Lockheed Constellation L-749 image gallery

The newly formed Air-India International was fortunate to receive early delivery of three Lockheed Constellation L-749 aircraft very shortly after it was formed, as a result of an order cancellation by another airline. These airplanes were delivered to Bombay in March 1948 itself, and hence plans could be speeded up to launch the service from Bombay to London in June if the same year itself.
The first three were L-749 Constellations :
  • VT-CQP Malabar Princess. Crashed into Mont Blanc on 3 November 1950
  • VT-CQR Rajput Princess. Sold on 15 January 1958
  • VT-CQS Mogul Princess (Mughal Princess). Sold on 15 January 1958
In October 1949, Air-India acquired two L-749A Constellations, and they were:
  • VT-DAR Maratha Princess. Sold on 15 January 1958
  • VT-DAS Himalayan Princess. Sold on 15 January 1958
Two more L-749A Constellations were acquired still later to make it a total of seven L-749 series Constellations acquired by Air-India
  • VT-DEO Bengal Princess. Sold.
  • VT-DEP Kashmir Princess. Exploded en route Hong Kong to Jakarta on 11 April 1955.
Prime Minister Nehru with on his right Capt. J.D. Choksi and on his left A.C. Gazdar.
(ex - John Stroud Collection)
Air-India The Lockheed Constellation (Connie) Colour Scheme
(Image & Information Courtesy: John Evanich III)
  1. The silver cabin roof with deep orange cheat line was carries only by the airline's original three 749s from 1948 to 1950.
  2. With the introduction of the 749As in 1949, the airline changed its scheme to the well-known red cheat line iwth bold titling. This scheme was seen on the 749As and the first few Super Constellation and was used untill 1956.
  3. A modified scheme with the airline emblem on the cabin roof and title also in Hindi was introduced in 1956, with the scheme appearing on the 749As, 1049s and 1049Es for a short period until 1957.
  4. With the fitting of a radar nose on the Super Constellation, the titling was modified again from 1957, and the main cheat line was underline now with only one additional line on the nose (instead of three), although the additional two lines could often be seen for month after overprinting, the scheme was seen until 1959.
  5. The final Scheme on the Super Constellation was introduced during 1958, at which time the "International" was omitted from the titling and the Indian national colours were printed above and below the airline emblem on the fins. The black radar nose was overprinted except on the tip from late 1958. The scheme lasted until the end of Super Constellation operations, but the cheat lines were retained on some aircraft in sbsiquent military use, being painted blue instead of red.
Above are the examples of the Connie colour scheme.
(Image Courtesy: John Evanich III)

VT-CQP Malabar Princess.

London, 9th June 1948 Arrival of 1st Schedule service from Bombay
​Air-India L-749 VT-CQP Malabar Princess at precisely at 23:00 hrs B.S.T. 
London 9th June 1948
Arrival of 1st Schedule Service from Bombay VT-CPQ Malabar Princess.
Left to Right: Capt Jatar, f/o Dhuru, Hasliss Miss McCay, R/o Sule, F/E Desouza, Chief Hasliss Miss Salway, 
N/O Mani and flight Purses Ganesh.
(ex-John Stroud Collection)
11 June 1948 London Airport, VT-CQP Malabar Princess prior to departure on 1st Scheduled E'bound service.
11 June 1948 London Airport, VT-CQP Malabar Princess prior to departure on 1st Scheduled E'bound service.
​Passengers boarding the Constellation VT-CQP "Malabar Princess" at London on June 11th, 1948,
When the first air-India service departed London from Bombay.
On 8th October 1949 Air-India VT-CQP Malabar Princess.
​Pandit Nehru Arriving at London Airport from Bombay in route to U.S.A. 
VT-CPQ Malabar Princess
(Image Courtesy: Mallery Thierry )
VT-CQP Malabar Princess

VT-CQR Rajput Princess.

On 22 March, 1948 VT-CQR Rajput Princess 2nd Delivery Flight.
On 22 March, 1948 VT-CQR Rajput Princess 2nd Delivery Flight.
On 22 March 1948 VT-CQR Rajput Princess 
​(ex-John Stroud Collection)
VT-CQR Rajput Princess
London, 9th May 1948 Arrival of the second proving flight from Bombay.
On staircase, from bottom to top; Mrs Masani, Mr. Tata, Mr. Masani, Mr. Figgins & Mr. Kooka.
London, 11 May, 1948 VT-CQR Rajput Princess
On 11 May, 1948 Press Flight London VT-CQR Rajput Princess
On 11 May, 1948 Press Flight London VT-CQR Rajput Princess
On 11 May, 1948 Press Flight London VT-CQR Rajput Princess
Air-India L-749 VT-CQR Rani of Jhansi or Rajput Princess
VT-CQR Rajput Princess
VT-CQR Rajput Princess
VT-CQR Rajput Princess
VT-CQR Rajput Princess Flight Deck
VT-CQR Rajput Princess sleeping arrangements.
VT-CQR Rajput Princess Cabin
VT-CQS Mughal Princess 
VT-CQS Mughal Princess on test at near Burbank, California early 1948 Lockheed photograph.
VT-CQS Mughal Princess on test at near Burbank, California early 1948 Lockheed photograph.
VT-CQS Mughal Princess on test at near Burbank, California early 1948 Lockheed photograph.
On 15 March 1948 First Delivery Flight of VT-CQS Mughal Princess
On 15 March 1948 First Delivery Flight of VT-CQS Mughal Princess
On 15 March 1948 First Delivery Flight of VT-CQS Mughal Princess
On 15 March 1948 First Delivery Flight of VT-CQS Mughal Princess
On 15 March 1948 First Delivery Flight of VT-CQS Mughal Princess
On 15 March 1948 First Delivery Flight of VT-CQS Mughal Princess
On 15 March, 1948 VT-CQS Mughal Princess on London Airport Departure for Cairo + Bombay on 1st Delivery flight.
Capt. K.R. Gazdar, Captain of VT-CQS on delivering flight at London Airport 15th March, 1948.
​​(ex-John Stroud Collection)
Air-India Articles in Aeronautics June, 1948.
On 15 March, 1948 VT-CQS Mughal Princess
Bombay 16th March, 1948 Arrival of the 1st Air-India International Constellation VT-CQS Mughal Princess at Santacruz Airport.
Left to right: Mr. J.D.Choksi - Director Air-India, Mr. JRD Tata - Chairman, Air-India & Air-India International, Mr B.W. Figgins - General Manager Air-India & Air-India International, Mr S.K. Kooka Traffic Manager Air-India & Air-India International, Mr A.C. Gazdar Operation Manager Air-India & Air-India International.
​(ex-John Stroud Collection)
Air-India Articles in Aeronautics June, 1948.
VT-CQS Mughal (Mogul) Princess 
14 May 1950 An "Air-India International"  airways constellation at Heathrow.
VT-CQS Mogul Princess

VT-DAR Maratha Princess

On 26 October, 1949 Arrival of 4th Constellation at London from U.S.A., L-749A VT-DAR Maratha Princess
On 26 October, 1949 Arrival of 4th Constellation at London from U.S.A., L-749A VT-DAR Maratha Princess
VT-DAR Maratha Princess
VT-DAR Maratha Princess flying over Lake Geneva
​Lockheed L-749A Constellation of Air-India International (New Air-India) VT-DAR Maratha Princess
(ex-John Stroud Collection)
VT-DAR Maratha Princess
VT-DAR Maratha Princess.
Air-India Postcard, showing Air-India Lockheed Constellation VT-DAR Maratha Princess standing at Zurich Airport
Prime Minister Nehru of India deplaning from VT-DAR Maratha Princess at London with his sister Krishna Hutheesingh and daughter Indira Gandhi (future Prime Minister of India) at London.
A Jitendra Arya photograph
VT-DAR Maratha Princess Lockheed Constellation
VT-DAR Maratha Princess Lockheed Constellation
VT-DAR Maratha Princess Lockheed Constellation
VT-DAS Himalayan Princess
VT-DAS Himalayan Princess
VT-DEO Bengal Princess
VT-DEO Bengal Princess L-749A Burbank, California Early 1951.
VT-DEO Bengal Princess L-749A Burbank, California Early 1951.
VT-DEO Bengal Princess
VT-DEP Kashmir Princess
On 25 May, 1951 VT-DEP Kashmir Princess
Air-India L-749 VT-DEP Kashmir Princess
Air-India L-749 VT-DEP Kashmir Princess​
Air-India International Lockheed Constellation 749 A.
Capt. A.C. Gazdar and K.R. Gazdar
First proving flight from Bombay Air-India
(ex-John Stroud Collection)
Air-India Lockheed Constellation L-749