As propeller airliners go, the Lockheed Constellation is a piece of art.
With its distinctive triple tail and graceful, dolphin-shaped fuselage, the Connie remains one of the most beautiful airliners ever built. Designed by Lockheed and flown by Trans World Airlines (TWA), it helped usher in the modern era of long-distance airline travel.
On February 5, 1946, TWA launched its first trans-Atlantic service with the Constellation, linking North America and Europe in ways that would soon become routine for commercial aviation. The aircraft’s pressurized cabin, speed, and long range represented a major step forward in passenger comfort and capability.
This INCREDIBLE Aircraft Changed Everything
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During the COVID lockdowns, I decided to recreate one of those early Atlantic crossings in P3D. Over three evenings I “flew” from Chicago to London, following the classic North Atlantic stepping-stone route:
Chicago → New York → Gander → Reykjavík → Shannon → London
The real Connie had the range to complete the trip in a single stop under the right conditions.
I, on the other hand, didn’t!
Flying the route in stages gave me a real appreciation for the rhythm of piston-airliner flying—careful planning, steady engine management, and navigation that demanded attention and patience.
The good news for simulator pilots is that the Constellation is alive and well in the virtual world. Versions of the aircraft are available in Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Lockheed Martin Prepar3D, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and X-Plane 11 / X-Plane 12.
The first TWA Atlantic crossing in the Connie happened nearly 80 years ago. If you’re a flight simmer, you don’t have wait another 80 to try it yourself.
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Kenneth (Ken) Butterly, Founder
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