Pilot and aeroplane enthusiast Tom Harwood said the 'Connie' — which it has been affectionally nicknamed — was a trailblazer in air travel. The Lockheed Constellation ("Connie") was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines.It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility.A total of 856 aircraft were produced in four models, all distinguished by a triple-tail design and dolphin-shaped fuselage. Aside of its unique design and attractive curves, the Connie brought us something which has proved invaluable in the development of long haul, comfortable flying, and that’s the ability to fly at … The Lockheed Constellation ("Connie") is a propeller-driven, four-engine airliner built by Lockheed Corporation between 1943 and 1958 at Burbank, California.Lockheed built 856 in numerous models—all with the same triple-tail design and dolphin-shaped fuselage. Lockheed Constellation Model 049 the type that crashed in Reading This is the story of an airliner that crashed near Reading Airport, 62 years ago. 1959: Constellation Airplane Crash Still a Mystery Memorial plaque at the Constellation Trailhead honors the victims. February 28th, 1959 was another "darned nice day" weather-wise in Prescott. The Lockheed Constellation was a groundbreaking aircraft in so many ways. Although Reading isn’t really in the coal region of Pennsylvania, it is close enough for this story. It put the otherwise small player Lockheed on the commercial aviation map and played an important role in WWII as well. The Qantas Founders museum in Longreach rescued the Lockheed Super Constellation in 2014 from an aeroplane graveyard in the Philippines, where it had been left to decay for 25 years. William Watson who was visiting family in the area was driving north on State Route 89 with his nephew Robert Schilling.