Lockheed Model 9 Orion
Lockheed Model 9 Orion | |
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Lockheed Orion in the Swiss Museum of Transport |
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Type: | Passenger plane |
Design country: | |
Manufacturer: | |
First flight: |
1931 |
Production time: |
1931 to 1934 |
Number of pieces: |
35 |
The Lockheed Model 9 Orion was the last wooden monoplane series from Lockheed . Many elements from previous Lockheed series were incorporated into the design of the Orion: the fuselage of the Vega , the fairing of the Air Express , the wings of the Explorer and the retractable landing gear of the Altair . The Orion had a closed cabin with space for six passengers. The first Orion, tested by Marshall Headle , received its type certification on May 6, 1931. Several different versions of the Orion were built: 9, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F and 9F1.
Lockheed built a total of 35 machines from 1931 to 1935, only one of which has survived today. Originally built as Altair , this machine was later converted to the Orion and was also the only machine with a metal fuselage. The aircraft was flown by James H. Doolittle for the energy company Shell under the nickname Shelllightning . After many years in operation, the rather battered aircraft was acquired by the Swiss Museum of Transport in 1976 and completely dismantled and rebuilt by the Fokker team , a team of voluntary retired technical staff from Swissair. The radial engine was even returned to the airframe in working order and after the work was completed the aircraft rolled on its own on the apron of the Zurich shipyard. Since then, the Orion has been on display in the Swissair Museum of Transport.
Technical specifications
Parameter | Data |
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crew | 1 |
Passengers | 6th |
length | 8.55 m |
span | 13.04 m |
height | 2.90 m |
Empty mass | 1650 kg |
Takeoff mass | 2450 kg |
Cruising speed | 290 km / h |
Top speed | 360 km / h |
Service ceiling | 5100 m |
Range | 950 km |
Engines | a Wright Cyclone 1820-E with 575 hp |
gallery
literature
- Cockpit (aviation magazine); Issue 6/1978