Constellations Anyone?

Wow!
Thanks Puzzler
lovely stuff.

rod222 - This old Connie's a bit wrinkled, but perhaps you might find it interesting too: An airmail stamp depicting what appears to me to be a Lockheed L-1049C Super-Constellation in flight, combination engraved design and photogravure background, issued by Cuba on November 12, 1955 as one of set of five stamps, plus a miniature sheet, publicizing the CUPEX International Centenary Philatelic Exhibition in Havana, November 12-19, Scott No. C125, SG No. 751.

- nethryk

A new find!

I'll defer to your greater knowledge,
but I always assumed the super constellation
had fuel tanks on her wingtips.

I don't know the plane that well, I just adore the
design shape, just a beautiful piece of machinery.
Very niggardly designed internally, and noisy
but gee, that was flying once upon a time.

Thanks.

As you'll have gathered from the title of this post, however, the official name of this stamp and the real subject isn't the Statue of Liberty, but instead the Lockheed Constellation - nicknamed "Connie" - the propeller-driven airliner seen flying in the sky. The development of this plane was featured quite prominently in The Aviator with a wonderful performance by Leonardo DiCaprio in the role of Howard Hughes, a major investor in the company Lockheed.

At the time of the issue of this stamp Trans World Airlines transatlantic service had just started in1946, with a New York-Paris route in a Constellation. Only a few months earlier in June 1947, TWA rival Pan American World Airways had instead opened the first ever regularly-scheduled world route with their L749 Clipper America. Strange to imagine nowadays, but the Constellation was the first pressurized airliner to be widely adopted – the age of air travel had officially begun!

http://www.pennyblack1840.com/lockh...ork-skyline/

Is this not a beautiful, beautiful shape?

rod222 - Yikes! I'm certainly no expert on airplanes. All I know is that Scott says the Cuban is a Constellation, but SG says it's a Super-Constellation. The Supers were equipped with Turbo-compound engines. Also, although it is true that some Super-Constellations had wing-tip fuel tanks, evidently not all did. For example, here is a 1955 photo I found of a Qantas Super-Constellation, sans tanks.

- nethryk

PS I note that the airplane in the photo you posted immediately above has the words "Breitling Super Constellation" painted right on it!

It is my understanding that the tip tanks were used on those constellations on trans-atlantic routes. Apparently its main competitor at the time, the DC6, had a longer range. Prior to using tip tanks they would have to re-fuel at Gander, Newfoundland, which, for this reason. was the busiest airport in the world at the time. For old-timers seeing all the planes diverted to Gander during the 9/11 crisis it was like old times.

Well that clears that up, Thanks
Yep, I noticed the "super" on the livery
so presumed you were correct.
Nice photograph, gosh, she is a nice lady.

Before this thread dies I'm going to relate an image I have in my old fog-befuddled mind, namely, that at the peak of their popularity the Black Panther Party had a Lockheed Constellation as their organization's plane. I faintly remember a story that to get it flying they had to find some one who could fly it and the only one they could find was a pilot in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (once the twin cities of Port Arthur and Fort William)) who once flew "Connies". I have searched the internet today trying to verify this but to no avail. Perhaps I have had to much wine over the years.

"Connie" appearing on a facsimile flight travel label:

Produced in the US
these fully gummed labels appeared in "Wheaties" packets
(breakfast cereal)
and there were 15 in the set

american airlines
braniff int airways
boac
capital airlines
colonial airlines
delta c&s air lines
guest airways
mohawk airlines
national irlines
northwest airlines
philippine airlines
piedmont airlines
resort airlines
scandinvian airlines system
united air lines

Here is an image of an airmail stamp depicting a Constellation flying over Lau Dam, printed by photogravure, and issued by Morocco (Northern Zone) on December 17, 1956, Scott No. C1.

- nethryk

Our List so far.....





SG0301 (1958) T0118 02s air service [1m1] qantas super constellation .jpg

I'll replace with a better scan one day.

Here is an image of a stamp depicting a Super-Constellation, another passenger jet, and a map highlighting the locations of Portugal and its African colonies, printed by lithography, and issued for use in Angola on October 5, 1963 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) as a private company, Scott No. 490. Note: In 1975 TAP was nationalised, becoming a state-owned corporation (Empresa Pública) and changing its name to TAP Air Portugal in March 1979.

- nethryk

Here is an image of an engraved airmail stamp depicting a Lockheed Constellation in flight, and issued by Cuba on May 22, 1953 as one of a set of two similar stamps, Scott No. C75.

- nethryk