The L649 and L749 were the first proper commercial Constellations and received their type certificate in March 1947. Essentially an iterative development of the L049 with more than 50% re-designed parts, the type certificate was an "add-on" to the L049 certificate. Delivery of the first L649 went to Eastern Airlines in May 1947, with Air France receiving the first L749 a month earlier in April 1947. The L749 was essentially an L649 with an additional 1,130 gallons of fuel for a more extended range. Eastern, Chicago, and Southern ordered only fourteen L649s and six L649As. The airlines upgraded most of the aircraft to L749A standards sometime during their lifetime. Lockheed built a total of 89 L649s & 749's.
