Lockheed Model 44 Excalibur
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| Model 44 Excalibur | |
|---|---|
| Role | 32-passenger airliner |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Corporation |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Number built | None |
| Developed into | L-049 Constellation |
The Lockheed Model 44 Excalibur was a proposed
Design and development
In the late 1930s, American aircraft companies such as
Around this time, the
The original Excalibur design envisioned a 21-passenger payload, with a 240 mph (390 km/h) cruising speed. This was revised to 36 passengers at 268 mph (431 km/h) cruise at 12,000 ft (3,700 m) altitude. This change included increasing the fuselage diameter, making it comparable to the Model 18 Lodestar, and increasing the wingspan to 95 ft 9 in (29.18 m) with an area of 1,000 sq ft (93 m2). A tricycle landing gear with steerable nosewheel was envisioned. With the revised specifications, the Excalibur could now effectively compete with the near monopoly Douglas had on the airliner market. Its projected performance was better (except in range) than the Boeing 307 Stratoliner. The revision of specifications was partially due to a request from Pan American Airlines; their influence also caused the addition of the third tailfin. A variant designated the L-144, able to carry 40 passengers was planned, but was ultimately cancelled even though South African Airways had placed a potential order for two examples. Lockheed proceeded with a full-scale mockup of the proposed Excalibur, including most of the airliner except the right wing.
The eccentric billionaire
The new design differed so much from the original Excalibur, that a different model designation was needed. It was first given the temporary designation L-104, then it was later officially designated the Model 49 or "Excalibur A". In time, the Model 49 would become a completely different aircraft from the original Model 44. Lockheed later dropped the name "Excalibur" as the new airliner had little to do with its predecessor. The end result was the Lockheed L-049 Constellation.
Specifications
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Capacity: 32 passengers
- Length: 74 ft 11.5 in (22.847 m)
- Wingspan: 95 ft 0 in (28.96 m)
- Wing area: 1,000 sq ft (93 m2)
- Empty weight: 26,424 lb (11,986 kg)
- Gross weight: 40,000 lb (18,144 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S4C-4-Gpiston engine , 1,200 hp (890 kW) each
Performance
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. (1982). Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam & Company. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.
- Breffort, Dominique (2006). Lockheed Constellation: from Excalibur to Starliner Civilian and Military Variants. Paris: Histoire and Collections. p. 176. ISBN 2-915239-62-2.