Although propliner veterans may not think the title unusual, there was only one genuine Lockheed Constellation tri-motor. On June 18, 1946, Pan American Airways Clipper America, a Lockheed Model 49 (NC88858), departed from New York (LaGuardia) for London's newly opened Heathrow Airport, operating Flight PA100 via Gander and Shannon. Half an hour after takeoff, the aircraft reported at 15,000ft. Less than 20 minutes later, a fire began in Wright 739C18BA-2 N° 4 (the right outer engine). An emergency was declared and Captain Samuel H (Sam) Miller decided to divert to Hartford, Connecticut.
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