Editing Lockheed Constellation (section)

==Design and development==
===Initial studies===
Lockheed had been working on the [[Lockheed Model 44 Excalibur|L-044 Excalibur]], a four-engined, pressurized airliner, since 1937. In 1939, [[Trans World Airlines|Transcontinental and Western Airlines]] (TWA), at the instigation of major stockholder [[Howard Hughes]], requested a 40-passenger transcontinental airliner with a range of {{convert|3,500|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=Jane1993>{{harvnb|Taylor |1993|pp=606–607}}</ref>—well beyond the capabilities of the Excalibur design. TWA's requirements led to the '''[[Lockheed L-049 Constellation|L-049 Constellation]]''', designed by Lockheed engineers, including [[Kelly Johnson (engineer)|Kelly Johnson]] and [[Hall Hibbard]].<ref name=yenne>{{harvnb|Yenne |1987|pp=44–46}}</ref> [[Willis Hawkins]], another Lockheed engineer, maintains that the Excalibur program was purely a cover for the Constellation.<ref name=boyne>{{harvnb|Boyne|1998|pp=135–137}}</ref>
[[File:Superconstellation2594.jpg|thumb|left|A preserved C-121C Super Constellation, registration N73544, in flight in 2004]]

===Development of the Constellation===
The Constellation's wing design was close to that of the [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]], differing mostly in size.{{sfn|Johnson|1985|p=82}} The triple tail allowed the aircraft to fit into existing hangars,<ref name=boyne /> while features included hydraulically boosted controls and a [[Ice protection system|deicing system]] used on wing and tail leading edges.<ref name=Jane1993 /> The aircraft had a maximum speed over {{convert|375|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}, faster than that of a [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero|Japanese Zero fighter]], a cruise speed of {{convert|340|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}, and a service ceiling of {{convert|24000|ft|m|-2|abbr=on}}.

According to [[Anthony Sampson]] in ''Empires of the Sky'', Lockheed may have undertaken the intricate design, but Hughes's intercession in the design process drove the concept, shape, capabilities, appearance, and ethos.{{sfn|Sampson|1985}} These rumors were discredited by Johnson. Howard Hughes and Jack Frye confirmed that the rumors were false in a letter dated November 1941.{{sfn|Johnson|1985|p=92}}