The history of lockheed martin aircraft cutaways gunston, bill, badrocke, mike on. Lockheed began to develop a larger and updated version of the model 14 super electra in 1939 after the earlier design did not prove a commercial success. Design work was under kelly johnson and the first lodestar, modified from a model 14, flew on september 21, 1939. Lockheed 18 in service with the us army air corps were designated c56, c57 and c60.
It was the sixth aircraft of this type delivered to tca on february th, 1941. Initially owned by canadian pacific airlines during wwii to facilitate an oil pipe line construction. These aircraft received different numerical designations depending on engine type. The c60 is a twinengine transport based on the lockheed model 18 lodestar. In mid1942, lockheed introduced the c60 variant of the lodestar. The museums aircraft, cftcy, was purchased by transcanada airlines tca to replace the lockheed super electra that had originally commenced the. Blackburn aircraft since, 1909 putnam aeronautical books. Lockheed c60a lodestar national museum of the united. The lodestar will return to flying status when funding permits. Virtual aircraft museum usa lockheed design and development of the lockheed 18 lodestar began as a result of the poor sales achievement of the lockheed 14 super electra, the prototype being flown for the first time on 21 september 1939. The prototype, a lockheed 14 super electra lengthened by five feet, flew on the 21st of september, 1939. The lockheed l18 lodestar following the successful debut of the boeing 247 and douglas dc2, lockeed delivered its 10 passenger model 10 electra on august 11, 1934.
The lodestar was similar in layout to most lockheed transport aircraft of the interwar years. Lockheed 18 lodestar aircraft history, specification and information. I guess this was the navigator seat and panel behind the copilot seat. The lockheed 18 lodestar was a 15 to 18passenger airliner created by enlarging an earlier unsuccessful design, the lockheed 14 super electra, with a 5footlonger fuselage. When the united states started to build up its military air strength in 194041, many americanoperated lodestars were impressed as the c56. This article, written by dave bekker, appeared in the december 2004 issue of sa flyer magazine. Miltons lockheed lodestar i have changed the parameter in the aircraft cfg file for tailwheel lock1 to 0. The c60a was the first lodestar which was built specifically for military service. Lockheed lodestar 1808 cftcy canadian museum of flight. In september 1939 lockheed proposed to the british representatives a military development of the lockheed 18 lodestar, as a followup for hudson. At the beginning of the war, 102 model 18s in service with u.
A corner of the huge lockheed aircraft corporation pla. Media in category lockheed model 18 lodestar the following 48 files are in this category, out of 48 total. The hudson was the most successful of the lockheed bombers in the war against uboats, no doubt largely due to timing. During ww ii the army air forces used the aircraft for training and for transporting personnel and freight. Navy usn acquired 68 lockheed model 18 lodestar transports for its use and for use by the u. Lockheed 18 lodestar specifications technical data. This book, and others in the series, are highly recommended. The designation in us navy service was r50 and in service with the royal air force lodestar ia and lodestar ii. The 1956 aircraft year book aerospace industry association. The lodestar is a quintessential example of business aviation history. The first edition of lockheed aircraft since 19 was published to celebrate. Houston was one of the birth places of modern business. The hudson itself had been hastily developed from the smaller lockheed 14 super electra. Asn aircraft accident lockheed 1808a lodestar cftdf.
It had low mounted tapered wings, with a moderate dihedral. Sales of the 1014 passenger lockheed model 14 super electra, which first flew in 1937, had proved disappointing, despite the aircraft s excellent performance, as it was more expensive to operate than the larger douglas dc3, already in widespread use. March field air museum in riverside, ca r505 lodestar. Models include hercules, jetstar, 12a, and hurcules c.
In the air with the caf houston wings lockheed c60 lodestar. The lockheed l18 lodestar california classic propliners. During world war ii, the army air forces used the aircraft for training and for transporting personnel and freight. Aug 15, 2016 other than their longrange missions in the aleutians and kuriles, the most successful operations by lockheed electra lodestar derivatives were in the antisubmarine role. Cfbal lockheed c60a lodestar british american oil co ltd toronto international malton yyz cyyz, canada ontario mike ody collection via george trussell 1967. Lockheed 18 lodestar aircraft history, specification. Nov, 2017 the lockheed model 18 lodestar is a passenger transport aircraft of the world war ii era. Aircraft photo of nc25637 lockheed 1808 lodestar continental airlines, taken by airhistory photo archive over unknown state, united states between 30 march 1940 and 31 december 1948. Oct 29, 20 lockheed l18 lodestar zkbve was formerly used as a topdressing aircraft and as a result the superphosphate has already left parts of the aircraft looking like shavings of parmesan cheese. The first five lockheed 18s experienced control buffeting caused by the tail being within the turbulent wake of the wing, so after these five aircraft, the tail was raised 1 foot on a humplike fairing which is the easiest way to distinguish a model 18 from a model 14 or hudson. Fifteen of these aircraft were operated by tca on the transcontinental service and canadian pacific airlines operated a further nine. It was once the primary wartime transport flying between victoria and newfoundland. Trans canada air lines had previously received an initial order of 15 lockheed super electra aircraft to commence the transcontinental airmail service in 1939.
The burned and corroded remains of one of the engines from vhbag was noted next to a flying school building at coolangatta airport. The museum aircraft, cftcy was a california lockheed model 1808 aircraft known as a lodestar. Ordered by model number, lockheed gave most of its aircraft astronomical names, from the first vega to the c5 galaxy. The lockheed 18 lodestar was the last twinengine transport designed by lockheed. The first newbuild model 18 flew on february 2, 1940, and about 625 ultimately were built. During its history, the lockheed aircraft corporation has earned a reputation for building versatile airplanes. A lodestar is any star used for celestial navigation. Lockheed 1856 lodestar there are 95 photos of version lockheed 1856 lodestar for aircraft generic type lockheed 18 lodestar c56c60r5o in the database. Before reaching a height of 300 feet 90 m it suddenly pitched noseup, stalled and crashed onto its belly beyond the end of the airstrip. Lockheeds electra and lodestar warfare history network. Owning the lockheed was a financial lodestone but worth every penny. Formerly 2101 of the us navy, this lodestar staff transport was delivered to the uscg on 14 may 1940 and based at cgas brooklyn, new york. Sales of the 1014 passenger lockheed model 14 super electra, which first flew in 1937, had proved disappointing, despite the aircrafts excellent performance, as it was more expensive to operate than the larger douglas dc3, already in widespread use.
Lockheed c60 lodestar rnzaf by stan hajek aircraft. The engine had been uncovered earlier during earthworks at the airport. The lockheed model 18 lodestar is a passenger transport aircraft of the world war ii era. While lockheed sold almost 150 aircraft, the model 10 was smaller than the dc2 and no faster. On october 17, lockheed 1808 lodestar, zsasn, andries pretorius arrived back at its original home base, rand airport. The lockheed model 18 lodestar is a passenger transport aircraft of the world war ii era design and development. Lockheed has produced more than its share of great aircraft and this book is the definitive source for learning about them. Lockheed l18 lodestar lodestar n880v ended its days as an executive aircraft and was preserved at greybull, wyoming, in the usa. A lockheed 1808a lodestar passenger plane, registered cftdf, was damaged beyond repair in an accident 16 km n of vancouver, bc, canada. Background the c60 is a twinengine transport based on the lockheed model 18 lodestar. Luigino caliaro recently, noted aviation photographer and journalist, luigino caliaro had the opportunity to photograph the commemorative air force caf houston wings beautifully restored lockheed c60a lodestar. Starting with a flying boat on the california coast, the loughead brothers formed serveral aircraft companies in the pre and post world war one aircraft boom. But this time, a more extensive militarisation was proposed.
Browse our inventory of new and used lockheed aircraft for sale near you at. Designed for the commercial market, lockheed found domestic sales slow due to previous commitments by airlines to buy the dc3. This is a list of aircraft produced or proposed by the lockheed aircraft corporation from its founding as the lockheed aircraft company in 1926 to its merging with martin marietta to form the lockheed martin corporation in 1995. On 10 march 1949 a lockheed lodestar aircraft became airborne at coolangatta, queensland, australia for a flight to brisbane.
There were 12 passengers and three crew members on board. The airplane operated on a flight from lethbridge airport, ab yql to vancouver international airport, bc yvr. Caf houston wings lockheed c60 goodtime gal image credit. Designed specifically for military use, the c60 was used as a troop and cargo carrier, flew antisubmarine patrols, and performed search and rescue duties. The lockheed lodestar was the flagship of the tca fleet from 1941 to 1947. For lovers of the lockheed lodestar, ventura and harpoon as well as conversions carried out by lear and dee howard to name but two. And we kept the title short for reasons of practicality, but actually this is an entire set of aircraft, both military and civilian, because it not only contains all the hudson models from mk i to mk vi, the a28 an a29 and the american pbo, but also includes the lockheed model 14 super electra and the lockheed model 1856 lodestar. Lockheed ventura and harpoon aircraft fighting the u. The lockheed 18 lodestar is a twinengined airliner for 18 passengers produced by the usamerican manufacturer lockheed corporation. The lockheed c66 was the designation given to a single twin wasp powered model 18 lodestar that was impressed by the usaaf during the second world war. It operated its last saa flight, on training under captain kenneth toddy bain, on 18 march 1955. Little information could be found about this aircraft, one of 31 lodestars to see service with us airlines.