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2. Vanguard Airlines Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation "1948-1958"



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2. Vanguard Airlines Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation "1948-1958"

In June of 1946, Vanguard Airlines placed its first and largest order for the first widespread use pressurized airliner in history, the Lockheed Constellation. This aircraft was heavily used by the airline to propel it into the modern era of the time and give the airline the capability to fly nonstop to anywhere in the country. The Constellation was first used on flagship routes from Memphis to New York, Houston to New York, New Orleans to Miami, and Washington D.C. To Houston, but eventually was used to begin what would become the airlines' first transcontinental-esque services out west from Memphis and Houston to Las Vegas and San Francisco. The Constellation was the biggest aircraft operated by Vanguard Airlines in the postwar era, and ushered in a new age of style, comfort, and accomodations at the airline that would make the foundation of its service today. After the initial order for the L-649 in 1946, the airline placed a second order for the later updated L-749, and then a third smaller order for 18 L-1049G Super Constellations, which remained in service with the airline until 1966.

In 1956, a Vanguard Airlines L-1049G Constellation was involved in a mid-air collision with a North American Airlines DC-6 over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, which led to the modernization and overhaul of the American air traffic control system. Of all the Constellation variants made, Vanguard would operate the L-649, L-749, L-1049H, L-1049G, and a handful of L-1649 Starliner up until 1966, when the introduction of the Boeing 707 made the Constellation obsolete. A Constellation was elected to be preserved by the Vanguard Airlines flight museum in 2001, and a 1953 built L-1049G Super Constellation was located. The aircraft was brought to Memphis and painted into the Vanguard Airlines livery pictured here



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