This Day in Aviation History

October 10th, 1956
First flight of the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner.

The Lockheed L-1649 Starliner was the last model of the Lockheed Constellation line. Powered by four Wright R-3350 TurboCompound engines, it was built at Lockheed’s Burbank, California plant from 1956 to 1958.

Development of the Starliner began when Lockheed designed the L-1449 in response to the Douglas DC-7C Seven Seas. Powered by four 5500 hp Pratt & Whitney PT2G-3 turboprop engines, the L-1449 would have cruised faster than the DC-7C but would have had comparable range with the 10200 US gallon fuel capacity in a new 150 ft (46 m) wing. Pratt & Whitney dropped the PT2 project ca. March 1955 due to expected unreliability, high specific fuel consumption and high operating costs,[citation needed] though the T34 military version of the engine powered the Douglas C-133 freighter (which was also plagued with marginal reliability)…..

Source:
Wikipedia, Lockheed L-1649 Starliner: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L-1649_Starliner

YouTube, TWA Lockheed L-1649A Starliner – “Boarding & Taxi” – 1958:  TWA Lockheed L-1649A Starliner – “Boarding & Taxi” – 1958

Lufthansa is in the process of restoring a L-1649A.
http://www.lufthansa-technik.com/super-star

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