The first volume in an exciting new series about piston-engined civil airliners of the 1940s and '50s, this book uses the best archival material available from Lockheed and several U.S. airlines to illustrate the complexity of building what was arguably the most stylish piston-engined airliner ever -- the majestic Constellation. Created in response to a requirement issued by the flamboyant owner of TWA, Howard Hughes, in late 1939, the Constellation was soon ordered by other airlines due to its unmatched ability to fly non-stop from the East Coast to the West Coast at a constant 300 miles per hour. All the major prototype, pre-production, and civil service variants are shown in production ar the Lockheed plant in California, and in service with various operators around the globe. Period color photography is also included, featuring Lockheed and airline advertisements. Detailed captions and a concise narrative outline the manufacturing procedures, while appendices includes comprehensive production batch lists, performance data, and a double-page cutaway.