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 :
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
- VT-DAR Maratha Princess. Sold on 15 January 1958
- VT-DAS Himalayan Princess. Sold on 15 January 1958
- 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)
(ex - John Stroud Collection)
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.
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)
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.
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.
Pandit Nehru Arriving at London Airport from Bombay in route to U.S.A.
VT-CPQ Malabar Princess
(Image Courtesy: Mallery Thierry )
(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)
(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, 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 at London Aerodrome
VT-CQR Rajput Princess Flight Deck
VT-CQR Rajput Princess Cabin
VT-CQR Rajput Princess sleeping arrangements.
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)
(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)
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.
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)
(ex-John Stroud Collection)
VT-DAR Maratha Princess
VT-DAR Maratha Princess.
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
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)
First proving flight from Bombay Air-India
(ex-John Stroud Collection)
Air-India Lockheed Constellation L-749