USN - Lockheed R7V-2 Super Constellation BuNo

United states Navy - Lockheed R7V-2 Super Constellation BuNo 131630 or 131631. Turbo-Prop conversion of the R7V-1 for the US Navy. In November 1951, an idea came about to build a turbine-powered version of the R7O-1. This new aircraft was designated L-1249A by Lockheed. In 1954, two R7O-1s (then designated R7V-1) were pulled off the assembly line for conversion into prototypes for the new L-1249A. The landing gear was strengthened along with the fuselage and wings of the aircraft. Extra fuel tanks were also later added on the wing-tips of the two aircraft, increasing the fuel capacity to 7, 360 US Gallons. The wings were also shortened from 123 ft 9 in to 117 ft 7 in. Finally, four Pratt and Whitney YT34-P-12A turboprop engines, rated at 5, 500 bhp each, were installed in place of the usual Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone radial engines. The new aircraft was designated R7V-2, and first flew on 1 September 1954. The R7V-2 reached 412 mph making it the fastest transport aircraft in the world at the time. The two R7V-2 aircraft were delivered to the Navy on 10 September the same year

Added Build Buno Capacity Constellation Conversion Delivered Designated Extra Fastest Finally Flew Fuselage Gallons Idea Increasing Installed Pratt Prototypes Pulled Radial Rated Reached Shortened Strengthened Turbo-prop Turboprop Usual Whitney

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