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In 1942, the U.S. Navy called for a large
transport aircraft to improve upon the navy's fleet of flying boats. In
the meantime, Lockheed and PanAm began a Model 189 airliner study as a
greater / double-decker version of the 049 Constellation. A year later
in 1943, the Navy involved the development and ordered two prototypes.
It was given designation XR6O-1 Constitution. Since the XR6O-1 was a
low-priority project, the first prototype was completed after the war
ended in 1945. The first flight took place in late 1946. It was found to
be significantly underpowered. In 1949, the second R6O was commissioned
into service at the logistics support squadron VR-44. Soon joined by the
first R6O, the two R6Os reassigned to VR-5 for personnel and material
transport, and were redesignated R6V-1. The R6V-1 had operational
difficulties which prevented it from meeting its original design
objectives. The four Pratt & Whitney R-4360s did not offer the power
needed by such a large aircraft. With a total of 3,760 flight hours
between the two aircrafts, in 1953 the R6V Constitutions were retired
and placed in storage at NAF Lichtfield Park, Arizona.
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