What was the purpose of the Constellation's curved fuselage?

The Constellation's fuselage, with its characteristic dolphin profile, is not a stylistic whim, even if it is one of the reasons for its elegance. According to the French-language encyclopedia, the design was chosen to raise the tail unit so that the fins would be kept clear of the disturbed airflow generated by the propellers. At the other end, the nose dipped slightly to limit the height of the nose landing gear leg. The result is a continuous curve running the length of the aircraft that, together with the triple tail, makes the 856 Constellations of all versions recognisable.

That shape had a cost. Since the fuselage cross-section varies continuously, no two parts are alike, which made manufacturing much more expensive. Modern airliners use cylindrical fuselages, assembled with largely standardised elements, which also withstand repeated pressurisation cycles better. The Spanish-language encyclopedia makes the same point: the tube is more resistant to pressurisation changes and its production is more cost-effective.

The curve also limited the aircraft's development compared with its great rival, the Douglas DC-4, which could be turned into the DC-6 and then the DC-7 by stretching the fuselage, among other changes. Lockheed also stretched its own aircraft with the L-1049 Super Constellation, but each extension was harder to achieve on a fuselage with no straight sections. The triple tail responded to another practical constraint: keeping the aircraft's overall height low so that it would fit in the hangars of the time.