View of Large Aircraft on Runway

(Original Caption) The first flight of this first Lockheed Super Constellation equipped with jet-type turbo prop engines marked a major aviation milestone at Lockheed Air terminal, in Burbank, California. Built for the U.S. Navy and designated the R7V-2, the plane is shown just before it's maiden flight , was the world's fastest propeller driven transport, with a top cruising speed of 440 mph. The big craft was capable of crossing the U.S. in 6 hours, flying the Atlantic in 8 3/4 hours, or hopping from California to Hawaii in under 6 hours, with 16 ton payloads. After extensive testing, this type transport was intended to carry cargo, personnel or litter-patients. Note the sleek, thin engine nacelles, which had large, over the wing outlets for turbine exhaust at the trailing edge of the wing. (Photo by © Bettmann/CORBIS/Bettmann Archive)