DALLAS – Today in Aviation, Trans World Airlines (TWA) introduced the Lockheed L-1049 ‘Super Constellation’, or ‘Connie’ for short, into its fleet in 1952.
The original Constellation had been commissioned in 1939 by TWA’s eccentric owner, Howard Hughes. Hughes wanted a long-range airliner that offered unrivaled comfort, range, and economics. He believed that this would be his “secret weapon” against his competitors.
The TWA boss demanded the project be kept top secret. He also specified that Lockheed could not sell the aircraft to any other airline until TWA had received 35 examples.
TWA received its first Constellation on October 1, 1945, and read more ⇒
Source:: “Airways Magazine”