Lockheed R6V Constitution

The largest fixed-wing aircraft ever operated by the U.S. Navy

Overview

Lockheed Martin United States ICAO: R6V 1946–1948 $13.5 million (1946)

The R6V Constitution was developed by Lockheed in the 1940s. It was a large, propeller-driven, long-range, double-decker high-capacity transport and airliner for the United States Navy and Pan American Airways. Two aircraft were produced and both were prototypes, although they were in service with the Navy.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
4 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Radial Engine
Engine type
other: Other
Power
4 × 3,000 hp · 2,237 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
180
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
156 ft 2 in  ·  47.60 m
Tail height
50 ft 6 in  ·  15.40 m
Fuselage diameter
12 ft 10 in  ·  3.90 m
Wing span
189 ft 0 in  ·  57.60 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
184,000 lb  ·  83,500 kg
Max landing weight
160,000 lb  ·  72,500 kg
Max payload
70,000 lb  ·  31,900 kg
Fuel capacity
Max cruise speed
263 kt  ·  303 mph  ·  487 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
—
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
28,600 ft  ·  8,700 m
Rate of climb
700 ft/min  ·  4 m/s
Takeoff distance
—
Landing distance
—
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Lockheed R6O 1 Constitution.

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Operational Context

In 1942, the Lockheed Constitution started as a joint development by the United States Navy, Pan American Airways, and Lockheed. The design requirements, originally labeled Model 89, was a big transport aircraft to enhance upon the Navy’s fleet of fixed-wing seaplanes known as flying boats. The transport could bear 7,900 kg of cargo, over 4,000 nautical miles at 25,000 feet cruising altitude, and a maximum speed over 216 knots. It would be entirely pressurized and adequately big so that the majority of primary components could be obtained and likely repaired in flight.

In the first quarter of 1946, the first Constitution, BuNo 85163 was built. On November 9, 1946, the R60 conducted its maiden flight to Muroc Air Force base and went through an exhaustively recorded test program. The aircraft is equipped with interim 3,000 horsepower R-4360-18 radial engines. On July 25, 1948, the BuNo 85163 flew nonstop from Moffett Federal Air Field, California to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

The initial flight testing showed that the first Constitution was lacking power so the engines were upgraded to a R-4360-22-W engine rated at 3,500 horsepower. On February 2, 1949, Ship No. 1 was acquired by Navy Transport Squadron 44 (VR-44) at Naval Air Station Alameda in California.

On June 9, 1948, the second aircraft, BuNo 85164 took to the skies for the first time and reached 25,000 feet in the course of a two-hour flight. Compared with Ship No. 1, the upper deck was entirely configured as a luxury passenger transport and could carry 92 passengers and 12 crew.

The lower deck could also be configured to accommodate an additional 76 passengers and had a 208.8 cubic meter of cargo space. On February 3, 1949, it made a nonstop transcontinental flight from NAS Moffett Field to Ronal Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia with seventy-four press members. In 1949, it conducted a Navy recruiting tour of nineteen cities.

The two Lockheed Constitutions were in service with the United States Navy before offering them to airlines on a five-year lease in 1949. However, airlines were not interested so both of the Lockheed Constitution retired in 1953.