Osprey Production Line to Flightline 1 : Lockheed Constellation

The first book of new series on piston-engined civil airliners of the 1940s and 50s, this book uses the best professionally photographed archival material available, sourced directly from Lockheed themselves (as well as numerous airlines in the USA), to illustrate just how complex a procedure it was to build arguably the world's most stylish piston-engined airliner - the majestic Constellation. Created in response to a requirement issued by the flamboyant owner of TWA, Howard Hughes, in late 1939, the birth of the four-engined airliner was considered to be the biggest design and development effort seen in aviation up to that point. Costing a sizeable $425,000 apiece, the Constellation was soon ordered by other airlines due to its unmatched ability to fly non-stop from the east to the west coast of America at a constant 300 mph. Text by Michael O'Leary.