Lockheed Constellation USAF!

A Lockheed Constellation USAF! :pilot:

 

Christopher Tarana

This looks like an interesting Vietnam-era SEA camo paint scheme but hard to see or appreciate the full picture from this angle. Side or quarter views are much better for showing off your big library of aircraft. Just sayin'....................:pilot:

Here's the Read me!

 

Lockheed EC-121R Super Constellation version 2

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December 1997

 

For use with FS98

 

Visual model: Doe / updated by Jim Goldman

Flight model: Joe Ng / updated by Jim Goldman

Flight testing: Jim Goldman

USAF version: Jim Goldman

Aircraft Sounds: Jim Goldman

New flight testing: Captain Steve Barry (USAirways)

 

Copyright Doe & Joe Aircraft Unlimited

 

Files: The Zipped file contains all the information necessary to rebuild

all subdirectories and install all components for the Conmil2. Just extract

the content of the zipped file using WINZIP to the AIRCRAFT subdirectory under

your FS98 program.

 

 

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History

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The 'Constellation' and 'Super Constellation' were among the last of the

great prop-driven airliners just before the jet age began in civil avia-

tion. In 1939 Lockheed began with the development of the L-49 as a large

four-engined civil aircraft. When the USA entered WWII, the concept was

changed to the military transporter C-69, which first flew in January

1943. After the war the design was converted back to its original role,

and the first L049 Constellations were put into service with Pan American

Airways in 1946. The characteristic long slender fuselage and the triple

tailfin of the Constellation could soon be seen at all major airports of

the world. The long range and the pressurized cabin made the Constella-

tion superior to most of her rivals.

 

In 1951 the improved version, the L-1049 Super Constellation, saw service

with Eastern Airlines. The L-1049, which had a longer fuselage and more

power, went through many different versions, the last of which were the

L-1049G and the passenger/freight version L-1049H. More than 600 Super

Constellations were built.

 

The last of the Constellation series was the L-1649A Starliner in 1957.

In spite of excellent performance, only 43 Starliners entered service.

At last, the age of the jetliners had begun.

 

The USAF version EC-121R were former Navy WV-2/EC-121Ks stripped

of their radomes, camouflaged, and used for specialized electronic messions

during the 1960's 70's.

 

 

The visual model

-----------------

 

The origina visual model was designed from 3D-drawings and a photo

showing the L-1049G Super Constellation with TWA colors. The USAF EC-121R

version was designed from Photos obtained from the book (Lockheed Constellation,

Design, Development, and Service History of all Civil and Military Constellations,

Super Constellations, and Starliners, by Curtis K Stringfellow and Peter M Bowes,

Published by Motorbooks International 1992).

 

Special effects include strobe and position lighting, night-light cabin windows, and

engines which start one after the other (visually). The view position is from

the pilots left seat.

 

On the USAF version got working flaps on this visual model; they have

a small image bleedin when seen from lateral back. Otherwise they look

and work well.

 

 

The flight model

-----------------

 

The first FS5.1 flight model was based on the actual performance parameters of the

L1049G, a detailed drag calculation done by Joe Ng, and extensive test

flights by Mike Vidal. The newest version has been fine tuned for FS98 by Jim Goldman.

 

Some of the original limitation with FSFS have been corrected using ADE98, which

allowed to tweak the Connie and give a very realistic flight experience (eventhough

there is still a 540 parts limitation).

 

Flying the Super Constellation

-------------------------------

 

The Connie is not difficult to fly if you remember that it is much faster,

larger and heavier than your average Cessna.

 

Take off with one or two notches of flaps and ful throttle. Rotate at 110

knots, and take off at 120 knots. Reduce throttle.

 

Try to hold a cruising speed of about 260 to 270 knots (as the original).

 

Don't try steep turns, you will probably loose a lot of altitude (and also

your passengers stomachs won't appreciate this). If you use the autopilot,

use also the 'wing leveler' option to hold course. The plane tends to drift

slightly to the right, especially if flown with higher time rates.

 

Prepare for a rather fast landing approach, even with flaps full down. Ap-

proach speed on final will be about 130 knots. Try to touch down with 100

to 110 knots. Taxiing works best with ground speeds below 10 kts.

 

It is recommended that you fly the Constellation with rudder pedals. The

plane reacts well on rudder input and corrections on final are easy.

 

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The initial visual design of the EC-121R version I would not have been possible

without the help of people like:.

 

Stefan "Doe" D"bereiner

Joe Ng

Mike Vidal

Adriano Carvalho

Kenneth Kerr

Rainer Labie

Bill Schultz

George Vega

 

The FS98 version has undergone substantial changes, all textures have been

enhanced using state of the art software, New heavy prop stereo sounds have

been added to increase the realism of your flight experience, and the flight

dynamics have been enhanced and specially tuned for FS98.

 

 

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The original designers put a lot of work into this aircraft. As they stated in

their original document, but we did it just for the fun of it. Feel free to share

the CONMIL files with your friends, but don't sell them and don't pretend that

you've made them.

 

Happy flying ...

 

MAIN CONTRIBUTORS:

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Stefan "Doe" D"bereiner internet doe@mpe-garching.mpg.de

Munich, Germany

 

Joe Ng Compuserve 75221,1276

Seattle

 

Mike Vidal

 

 

Other products from Doe & Joe:

DH60G de Havilland D.H. 60G Gipsy Moth, includes custom Moth panel

DH84-1 de Havilland D.H. 84 Dragon I

EASTER1 Easter Island (Rapa Nui) scenery

AF5PNT12 AF5paint v1.2 AF5 aircraft texture editor

 

 

USAF EC-121R versions by Jim Goldman (Based on the CONNIE3 model)

Test flight by Steve Barry (read following report)

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TEST FLIGHT REPORT

Lockheed EC-121R Super Constellation (by Jim Goldman, FSD)

Captain Steve Barry (USAirways)

 

 

The Lockheed EC-121R is yet another beautiful model by Jim Goldman, a member of the highly talented, international group of Flight Simulator aircraft designers,

Flight Simulator Developers.

 

I had the pleasure of test flying the pre-release version of Jim's Lockheed EC-121R Super Constellation, and found it to be a visually beautiful model with excellent

flying characteristics.

 

The "Super Connie" harkens back to the Golden Age of aviation. I can picture myself walking through the cabin of the passenger version of the Constellation and

chatting with the well dressed, well heeled group of international travellers enroute to Paris. The Constellation was the last of the great piston aircraft prior to the

dawning of the "jet age". (I have to admit to getting a bit carried away with the tremendous sound files that come with Jim's model, cranking up my sub-woofer until

my family couldn't stand it anymore!)

 

This military version of the Super Constellation, the EC-121R, saw duty in Vietnam. The EC121R was a re-designation of the EC-121K and EC121P. The

EC-121R was equipped to process relayed data from air-delivered ground-seismic devices along major jungle routes in Vietnam.

 

I flew the EC-121 using Tom Gibson's Constellation panel. This is one of the nicest, most realistic panels available for FS98 add-on aircraft. (You can find Tom's

panel, FS98conp.zip, at FlightSim.com and other web sites. Make sure that you download the fix file, compf3v4.zip, and replace the appropriate files in your

directory/folder).

 

All test flights were made using FS98 with a MS Force-Feedback Joystick. Realism was set to "real" with auto-coordination off. I recommend flying any new

aircraft at an airport with low scenery detail. Unless you have a power-house system, this will give you a better feel for the handling characteristics of the aircraft. I

use Daytona Beach (a soft spot in my heart and the home of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) with its long runways and low detail. After you gain some

experience with the aircraft, try the terrific tropical island atolls of De-Velpe island, available for download at the Flight Simulator Developer's web site.

 

The recommended rotation speed of 110 (Vr) and a lift off of 120 (V2 at 35') with 10 degrees of flaps felt correct. I recommend a climb speed in the neighborhood

of 160. With full flaps, 130 on approach is very comfortable depending upon the wind.

 

Stall testing was accomplished at 10,000 feet. The EC-121 stalls at 100mph clean and 85mph with full flaps. The stall characteristics of the EC-121 are dramatic. It

takes firewall power (to the mechanical stops which is above normal takeoff power) and a concerted push-over effort to recover from a stall. The controls remain

active throughout the stall. Remember that at a high angle of attack, the rudder is more effective than the ailerons in controlling the roll axis.

 

The real Super Constellation has a maximum speed of 377mph at 18,600' with a service ceiling of 23,700'. At maximum range it flew an amazing 4940 miles at a

gross weight of 160,000 pounds.

 

The Super Constellation has turbo-charged engines. However, due to the limitations of Flight Simulator/Flight Shop it is not possible to model the turbo-charging of

an engine. Because of this limitation, it is not possible to achieve the performance capabilities of the real aircraft at the higher altitudes.

 

When flying the EC-121 at the higher altitudes, it will help to climb slightly above your altitude and descend down to your assigned altitude to help increase your

speed. Due to lack of turbo-charging, I recommend flying the EC-121 at a lower density altitude (7 to 10 thousand feet) than what would normally be efficient in the

real aircraft (16 to 21 thousand feet).

 

The EC-121 flies beautifully both on and off autopilot. It is one of the nicest flying converted Flight Shop aircraft that I have flown. It handles well in all axes at both

fast and slow speeds. There is very little pitch change when configuring the flaps. It lands extremely well and exhibits very nice handling characteristics on the

ground.

 

 

The EC-121 is another excellent example of the dynamite aircraft that we have come to expect from Flight Simulator Developers. I highly recommend this design.

 

 

 

Steve Barry

Captain, USAirways Inc.

_______________________________________________________________

 

If you enjoyed this Aircraft please visit Flightsim Developers Site at

http://www.avnet.co.uk/fsd

where you will find some of the best aircraft available for Microsoft Flight Simulator

 

You can also obtain my newest Aircraft at:

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/3762

 

 

For any comments please drop me a line at:

 

jgoldman@hern.org

 

 

Christopher Tarana

 

Jim Goldman