Civil versions
L49/L049 The L-049 was the original commercial airliner produced, although first 22 Connies were begun as C-69 military transports and completed as airliners L049-51. The first flight took place on 9 January 1943. In total 88 L-049 were built, including conversions from earlier models and military versions.
L49/L049-46 Certified 14 October 1946 with changes like: Direct fuel-injection 2,200 Wirght 745-C18BA-3 engines, redesigned electrical components, and from 2051 onward reinforced cargo compartment floor. All -51 aircraft were upgraded to -46 standard in 1946.
L49/L049 A to C Reinforcements to increase max take-off and landing weights.
L49/L049D Improved L049C version with modified forward fuselage, nose-wheel leg and inner wing reinforcements. Most earlier 049s received this upgrade. Conversions: 1963, 1964, 1967, 1969-1971, 1974-1980, 2021-2025, 2027, 2030, 2041-2044, 2051, 2064, 2065, 2068-2080, 2085-2088.
L49/l049E Based on L049D with further inner wing reinforcements to handle max. take-off weight of 44,452 (98.000 lbs) and landing weight of 38,328 kg (84,500 lbs). Conversions: 1971, 1975-2978, 2051, 2065.
L049S Conversion of 1961 to stretched configuration to became the 1961S Super Constellation prototype in 1950. Lengthened by 5,5m (18 ft) to 34.54m (113,33ft).
Second use: Designation for the three El Al longe range L049 models, 1965, 1967, and 1968.
L1049 First production version, 24 built. An 18 ft 4 in (5.59 m) stretched version with a maximum capacity of 109 passengers, square windows; all 1049C and later models had Turbo-Compound engines. Some later models had optional tip tanks. First flight 14 July 1951. 579 built, including military versions.
L1049A Company designation for the WV-2, WV-3, EC-121D and RC-121D.
L1049B Company designation for the R7V-1, RC-121C and VC-121E.
L1049C Civil variant of the 1049B for 110 passengers with four R-3350-87ТС18DA-1 Turbo-compound engines with 3,250 hp (2,425 kW) each, 48 built
L1049D Freight version of L-1049B with wing and fuselage modifications and a large cargo door, four built
L1049E Passenger variant of the 1049D, 28 built
L1049F Company designation for the C-121C.
L1049G Advanced variant with four R-3350-972ТС18DA-3 engines with higher METO power, ability to carry wingtip fuel tanks, 102 built
L1049H Passenger/freight convertible version of L-1049G with large cargo door, 53 built
L1049J Planned L-1049G with the wings of the R7V-2.
L1149 A planned Allison turboprop version of the L-1049G and L-1049H.
L1249A Company designation for the R7V-2 and YC-121F.
L1249B Planned turboprop passenger version of the R7V-2/YC-121F.
L1349 unidentified. Dominique Breffort's book claims no design with the L-1349 designation ever existed, possibly due to superstitious belief reasons.
L1449 Proposed turboprop version of the L-1049G with a stretched fuselage and new wing.
L1549 Planned stretched version of the L-1449.
L1649A Starliner Production version, R-3350-988TC18EA-2 Turbo Cyclone engines with 3,400 hp (2,536 kW) each. Long-range passenger aircraft designed to compete with Douglas DC-7C. The standard radome for the weather radar extends total length by 2 ft 7 in (0.78 m) over L-1049 without radome. New thin-section wing with a straight taper, and much larger fuel capacity giving a ferry range of over 6,880 mi (11,080 km), first flight 10 October 1956. 44, including the prototype, were built.
L1649B Planned turboprop version of the L-1649A.
L051 Original company designation for the XB-30 project.
L084 The XW2V-1 was a planned radar version of the WV-2 with the Starliner's wings for the US Navy. It would have included four Allison T56-A8 engines and missiles for protection against attackers. Considerably different from its predecessors, given the production designation Lockheed L-084.
c/n 1962 43-10310 Lockheed C-69 Constellation of US Army Air Force at Burbank in 1944, Zoggavia collection.
Military versions
XB-30 Bomber version of the C-69. Was given model designation L-051 and later L-249.
XC-69 Designation for the prototype Constellation. One built. The C-69 was the original military transport version for the USAAF. All aircraft built during World War II were pressed into military service under this designation.
C-69 Original troop transport version. Almost all of this type were converted into L-049 airliners. 22 were built.
C-69A Proposed long range troop version of the C-69.
C-69B Proposed long range troop version of the C-69 designed to carry B-29 Superfortress engines to China. Was given model designation L-349.
C-69C-1 Only one aircraft was produced, number 1971.. Was given model designation L-549.
C-69D Proposed VIP transport version.
XC-69E Prototype XC-69 converted into an engine testbed. It was powered by 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines.
ZC-69C Official designation for "obsolete" aircraft after end of WWII, numbers 1962-1970, 1974-1980.
Two VC-121E Constellations, named Columbine II and Columbine III, were used by president Dwight Eisenhower.
C-121A The C-121 was the military transport version of improved L-749 introduced in 1948. Reinforced floor, cargo door in port rear fuselage
VC-121A VIP transport aircraft, converted from the C-121A
VC-121B VIP transport for use by the President of the United States of America
C-121C R7V-1 with R-3350-34 engines with 3,400 hp (2,536 kW) each, based on L-1049
JC-121C Two C-121C and one TC-121C used as avionics testbeds
NC-121C One C-121C converted for permanent use as a testbed
RC-121C USAF long-range airborne radar analogous to Navy's WV-2
TC-121C Nine RC-121Cs Converted as AEW trainers, subsequently became EC-121C
VC-121C VIP version of C-121C. Total 4.
EC-121D Big Eye/College Eye/Disco early warning variant, originally designated RC-121D
NC-121D WV-2 converted to observe high speed objects in the atmosphere nicknamed the "Tripple Nipple"
RC-121D WV-2 with wingtip fuel tanks, later redesignated EC-121D
VC-121E VIP transport for use by the President of the United States of America
YC-121F Two prototype R7V-1 with Pratt & Whitney T34-P-6 turboprops with 6,000 shp (4,476 kW) each
C-121G 32 Navy R7V-1 delivered to USAF
TC-121G Designation given to 9 C-121G converted into trainers
VC-121G One C-121G given the role as a temporary VIP Transport
EC-121H 42 EC-121D with upgraded electronics
C-121J Redesignated Navy R7V-1
EC-121J 2 EC-121D with upgraded electronics
NC-121J 7 C-121J modified to send television broadcasts to troops in Vietnam
VC-121J 4 C-121J converted for VIP use. One served with the Blue Angels.
EC-121K Redesignated Navy WV-2 Warning Star
JC-121K One EC-121K used as an avionics testbed
NC-121K EC-121K used by the Navy
EC-121L Redesignated Navy WV-2E
EC-121M Redesignated Navy WV-2Q
WQC-121N Redesignated Navy WV-3
EC-121P EC-121K equipped for anti-submarine warfare
EC-121Q EC-121D with upgraded electronics
EC-121R "BatCat" EC-121K and EC-121P equipped to process signals from seismic instruments
NC-121S Electronic warfare and reconnaissance version
EC-121T Upgraded radar; One example is on display at Peterson Air and Space Museum
R7O-1 The original US Navy designation of the R7V-1 based on L-1049D, R-3350-91 engines with 3,250 hp (2,425 kW) each
R7V-1 Re-designation of the R7O-1. Later redesignated C-121J
R7V-1P One R7V-1 modified for Arctic use
R7V-2 Four prototypes with Pratt & Whitney YT34-P-12A turboprops of 4,140 shp (3,088 kW) each. Two were delivered as YC-121F prototype aircraft (see above).
PO-1W Two maritime patrol aircraft equipped with search radar based on L-749, later re-designated WV-1.
PO-2W Warning Star Long-range airborne radar aircraft, R-3350-34 or R-3350-42 engines with 3,400 hp (2,536 kW) each, based on L-1049, later re-designated WV-2.
WV-1 Re-designation of the PO-1W.
WV-2 Warning Star Re-designation of the PO-2W. Later re-designated EC-121K.
WV-2E Experimental version of WV-2 modified to carry a rotating radar dome similar to that of the Boeing E-3 Sentry. Later redesignated EC-121L.
WV-2Q WV-2 equipped for electronic warfare, later redesignated EC-121M.
WV-3 Eight aircraft equipped for weather reconnaissance. Later re-designated WQC-121N.
XW2V-1 The XW2V-1 was a planned radar version of the WV-2 with the Starliner's wings for the US Navy. It would have included four Allison T56-A8 engines and missiles for protection against attackers. Considerably different from its predecessors, given the production designation Lockheed L-084.
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