Lockheed Altair: Difference between revisions

Altair
	The C-23, an Altair 8D purchased by the US Army Air Corps for use as a staff transport
Role	Civilian sport
National origin	United States of America
Manufacturer	Lockheed Aircraft Limited
First flight	September 1930
Number built	11
Developed from	Lockheed Sirius

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The Lockheed Altair was a single-engined sport aircraft produced by Lockheed Aircraft Limited in the 1930s. It was a development of the Lockheed Sirius with a retractable undercarriage, and was the first Lockheed aircraft and one of the first aircraft designs with a fully retractable undercarriage.

Development and design[edit]

Lockheed designed an alternative wing fitted with a retractable undercarriage for the Lockheed Sirius as a result of a request from Charles Lindbergh, although Lindbergh in the end chose to buy a standard Sirius. The first Altair, converted from a Sirius, flew in September 1930.^[1] Like the Sirius, the Altair was a single-engined, low-winged monoplane of wooden construction. The undercarriage, which was operated by use of a hand crank, retracted inwards.

Four Altairs following the prototype were converted from examples of the Sirius, with another six Altairs built from scratch: three by Lockheed, two by the Detroit Aircraft Corporation, and one by AiRover. The AiRover Altair, dubbed The Flying Testbed, was powered by a Menasco Unitwin engine, which used two engines to drive a single shaft.^[2] The Unitwin was used in the Vega Starliner, which never went into production.

Operational history[edit]

The prototype Altair was purchased by the United States Army Air Corps and designated Y1C-25, with a second Altair, fitted with a metal construction fuselage was also purchased by the Army as the Y1C-23 and used as a staff transport, as was a single similar aircraft operated by the US Navy as the XRO-1.^[3]

Altairs were used to carry out a number of record-breaking long-range flights. One aircraft, named Lady Southern Cross was used by Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith to carry out the first flight between Australia and the United States between October 20 and November 4, 1934. Kingsford Smith was killed in the early hours of November 8, 1935, flying Lady Southern Cross during an attempt on the record for flying between England and Australia.^[4]

Two Altairs were used by the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun as high-speed passenger and cargo aircraft, one remaining in use until 1944.^[5]

Variants[edit]

8D Altair: Two-seat long-range high-performance sports aircraft, fitted with a retractable undercarriage, powered by a 500 hp (373 kW) Pratt & Whitney SR-1340E Wasp radial piston engine; One prototype, four converted Sirius aircraft, six production aircraft.
8G Altair: One aircraft built by the AiRover Company as a testbed for the Menasco Unitwin 2-544 engine, intended for the Vega Model 2 Starliner.
Sirius 8 Special: One aircraft built for the Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith, it was converted into an Altair 8D aircraft, later named the Lady Southern Cross.
DL-2A: Two Altair 8Ds built by the Detroit Aircraft Corporation.
Y1C-23: The second Altair 8D was purchased by the US Army Air Corps, it was used as a staff transport aircraft. Later redesignated C-23.
Y1C-25: The Altair 8D prototype was purchased by the US Army Air Corps, powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 Wasp radial piston engine.
XRO-1: One Altair DL-2A acquired by the U.S. Navy, it was used as staff transport aircraft.

Operators[edit]

Japan

Mainichi Shimbun

United States

Specifications (Y1C-23)[edit]

Data from Lockheed Aircraft since 1913^[6]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft 9 in (13.03 m)
Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Wing area: 293.2 sq ft (27.24 m²)
Empty weight: 3,235 lb (1,468 kg)
Gross weight: 4,895 lb (2,220 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney SR-1340E Wasp 9-cylinder air cooled radial engine, 500 hp (373 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn) at 7,000 ft (2,140 m)
Cruise speed: 175 mph (282 km/h, 152 kn)
Range: 580 mi (935 km, 504 nmi)
Service ceiling: 23,800 ft (7,255 m)
Wing loading: 52.5 lb/sq ft (81.5 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.10 hp/lb (0.17 kW/kg)
Climb to 7,000 ft (2,140 m): 9.4 min

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

^ Francillon 1982, p. 101.
^ Pearce, William (24 December 2013). "Menasco 2-544 Unitwin Aircraft Engine". oldmachinepress.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
^ Francillon 1978, pp. 101–106.
^ Francillon 1982, pp. 103–104.
^ Francillon 1982, pp. 105–106.
^ Francillon 1982, p. 106.

Bibliography[edit]

Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. ISBN 0-87021-897-2.
Layman, R. D. (1993). "Question 15/91: Early USN Aircraft". Warship International. XXX (3): 318. ISSN 0043-0374.

External links[edit]

Detailed information about Lockheed Altair "Lady Southern Cross".

[Francillon_82_p101-1] Francillon 1982, p. 101.

[Pearce-2] Pearce, William (24 December 2013). "Menasco 2-544 Unitwin Aircraft Engine". oldmachinepress.com. Retrieved 25 May 2016.

[Francillon_78_p101-106-3] Francillon 1978, pp. 101–106.

[Francillon_82_p103-4-4] Francillon 1982, pp. 103–104.

[Francillon_82_p105-6-5] Francillon 1982, pp. 105–106.

[Francillon_82_p106-6] Francillon 1982, p. 106.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
+{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
-|name= Lockheed Altair
+|name= Altair
-|image=Image:Lockheed Altair.2.jpg
+|image= File:Lockheed C-23.jpg
-|caption= The ''[[Lady Southern Cross]]'', converted from an older Sirius and bearing her pre-delivery name ''ANZAC''.
+|caption= The C-23, an Altair 8D purchased by the US Army Air Corps for use as a staff transport
-}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
+}}{{Infobox aircraft type
 |type= Civilian sport
 |national origin =[[United States of America]]
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 |}
-The '''Lockheed Altair''' was a single-engined sport aircraft of the 1930s. It was a development of the [[Lockheed Sirius]] with a retractable undercarriage, and was the first Lockheed aircraft and one of the first aircraft designs with a fully retractable undercarriage.
+The '''Lockheed Altair''' was a single-engined sport aircraft produced by [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed Aircraft Limited]] in the 1930s. It was a development of the [[Lockheed Sirius]] with a retractable undercarriage, and was the first Lockheed aircraft and one of the first aircraft designs with a fully retractable undercarriage.
 ==Development and design==
-Lockheed designed an alternative wing fitted with a retractable undercarriage for the Lockheed Sirius as a result of a request from [[Charles Lindbergh]], although Lindbergh in the end chose to buy a standard Sirius. The first Altair, converted from a Sirius, flew in September 1930.<ref name="Francillon 78 p101"> Francillon 1978, p.101.</ref> Like the Sirius, the Altair was a single engined low-winged monoplane of wooden construction. The undercarriage, which was operated by use of a hand crank, retracted inwards.
+Lockheed designed an alternative wing fitted with a retractable undercarriage for the Lockheed Sirius as a result of a request from [[Charles Lindbergh]], although Lindbergh in the end chose to buy a standard Sirius. The first Altair, converted from a Sirius, flew in September 1930.<ref name="Francillon 82 p101">Francillon 1982, p. 101.</ref> Like the Sirius, the Altair was a single-engined, low-winged monoplane of wooden construction. The undercarriage, which was operated by use of a hand crank, retracted inwards.
-Four Altairs following the prototype were converted Siriuses, with another six Altairs built from scratch: three by Lockheed, two by the [[Detroit Aircraft Corporation]], and one by [[AiRover]]. The AiRover Altair, dubbed ''The Flying Testbed'', was powered by a Unitwin engine, which used two engines to drive a single shaft. The Unitwin was used in the [[Vega Starliner]], which never went into production.
+Four Altairs following the prototype were converted from examples of the Sirius, with another six Altairs built from scratch: three by Lockheed, two by the [[Detroit Aircraft Corporation]], and one by [[AiRover]]. The AiRover Altair, dubbed ''The Flying Testbed'', was powered by a [[Menasco Motors Company|Menasco]] Unitwin engine, which used two engines to drive a single shaft.<ref name="Pearce">{{cite web|last1=Pearce|first1=William|title=Menasco 2-544 Unitwin Aircraft Engine|url=https://oldmachinepress.com/2013/12/23/menasco-2-544-unitwin/|website=oldmachinepress.com|date=24 December 2013 |access-date=25 May 2016}}</ref> The Unitwin was used in the [[Vega Starliner]], which never went into production.
 ==Operational history==
-The prototype Altair was purchased by the [[United States Army Air Corps]] and designated '''Y1C-25''', with a second Altair, fitted with a metal construction fuselage was also purchased by the Army as the '''Y-1C-23''' and used as a staff transport, as was a single similar aircraft operated by the [[United States Navy|US Navy]] as the '''XRO-1'''.<ref name="Francillon 78 p101-106"> Francillon 1978, pp.101-106.</ref>
+The prototype Altair was purchased by the [[United States Army Air Corps]] and designated '''Y1C-25''', with a second Altair, fitted with a metal construction fuselage was also purchased by the Army as the '''Y1C-23''' and used as a staff transport, as was a single similar aircraft operated by the [[United States Navy|US Navy]] as the '''XRO-1'''.<ref name="Francillon 78 p101-106">Francillon 1978, pp. 101–106.</ref>
-Altairs were used to carry out a number of record breaking long range flight. One aircraft, named ''[[Lady Southern Cross]]'' was used by Australian [[aviator]] [[Charles Kingsford Smith]] to carry out the first flight between Australia and the United States between 20 October and 4 November 1934. Kingsford Smith was killed on 7 December 1935 flying ''Lady Southern Cross'' during an attempt on the record for flying between England and Australia.<ref name="Francillon 78 p103-4"> Francillon 1978, pp.103-104.</ref>
+Altairs were used to carry out a number of record-breaking long-range flights. One aircraft, named ''[[Lady Southern Cross]]'' was used by Australian [[aviator]] [[Charles Kingsford Smith]] to carry out the first flight between Australia and the United States between October  20 and November 4, 1934. Kingsford Smith was killed in the early hours of November 8, 1935, flying ''Lady Southern Cross'' during an attempt on the record for flying between England and Australia.<ref name="Francillon 82 p103-4">Francillon 1982, pp. 103–104.</ref>
-Two Altairs were used by the Japanese newspaper ''[[Mainichi Shimbun]]'' as high speed passenger and cargo aircraft, one remaining in use until 1944.<ref name="Francillon 78 p105-6"> Francillon 1978, pp.105-106.</ref>
+Two Altairs were used by the Japanese newspaper ''[[Mainichi Shimbun]]'' as high-speed passenger and cargo aircraft, one remaining in use until 1944.<ref name="Francillon 82 p105-6">Francillon 1982, pp. 105–106.</ref>
 ==Variants==
+[[File:Lockheed XRO-1 Altair at Langley 1932.jpg|thumb|right|Lockheed XRO-1 at Langley]]
-;8D Altair: Two-seat long-range high-performance sports aircraft, fitted with a retractable undercarriage, powered by a 500-hp (373-kW) Pratt & Whitney SR-1340E Wasp radial piston engine; One prototype, four converted Sirius aircraft, six production aircraft.
-;Sirius 8 Special: One aircraft built for the Australian aviator Charles Kingford Smith, it was converted into an Altair 8D aircraft, later named the ''Lady Southern Cross''.
+;8D Altair: Two-seat long-range high-performance sports aircraft, fitted with a retractable undercarriage, powered by a 500&nbsp;hp (373&nbsp;kW) Pratt & Whitney SR-1340E Wasp radial piston engine; One prototype, four converted Sirius aircraft, six production aircraft.
+;8G Altair: One aircraft built by the [[Vega Aircraft Corporation|AiRover Company]] as a testbed for the [[Menasco Unitwin 2-544]] engine, intended for the [[Vega Model 2 Starliner]].
+;Sirius 8 Special: One aircraft built for the Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith, it was converted into an Altair 8D aircraft, later named the ''Lady Southern Cross''.
 ;DL-2A: Two Altair 8Ds built by the [[Detroit Aircraft Corporation]].
-;Y1C-23: The second Altair 8D was purchased by the US Army Air Corps, it was used as a staff transport aircraft.
+;Y1C-23: The second Altair 8D was purchased by the US Army Air Corps, it was used as a staff transport aircraft. Later redesignated '''C-23'''.
-;Y1C-25: The Altair 8D prototype was purchased by the US Army Air Corps, powered by a 450-hp (336-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 Wasp radial piston engine.
+;Y1C-25: The Altair 8D prototype was purchased by the US Army Air Corps, powered by a 450&nbsp;hp (336&nbsp;kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 Wasp radial piston engine.
-;XRO-1: One Altair DL-2A acquired by the US Navy, it was used as staff transport aircraft.
+;XRO-1: One Altair DL-2A acquired by the U.S. Navy, it was used as staff transport aircraft.
 ==Operators==
@@ Line 39: / Line 42: @@
 *[[Mainichi Shimbun]]
 ;{{USA}}
-*[[United States Army Air Force]]
+*[[United States Army Air Forces]]
 *[[United States Navy]]
-==Specifications (Y-1-23)==
+==Specifications (Y1C-23)==
+{{Aircraft specs
-{{aircraft specifications|
+|prime units?=imp
-<!-- please answer the following questions -->
-|plane or copter?=plane
+|ref=Lockheed Aircraft since 1913<ref name="Francillon 82 p106">Francillon 1982, p. 106.</ref>
-|jet or prop?=prop
-|ref=Lockheed Aircraft since 1913<Ref name="Francillon 78 p106"> Francillon 1978, p.106.</Ref>
-<!-- Now, fill out the specs. Please include units where appropriate (main comes first, alt in parentheses). If an item doesn't apply, leave it blank. For instructions on using |more general=, |more performance=, |power original=, and |thrust original= see [[Template talk:Airtemp]]. -->
 |crew=1
+|length ft=28
-|capacity=
-|length main=28 ft 4 in
+|length in=4
-|length alt=8.64 m
+|length m=8.64
-|span main=42 ft 9 in
+|span ft=42
-|span alt=13.03 m
+|span in=9
+|span m=13.03
-|height main=9 ft 6 in
-|height alt=2.90 m
+|height ft=9
+|height in=6
-|area main=293.2 ft²
-|area alt=27.24 m²
+|height m=2.90
+|wing area sqft=293.2
-|airfoil=
+|wing area sqm=27.24
-|empty weight main=3,235 lb
-|empty weight alt=1,468 kg
+|empty weight lb=3,235
-|loaded weight main=4,895 lb
+|empty weight kg=1,468
-|loaded weight alt=2,220 kg
+|gross weight lb=4,895
-|max takeoff weight main=
+|gross weight kg=2,220
+|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1340|Pratt & Whitney SR-1340E Wasp]]
-|max takeoff weight alt=
+|eng1 type=9-cylinder air cooled [[radial engine]]
-|more general=
+|eng1 number=1
-|engine (prop)=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1340|Pratt & Whitney SR-1340E Wasp]]
+|eng1 hp=500
-|type of prop=9-cylinder air cooled [[radial engine]]
+|eng1 kw=373
-|number of props=1
+|max speed mph=207
-|power main=500 hp
+|max speed kts=180
-|power alt=373 kW
+|max speed kmh=333
-|power original=
+|max speed note=at 7,000 ft (2,140 m)
-|power more=
-|max speed main=207 mph
+|cruise speed mph=175
-|max speed alt=180 kn, 333 km/h
+|cruise speed kts=152
-|max speed more=at 7,000 ft (2,140 m)
+|cruise speed kmh=282
+|range miles=580
-|cruise speed main=175 mph
+|range nmi=504
-|cruise speed alt=152 kn, 282 km/h
-|range main=580 mi
+|range km=935
+|ceiling ft=23,800
-|range alt=504 [[nautical mile|nmi]], 935 km
+|ceiling m=7,255
-|range more=
+|wing loading lb/sqft=52.5
-|ceiling main=23,800 ft
+|wing loading kg/m2=81.5
-|ceiling alt=7,255 m
+|power/mass=0.10 hp/lb (0.17 kW/kg)
-|climb rate main=
-|climb rate alt=
-|loading main=52.5 lb/ft²
-|loading alt=81.5 kg/m²
-|thrust/weight=
-|power/mass main=0.10 hp/lb
-|power/mass alt=0.17 kW/kg
 |more performance=*'''Climb to 7,000 ft (2,140 m):''' 9.4 min
-|armament=
 }}
@@ Line 107: / Line 102: @@
 * [[List of Lockheed aircraft]]
 * [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
-* [[List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)]]
+* [[List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)]]
 }}
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+===Notes===
-* Francillon, René J, ''Lockheed Aircraft since 1913''. London:Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.
+{{Reflist}}
-* Francillon, René J, ''Lockheed Aircraft since 1913''. Naval Institute Press: Annapolis, 1987.
-* John Oder - Aero Museum Services is dedicated to bringing these Vintage Aircraft back into service. http://aeromuseumservices.com/
+===Bibliography===
-* Ron Cuskelly - Very detailed information of Lockheed Altair "Lady Southern Cross". Contains images, data etc - http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/altair/altair.htm
+* Francillon, René J. ''Lockheed Aircraft since 1913''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. {{ISBN|0-87021-897-2}}.
+*{{cite journal |last1=Layman |first1=R. D. |title=Question 15/91: Early USN Aircraft |journal=Warship International |date=1993 |volume=XXX |issue=3 |page=318 |issn=0043-0374}}
+==External links==
+{{commons category|Lockheed Model 8 Sirius}}
+* [http://www.adastron.com/lockheed/altair/altair.htm Detailed information about Lockheed Altair "Lady Southern Cross".]
 {{Lockheed}}
 {{USAF transports}}
 {{USN transports}}
-{{aviation lists}}
+{{Detroit aircraft}}
 [[Category:Lockheed aircraft|Altair]]
-[[Category:United States civil utility aircraft 1920-1929]]
+[[Category:1930s United States civil utility aircraft]]
+[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
+[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
-[[fr:Lockheed Altair]]
+[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1930]]

v t e United States military transport aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems
Army/Air Force sequence (1925-1962)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20 C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-28 C-29 C-30 C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34 C-35 C-36 C-37 C-38 C-39 C-40 C-41 C-41A C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46 C-47 C-47F C-47T AC-47 C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-55 C-56 C-57 C-58 C-59 C-60 C-61 C-62 C-63 C-64 C-65 C-66 C-67 C-68 C-69 C-70 C-70B C-71 C-72 C-73 C-74 C-75 C-76 C-77 C-77B–D C-78 C-79 C-80 C-81 C-82 C-83 C-83A C-83B C-84 C-85 C-86 C-87 C-88 C-89 C-90 C-91 C-92 C-93 C-94 C-95 C-96 C-97 KC-97 C-98 C-99 C-100 C-101 C-102 C-103 C-104 C-105 C-106 C-107 C-108 C-109 C-110 C-111 C-112 C-113 C-114 C-115 C-116 C-117 C-117D C-118 C-119 AC-119 C-120 C-121 C-121F EC-121 C-122 C-123 C-123A C-124 C-125 C-126 C-127² C-127 (I) C-127 (II) C-128 C-129 C-130 C-130J AC-130 DC-130 EC-130/H HC-130 KC-130 LC-130 MC-130 WC-130 C-131 NC-131H C-132 C-133 C-134 C-135 KC-135 C-136 C-137² YC-137 (I) YC-137 (II) C-137 C-138¹ C-139¹ C-140 C-141 C-142
Tri-service sequence (1962-present)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7² C-7 RC-7 C-8 C-9 C-10² C-10 KC-10 C-11 C-12 RC-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16¹ C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20² C-20A–D C-20F–J C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-27J C-28 C-29 C-30¹ C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34¹ C-35 C-36³ C-37 C-37B C-38 C-39¹ C-40 C-41 C-42¹ C-43¹ C-44¹ C-45 C-46
Revived original sequence (2005-present)	C-143 C-144 C-145 C-146 C-147
Non-sequential designations	C-767 C-767B C-880
Related designations	CT-39 CT-43 CV-2 CV-7
¹ Not assigned • ² Assigned to multiple types • ³ Unconfirmed