R7V-2 World’s fastest propeller-driven transport ...

[Mark Allen M]

... allegedly at the time.

R7V-2 Originally designated R7O-2. Four converted R7V-1 aircraft (BuNos 131630-131631, 131660-131661) with a shorter wingspan and powered by four Pratt & Whitney YT34-P12A turboprop engines. Used by the United States Navy.

"R7V-2, 440MPH, top speed makes it the world’s fastest propeller-driven transport, has a range of 4,000 miles, with 600 gallon tip-tanks. Lockheed says the combination cargo personnel-evacuation carrier can airlift 8 ton load across the U.S. in under 6 hours. The U.S. Navy is getting two of these ships and the U.S. Air Force two, July 18, 1955"

[Mark Allen M]

Here's the R7V-1

[Mark Allen M]

Then you have the neat looking C-69

[K5DH]

CONNIES!!!

[Mark Allen M]

Speaking of strange ... WTF? This is where 'The Inspector' is missed, he'd have all kinds of things to say about this contraption. Of course many others here have a wealth of remarks as well.
below the photo is what is explained.


"U.S. Navy’s new flying radar laboratory, R5D2-2, provides a new silhouette in the skies, four radar sets are mounted nacelles below the wing: The 15-foot mast raises and lowers in flight and houses meteorological instruments. The Naval Research Laboratory will use the new research tool in its program of radar and radio wave propagation studies, March 23, 1955"

Wiki states:

A U.S. Navy Douglas R5D-2-2 (C-54) Skymaster of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) circa 1954. The aicraft was originally ordered by the USAAF as a C-54B-1-DC (c/n 10428, USAAF 42-72323). It was transferred to the U.S. Navy as an R5D-2 (BuNo 50851). In the early 1950s it was converted and used for radar tests at the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland (USA) under the designation R5D-2-2. The aircraft was redesignated C-54P in 1962. After its service with the U.S. Navy it was sold to Aero Union of California (civil registration N62295). Finally the plane became a a hulk at Chico, California.

[Chris Brame]

I'd love to hear how that C-54 flew in that configuration...

Did Lockheed ever plan an airliner version of the R7V-2, or was the Electra already under development?

[daviemax]

As I'm sure most everyone on this thread knows, both C-97 and C-124 aircraft were also converted to turboprop power, in the same time frame as the R7V-2.

[Left Seat]

... allegedly at the time. "R7V-2, 440MPH, top speed makes it the world’s fastest propeller-driven transport..."

Sigh.

Eclipsed by the Tupolev Tu-114 Rossiya starting 15 November 1957 (532.647 mph, 9 April 1960).

Don't forget your earplugs

[TAdan]

Thanks for sharing these images Mark. I'd never heard of the R7V-2. What a slick looking bird and well that R5D is the exact opposite.

[jdvoss]

As a point of interest two Boeing C-97 Stratocruiser's were converted with the same turboprop engines. One came into NAS Kwajalein during the 1963-64 time frame and was assigned as a personal transport of a US Army 3 or 4 Star General. Did I have a camera? YES! Did I take a photo? No, and no excuse whatsoever...

IIRC, at least one of the two were purchased surplus by Aerospace Lines to transport sections of the Saturn rocket.


http://www.fuselagecodes.com

[Mark Allen M]

More I look at it the more I'm impressed. Great looking machine IMO.

[CAPFlyer]

I'd love to hear how that C-54 flew in that configuration...

Did Lockheed ever plan an airliner version of the R7V-2, or was the Electra already under development?

The L-1249A (as the R7V-2 was designated by Lockheed) had a L-1249B airliner version proposed, but it never got off the drawing board as neither Pratt & Whitney nor the DoD were willing to sell the T34 turboprop to civilian operators. As it ended up, the T34 was only ever used on the C-131 anyway due to its size and complexity limiting its utility on smaller airframes. The 3 of the R7V-2 airframes ended up being converted to L-1049H aircraft for Flying Tiger Line, one was scrapped, and one was retained by Lockheed and used as a testbed for the Allison 501D that was being developed from the T56 for the Electra. This last airplane gained the nickname the "Elation" and was marketed by Lockheed as well, but again with no takers.

More info -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L ... stellation
http://www.zoggavia.com/Lockheed__1951_-_1960.html

A video showing the Elation in addition to being a great source of info about the development of the Electra and the 501D - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jAv802UmWY

[spiteful21k]

As a point of interest two Boeing C-97 Stratocruiser's were converted with the same turboprop engines. One came into NAS Kwajalein during the 1963-64 time frame and was assigned as a personal transport of a US Army 3 or 4 Star General. Did I have a camera? YES! Did I take a photo? No, and no excuse whatsoever...

IIRC, at least one of the two were purchased surplus by Aerospace Lines to transport sections of the Saturn rocket.


http://www.fuselagecodes.com

[daviemax]

I'd love to hear how that C-54 flew in that configuration...

Did Lockheed ever plan an airliner version of the R7V-2, or was the Electra already under development?

The L-1249A (as the R7V-2 was designated by Lockheed) had a L-1249B airliner version proposed, but it never got off the drawing board as neither Pratt & Whitney nor the DoD were willing to sell the T34 turboprop to civilian operators. As it ended up, the T34 was only ever used on the C-131 anyway due to its size and complexity limiting its utility on smaller airframes. The 3 of the R7V-2 airframes ended up being converted to L-1049H aircraft for Flying Tiger Line, one was scrapped, and one was retained by Lockheed and used as a testbed for the Allison 501D that was being developed from the T56 for the Electra. This last airplane gained the nickname the "Elation" and was marketed by Lockheed as well, but again with no takers.

More info -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_L ... stellation
http://www.zoggavia.com/Lockheed__1951_-_1960.html

A video showing the Elation in addition to being a great source of info about the development of the Electra and the 501D - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jAv802UmWY

I think you mean C-133 Cargomaster, not a C-131.

[CAPFlyer]

I think you mean C-133 Cargomaster, not a C-131.

Whoops, didn't catch that typo. Yes, I meant the C-133. I was thinking C-131 with the T56.