ABOUT THE LOCKHEED L-1049SG SUPER CONSTELLATION
In 1939, Hughes became the principal stockholder of TWA (then Transcontinental & Western Air, Inc.). He had a hand in the design and financing of both the Boeing Stratoliner and the Lockheed L-049 Constellation, which he acquired for TWA. When the Constellation was ready for its test flight in 1944, Hughes dressed the plane in TWA's signature red and flew it non-stop cross country in under seven hours, breaking his own 1937 transcontinental speed record. Although regular flights would not be non-stop, the Constellation marked an advance in regularly scheduled cross-country passenger service, cutting about eight hours off the trip. The Lockheed 1049G "Super G" Constellation is a souped-up version of the Lockheed 049 Constellation This project started in the late '30's, but World War II postponed it and the plane started flying for TWA in 1946. The 1049 Super Constellation gave better engines and range. The 1049G "Super G" added wingtip fuel tanks.
| SPECIFICATIONS |
| Aircraft Type: | Commercial |
| First Flight: | 1944 |
| Wingspan: | 123 ft 0 in (37.49 m) |
| Length: | 113 ft 7 in (34.60 m) | | Height: | 24 ft 9 in (7.52 m) |
| Weight: | 70,083 lbs (31,789 kg) |
| Maximum Speed: | 366 mph (589 kph) |
| Range (max fuel): | 4,760 miles (7,660 km) |
| Engine: | Four Wright Cyclone R-3350-988TC18EA-2 Turbo-Compound Engines Rated @ 3,400 Hp (2,535.38 Kw) each |
OTHER MODELS IN THE HOWARD HUGHES COLLECTION
• Hughes HK-1 Spruce Goose
• Hughes H-1 Racer
• Sikorsky S-43 Pan Am
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