- Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Constellation Historical Society, Inc. -- Operates N73544 in Camarillo, California, USA.
Greenwood Lake, New Jersey's "Champagne Lady" -- A history of a derelict Connie, N9412H.

Historical Aircraft Restoration Society -- Australian operators of a C-121C, among other aircraft.
Starliner.net (Lockheed 1649A Constellation for sale)
Super Constellation Flyers Association -- Swiss-owned Constellation N105CF.
The Willie Victor Site -- Dedicated to the aircrew who flew military variants of the Constellation.


 

 

 


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