Northwest Airlines
Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation N5172V
(c/n 4572)
In 1955 Northwest ordered a
small fleet (of four) Lockheed L-1049G Super Connies. Whether
this was just an interim
step whilst waiting for the long range Douglas DC-7C, or whether at one
point they intended to standardize on these stately
airliners is not clear. In the event, they were sold
off after only two years service.
Interestingly, Northwest were the first airline to utilize tip tanks on
Super Constellation aircraft to increase the
range. Each tank held 600 gallons, and gave the machines
an extra range of some 700 miles.
All four were sold to Linea Aeropostal Venezolana in 1957,
N5172V becoming YV-C-ANB.