Prøve GULL - Gratis
LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION: "CALL ME CONNIE!"
SP’s Aviation
|Issue 9, 2024
In October 1961 the IAF's No. 6 Squadron "Dragons" added nine retired Air-India International Super Constellations to its fleet. Seven of these were modified for Maritime Reconnaissance. Two Super Connies served as freighters or troop carriers.

THE LOCKHEED L-049 CONSTELLATION WAS THE FIRST MODEL of the Constellation aircraft line. Designed by the famous Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, its first flight happened on January 9, 1943. It entered service in July 1943 as the C-69 military transport aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces. After the Second World War, it was also the first civilian variant of the family. Numerous stretched and improved versions followed over the next decade. Colloquially known as Connies, Constellations were among the most graceful aircraft of early commercial flight. The variant of particular significance for Indian aviation was the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, affectionately called Super Connie. It was perhaps the only instance of an aircraft bought by an Indian airline – Air-India International – becoming a “hand-me-down” to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and finally going to the Indian Navy (IN).
It all began in 1939 when the top management of the Lockheed Corporation met with Howard Hughes, the legendary American billionaire aviator. Hughes wanted Lockheed to design a revolutionary aircraft capable of operating US commercial aviation’s first coast-to-coast, non-stop service. He demanded total secrecy and specified that Lockheed could not sell the aircraft to any other airline until his carrier, Trans World Airlines (TWA), had received 35 of them. However, World War II intervened and the US Military acquired the Constellation production facilities.
Denne historien er fra Issue 9, 2024-utgaven av SP’s Aviation.
Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av kuraterte premiumhistorier og over 9000 magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FLERE HISTORIER FRA SP’s Aviation

SP’s Aviation
DIPLOMACY MUST 'TRUMP' TARIFFS
The ongoing tariff tit-for-tat between India and the United States is fast becoming more than a trade dispute and now threatening to spill over into high-stakes sectors like aerospace and defence
3 mins
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
DRDO'S HYPERSONIC CRUISE MISSILE IS AMONG THE FIRST IN THE WORLD
A hypersonic boom, which could set forth Extended Trajectory-Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM) up to Mach 8-10, to next-gen AESA, to applying quantum sensing to the antisubmarine warfare, DRDO is proving true to the R&D within its name. In an Exclusive interaction, Samir V. Kamat, Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO, speaks with Manish Kumar Jha on the full and comprehensive range of military technology development, some of them futuristic and ground-breaking for India.
7 mins
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
FELIX BAUMGARTNER (1969-2025)
Felix Baumgartner jumped out of the capsule at 38,969.4 m. His exit was perfect, but after passing through the sound barrier, and still hurtling towards earth at Mach 1.25, he went into a flat spin.
3 mins
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
INDIA'S DEFENCE MRO SECTOR — FLYING STRONG
From building joint ventures with global OEMs to developing indigenous component manufacturing, India is reclaiming its capability to maintain, upgrade, and extend the life of its defence assets on Indian soil, with Indian hands, and for Indian missions
4 mins
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
INDIA'S SPACE ODYSSEY: FROM MILESTONES TO THE SPACE FRONTIER PLANS
India’s space success is well documented with ambitious plans for deep space, planetary exploration, human habitats, and commercial outreach by 2040-47. What is next is the expansion of the Indian space industry and the role of private players. For ISRO, now is time to bridge the gaps.
6 mins
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
INDIA'S TRYST WITH COMBAT DRONES
With indigenous initiatives like the DRDO's Archer and HAL'S CATS Warrior, alongside procurements of MQ-9B Sea/Sky Guardians, India is positioning itself as a significant player in unmanned warfare, reshaping its military doctrine for the future
6 mins
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
MILITARY: DRDO CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT-TRIALS OF PRECISION GUIDED MISSILE-V3
In a major boost to India's defence capabilities, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully carried out flight-trials of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3.
1 min
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
IAF TO ADDRESS SQUADRON GAPS, INTERIM SOLUTION TO ACQUIRE FIFTH-GENERATION JETS
It is widely noted that the IAF needs to urgently plug a growing capability gap as the thrust comes amid thinning squadron strength. Could there be an interim solution to fill the void?
3 mins
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
CIVIL AVIATION: CATHAY PACIFIC ORDERS 14 MORE BOEING 777-9
Boeing and Cathay Pacific announced the Hong Kong-based carrier is ordering 14 more 777-9 passenger jets, bringing its order book to 35 of the world's largest twin-engine airplane.
1 min
Issue 8, 2025

SP’s Aviation
BALANCING INDIA'S AVIATION BOOM WITH EXPERIENCE
India's aviation boom reflects its economic ambition, but growth without seasoned expertise risks safety and efficiency
4 mins
Issue 8, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size