Turbo Connie

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 12/02/2015 at 12:35 • Filed to: planelopnik, planelopnik history, wingspan

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You would think that turboprop engines on a Lockheed Super Constellation would be a slam dunk, and while the turbo Connie was quite fast, the airlines still weren’t that sure about the new fangled engines, and they decided to sit this one out until the jet airliners came around. Still, the US Navy ordered four R7V-1 Super Connies to be modified with four !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! -P12A turboprop engines, squared propellers and a shortened wing, and that aircraft received the designation R7V-2. Lockheed leased one back from the Navy to use as a test aircraft for the upcoming !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . The Air Force ordered their own pair of turbo Connies, designated as the YC-121F. Despite the promise of the turboprop engines, including their decided speed and range advantage over the original radial engines, only six were built. Still, the Air Force learned much about the new engines that was put to use on the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . And the turpoprop L-188 Electra would be developed into the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which served for over 50 years.

Jcarr > ttyymmnn 12/02/2015 at 13:02

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Beautiful. Also, the C-133 is one of my favorites of that era.

Listen to that sound:

Grindintosecond > ttyymmnn 12/02/2015 at 13:26

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It hit that wrong sweetspot. Super connie literally had seven years before the 707 entered service at comparable range to the piston engined version, nearly twice the passenger load and absolutely less noise during half the time it took to get to the destination. The turboprop version had only 4 years before the 707 came online ad that’s just the demo. It had much less range, about half that of the 707. The noise, long range at fast speeds in more quiet comfort than any superconnie version meant more money in the end. At pennies a gallon in bulk back then, jet fuel wasn’t of any concern at all to the bottom line. Regulated ticket prices meant there were no fare wars and if you had 189 people on one flight on the 707, the company made out like bandits. It was a great idea and a fast plane, but you had better need a turboprop or the future wins out every time.

RallyWrench > ttyymmnn 12/02/2015 at 13:49

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What a fine looking aircraft. Also, The Turbo Connies would be a great band name.

ttyymmnn > RallyWrench 12/02/2015 at 14:04

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Agreed on both points!

Beebee100 > ttyymmnn 02/11/2016 at 19:04

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It has a graceful flow from front to back, as though it was shaped by nature.