RStretton

Another recent addition to my collection has been my 13th short body Constellation - N88868 a L-149-46-26 Constellation. There doesn't seem to be the love for propliners on here that there is for 787s but I'll win you around eventually!

That's not a typo by the way this truly is a L-149 not a L-1049! I hadn't actually realised such a model was even around until I looked into the history of Delta's Connies. The L-1049 was a retrospective in service upgrade of existing L-049s with the outer wing panels of L-749s which incorporated long-range fuel tanks.

Now Delta had never been much interested in the Connie itself having been a loyal Douglas customer and having opted for the DC-6, DC-7 and DC-7B. However the 1953 takeover of Chicago & Southern (see http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...air-lines.html ) saw Delta receive six L-749As from C&S. Not fitting with Delta's fleet they were disposed of in under a year.





Chicago Midway Airport - Delta / Chicago and Southern - Constellation by twa1049g, on Flickr

Soon afterwards however the airline had the need for aircraft to operate new vacation package coach services and the Connie was ideal. Delta therefore purchased four L-149s from Pan Am. N88868 was originally ‘Clipper Peerless’ with Pan Am delivered in May 1946. Later ‘Clipper Golden Fleece’ she was sold in 1960 to American Flyers Airline. By 1970 she was registered to the Tex Hou Inc corporation and was broken up at Galveston in 1974.

In fact all of Delta's L-149s were sold in 1960 and wouldn't see the long service of their Douglas pistonliners.

Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-149 Constellation by rstretton, on Flickr

Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-149 Constellation by rstretton, on Flickr

Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-149 Constellation by rstretton, on Flickr

Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-149 Constellation by rstretton, on Flickr

Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-149 Constellation by rstretton, on Flickr

Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-149 Constellation by rstretton, on Flickr

Incidentally an American Flyers Connie would be nice too (I know the AC mould is gone but still):

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Richard


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Republic DC-9

Interesting article, nice model. I see that someone has been Waffling!

RStretton

Indeed and there are still some available if you want to progress to more mature fare than your childish jets!

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Richard


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