The Lockheed R6V Constitution was a large, propeller-driven, double-decker transport aircraft developed in the 1940s by Lockheed as a long-range, high capacity transport and airliner for the US Navy and Pan American Airways. (The Constitutions were identified as R6O until 1950.) Only two of the planes were ever built, both prototypes. Although these two planes went into service with the Navy, the Constitution design ultimately proved underpowered and too large for practical airline use at the time. The Constitution remains the largest fixed-wing aircraft type ever operated by the US Navy. The Lockheed Constitution began life in 1942 as a joint study by the US Navy, PanAm, and Lockheed. The design requirements, initially designated Lockheed Model 89, called for a large transport aircraft to improve upon the Navy’s fleet of flying boats. PanAm was involved in the study because such an aircraft had potential use as a commercial airliner. This transport would carry 17500 pounds of cargo 5000 miles at a cruising altitude of 25000 feet and a speed greater than 250 mph. The aircraft would be fully pressurized and large enough so that most major components could be accessed and possibly repaired in flight. For instance, tunnels led through the thick wings to all four engines.) The aircraft was designed by a team of engineers led by Willis Hawkins and WA Pulver of Lockheed and Commander EL Simpson, Jr. of the Navy. The name Constitution was given to the project by Lockheed …

Image taken on 1939-01-01 00:00:00 by The Library of Congress.