Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar Explained

The Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar is a passenger transport aircraft of the World War II era, developed as part of the Model 10 Electra family; developed from the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra.

Design and development

Sales of the 10–14 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 DC-3, already in widespread use. In order to improve the type's economics, Lockheed decided to stretch the aircraft's fuselage by 5inchesft6inchesin (ftin), allowing an extra two rows of seats to be fitted.

The prototype for the revised airliner, designated Model 18 by Lockheed, was converted from the fourth Model 14, one of a batch which had been returned to the manufacturer by Northwest Airlines after a series of crashes. The modified aircraft first flew in this form on September 21, 1939, another two prototypes being converted from Model 14s, with the first newly built Model 18 flying on February 2, 1940.

A total of 625 Lodestars of all variants were built.

Operational history

The Lodestar received its Type certificate on March 30, 1940, allowing it to enter service with the first customer, Mid-Continent Airlines that month. As hoped, the extra seats greatly improved the Model 18's economics, reducing its seat-mile costs to a similar level to that of the DC-3, while retaining superior performance. Despite this, sales to US domestic customers were relatively slow as most US airlines were already committed to the DC-3, with only 31 Lodestars going to US airlines. Overseas sales were a little better, with the biggest airline customers being South African Airways (21), New Zealand National Airways Corporation (13), Trans-Canada Air Lines (12) and BOAC (9); another 29 were bought by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force. Various Pratt & Whitney and Wright Cyclone powerplants were installed.

When the United States started to build up its military air strength in 1940–41, many American-operated Lodestars were impressed as the C-56. This was followed by the construction of many new-build Lodestars which were flown by the U.S. Army Air Forces as the C-60 and by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps as the R5O. Lend-lease aircraft were used by the RNZAF as transports.

One was purchased in 1942 to serve as Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas' personal aircraft. This aircraft was specially designed for that purpose and had 11 seats.After the war many Lodestars were overhauled and returned to civilian service, mostly as executive transports such as Dallas Aero Service's DAS Dalaero conversion, Bill Lear's Learstar (produced by PacAero), and Howard Aero's Howard 250.[1] [2] A few of the latter were converted to tricycle landing gear.

While the surviving New Zealand NZNAC aircraft were sold back overseas in 1951/52, six more were later imported and converted for aerial topdressing.

A single Lodestar served with the Israeli Air Force during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

A number of skydiving operations in the United States used Lodestars during the 1970s and 1980s.

Variants

18-07
  • Powered by two 875 hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet S1E2-G engines; 25 built plus two prototypes.
    18-08
  • Powered by two 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S1C3-G engines; 33 built.
    18-10
  • Powered by two 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S1C3-G engines; 39 built.
    18-14
  • Powered by two 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S4C4-G engines; four built.
    18-40
  • Powered by two 1,200 hp Wright Cyclone G-1820-G104A engines; 26 built.
    18-50
  • Powered by two 1,200hp Wright Cyclone G-1820-G202A engines; 13 built.
    18-56
  • Powered by two 1,200hp Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G205A, R-1820-40 or R-1820-87 engines.[3]

    US Army Lodestars

    C-56
  • Powered by 1,200 hp Wright 1820-89 engines, one Model 18-50 for evaluation.[4]
    C-56A
  • One impressed Model 18-07 with two Pratt & Whitney R-1690-54 engines.
    C-56B
  • Thirteen impressed Model 18-40s with two Wright 1820-97 engines.
    C-56C
  • Twelve impressed Model 18-07.
    C-56D
  • Seven impressed Model 18-08.
    C-56E
  • Two Model 18-40s impressed in 1943.
    C-57
  • As Model 18-14 powered by two 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-53 engines.
    C-57A
  • Allocated for impressed aircraft, not used.
    C-57B
  • Based on Model 18-08 fitted for trooping; seven aircraft built.
    C-57C
  • Repowered C-60A with Pratt & Whitney R-1830-51 engines; three aircraft converted.
    C-57D
  • Repowered C-57C with Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 engines; one aircraft converted.
    C-59
  • Based on Model 18-07 powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1690-25 Hornet engines; 10 aircraft built, transferred to Royal Air Force as Lodestar IA.
    C-60
  • Model 18-56 powered by Wright R-1820-87 engines; 36 aircraft built, some transferred to RAF as Lodestar II.
    C-60A
  • As the C-60 but fitted out as a paratroop transport powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engines; 325 aircraft built.
    XC-60B
  • One C-60A fitted with experimental de-icing equipment.
    C-60C
  • Proposed 21-seat troop transport aircraft, never built.
    C-66
  • Powered by Wright R-1820-87 engines; one aircraft built, 11-passenger interior for transfer to the Brazilian Air Force.
    C-104
  • Original designation for C-60C

    US Navy Lodestars

    XR5O-1
  • One Model 18-07 acquired for evaluation powered by 1,200 hp (895 kW) Wright R-1820-40 engines.
    R5O-1
  • Staff transport powered by 1,200 hp (895 kW) Wright R-1820-97 engines; three aircraft built, two for the USN and one for the United States Coast Guard.
    R5O-2
  • Navy version of the C-59 powered by 850 hp (634 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1690-25 engines; one aircraft built.
    R5O-3
  • Powered by 1,200 hp (895 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-34A engines. Originally 4-seater VIP transports; three aircraft built.
    R5O-4
  • Powered by 1,200 hp (895 kW) Wright R-1820-40 engines. Impressed. 7-seater staff transports; 12 aircraft built.
    R5O-5
  • Navy version of the C-60 powered by 1,200 hp (895 kW) Wright R-1820-40 engines. Similar to the R5O-4 but had 14-seats; 38 aircraft built and three former NEIAF aircraft.
    R5O-6
  • Navy version of the C-60A for the US Marine Corps, equipped with 18 paratroop seats; 35 built.

    Operators

    Civil operators

    ,, and

    Military operators

    Accidents and incidents

    Between 1941 and 1944, the Panair do Brasil airline suffered 4 accidents involving the Lodestar which resulted in a total of 57 fatalities.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

    In January 1943, Lockheed Lodestar Mk.II EW986,[12] c/n 2154, in the service of the Royal Air Force, overshot and crashed 3 km south of Heliopolis, Egypt. At least 12 crew members and passengers died in the crash. A cause of the accident was not determined. Among those killed were Air Vice-Marshal Wilfred Ashton McClaughry, CB, DSO, MC, DFC and Lady Rosalinde Tedder née MacLardy, wife of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder, GCB.

    See main article: 1949 Queensland Airlines Lockheed Lodestar crash.

    In 1949, a Lockheed Lodestar in airline service in Australia crashed immediately after takeoff. All 21 occupants died in the crash or the ensuing conflagration. The cause of the accident was determined to be that the center of gravity was behind the rear limit. It is also likely the elevator trim tab was set for landing rather than takeoff.[13]

    On December 20, 1956, Alden G. Roach, president of the Consolidated Western Steel and the Columbia-Geneva-Steel Divisions of U.S. Steel, pilot and co-pilot crash near Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Model 18-56, N 1245V, U.S. Steel owned company plane. Causes unknown.[14]

    On March 22, 1958, Mike Todd's private plane Lucky Liz, named after his wife Elizabeth Taylor, crashed near Grants, New Mexico. The plane, a twin-engine Lockheed Lodestar, suffered engine failure while being flown overloaded, in icing conditions at too-high an altitude for the loading. The plane went out of control and crashed, killing all four on board.

    On September 4, 1962, a Lockheed 18-56-24 Lodestar operated by the Ashland Oil and Refining Company crashed near Lake Milton, Ohio. The flight was in-route to Ashland Regional Airport (KDWU) from Buffalo Airport, NY. Eleven passengers and two crew-members were killed. Investigation determined the crash a result of a malfunction of the electric elevator trim tab, which caused the loss of the plane's right wing during flight.[15]

    On August 21, 1983, a Lockheed L-18 LEARStar operated by Landry Aviation, Inc. crashed near Silvana, Washington. The flight was a planned parachute drop carrying two pilots and 22 parachutists. Nine parachutists and two crew-members were killed while 13 were able to parachute to safety after the pilots lost control and entered a vertical descent from 12,500 feet. Investigation determined the crash a result of a failure of the operator and pilot-in-command to assure proper load distribution during the parachute drop.[16]

    Surviving aircraft

    Brazil

    Canada

    Finland

    New Zealand

    Norway

    South Africa

    Sweden

    United States

    Uruguay

    Bibliography

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Taylor 1965, p. 244.
    2. Have You Seen? Twin Feathers. Flying. January 1954. 54. 1. 40.
    3. Web site: Lockheed 18 Lodestar specs . Aviation Safety Network . 8 August 2013 . 24 May 2019.
    4. Andrade 1979, pp. 77–78.
    5. Book: Pereira, Aldo . Breve História da Aviação Comercial Brasileira . Rio de Janeiro . Europa . 1987 . 338 . pt.
    6. Book: Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César . O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 . Serra da Cantareira . EDIPUCRS . 2 . Porto Alegre . 2008 . 37–41 . 978-85-7430-760-2 . pt.
    7. Book: Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César . O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 . Uma desgraça nunca vem só . EDIPUCRS . 2 . Porto Alegre . 2008 . 49–53 . 978-85-7430-760-2 . pt.
    8. Web site: Accident description PP-PBI . Aviation Safety Network . August 17, 2011.
    9. Book: Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César . O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 . Alternativa derradeira . EDIPUCRS . 2 . Porto Alegre . 2008 . 66–68 . 978-85-7430-760-2 . pt.
    10. Web site: Accident description PP-PBH . https://archive.today/20120707021204/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19440921-L . dead . July 7, 2012 . Aviation Safety Network . June 9, 2011 .
    11. Book: Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César . O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 . Mais um Lodestar . EDIPUCRS . 2 . Porto Alegre . 2008 . 69–72 . 978-85-7430-760-2 . pt.
    12. http://www.lostaircraft.com/database.php?mode=viewentry&e=29700 Record for EW986 on lostaircraft.com
    13. Job, Macarthur. "Horror at Coolangatta." Flight Safety Australia, via casa.gov.au, November–December 1999, p. 47. Retrieved: December 5, 2011.
    14. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/33566/dot_33566_DS1.pdf?
    15. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed 18-56-24 Lodestar N1000F Lake Milton, OH. Harro. Ranter. aviation-safety.net. 4 April 2018.
    16. https://ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8406.pdf
    17. Web site: LOCKHEED 18 (C-60A) - LODESTAR | LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION. Museu Aeroespacial. 13 December 2016.
    18. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-60A Lodestar, s/n 2006 FABr, c/n 18-2368. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 December 2016.
    19. Web site: Lockheed Lodestar. Canadian Museum of Flight. 12 December 2016.
    20. Web site: May. Bill. Lockheed Lodestar 18-08 CF-TCY. Canadian Museum of Flight. 12 December 2016.
    21. Web site: Museum of Flight says 'thanks' to UFV for plane restoration project. BC Association of Institutes & Universities. BCAIU. 12 December 2016. 13 January 2011.
    22. Web site: Tenby. Henry. Trans Canada Airlines Lockheed Lodestar CF-TCY Restoration. Henry Tenby. 12 December 2016. 1 February 2015.
    23. Web site: Aircraft CF-TCY Data. Airport-Data.com. 12 December 2016.
    24. Web site: Aviation . Reynolds Museum. Government of Alberta . 1 December 2019.
    25. Web site: LOCKHEED 18-07 LODESTAR. Ilmailumuseo Flygmuseum. 22 May 2015 . Suomen ilmailumuseo. 12 December 2016. fi.
    26. Web site: Lockheed L-18-56 Lodestar. Ilmailumuseot.fi. 12 December 2016. fi.
    27. Web site: AVIATION. Museum of Transport and Technology. MOTAT. 13 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161113095339/http://www.motat.org.nz/collection/collection-themes/aviation. 13 November 2016.
    28. Web site: Wesley. Richard. Lockheed 19 Lodestar. MOTAT Aircraft Collection. Blogger. 13 December 2016. 23 December 2007.
    29. Web site: Treweek. Phillip. Lockheed (Model 18) C-60 Lodestar. Kiwi Aircraft Images. 13 December 2016. 19 September 1998.
    30. Web site: [Data Sheet]]. Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society. 12 December 2016.
    31. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-59 Lodestar, s/n EW984 RAF, c/n 18-2152, c/r ZK-BUV. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 12 December 2016.
    32. Web site: Aircraft. National Transport and Toy Museum. 13 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161013222815/http://nttmuseumwanaka.co.nz/aircraft. 13 October 2016.
    33. Web site: Livingstone. Bob. Guest Gallery (2). Kiwi Aircraft Images. Phillip Treweek. 13 December 2016. 1992.
    34. Web site: Lockheed C-60A Lodestar. www.flysam.no. Flysamlingen Forsvarets Museer. 6 April 2019.
    35. Web site: Andries Pretorius. SAA Museum Society. 12 December 2016.
    36. Web site: SE-BZE. LOCKHEED 18-56 LODESTAR. Flygsamlingar Arlanda. 2 March 2017.
    37. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-60A-5-LO Lodestar, s/n 2593 RNoAF, c/n 18-0056, c/r SE-BZE. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 2 March 2017.
    38. Web site: AIRCRAFT ON DISPLAY. Castle Air Museum. 12 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161114232620/http://www.castleairmuseum.org/ondisplay/. 14 November 2016.
    39. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed XC-60B Lodestar, s/n 1373 SAAF, c/n 18-2035, c/r N102V. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 12 December 2016.
    40. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed R5O-5 Lodestar, s/n 12474 USN, c/n 18-2404, c/r N631LS . Aerial Visuals . AerialVisuals.ca . 1 January 2020.
    41. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N631LS] ]. Federal Aviation Administration . U.S. Department of Transportation . 1 January 2020 .
    42. Web site: Lockheed Lodestar - N31G. 1940 Air Terminal Museum. Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society. 12 December 2016. 1 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170201142304/http://www.1940airterminal.org/TheHangar/Lodestar/. dead.
    43. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-60 Lodestar, c/n 18-2347, c/r N442D. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 5 April 2019.
    44. Arrington, C. W. (2017). Bowman Field. Arcadia Publishing.
    45. Web site: 1941 LOCKHEED HUDSON/L-18 LODESTAR N41CW S/N 6124. Courtesy Aircraft Sales. 4 April 2017. 4 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170404220440/http://courtesyaircraft.com/aircraft/n41cw-1941-lockheed-hudsonl-18-lodestar/. dead.
    46. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed L-18 Lodestar, s/n BW445 RAF, c/n 18-6124, c/r N41CW. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 4 April 2017.
    47. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N41CW]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 4 April 2017. 4 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170404131217/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N41CW. dead.
    48. Web site: Veronico. Nick. Outdoor Exhibits - C-56 "Lodestar". Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center. Travis Heritage Center. 12 December 2016. 14 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160314051528/https://travisheritagecenter.org/html/c56.html. dead.
    49. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-56 Lodestar, s/n 41-19729 USAAF, c/n 18-2089, c/r N2333. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 12 December 2016.
    50. Web site: Flying & Static Aircraft. Planes of Fame Air Museum. 12 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170520044311/http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=static-flying. 20 May 2017. dead.
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    52. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-60A-1-LO Lodestar, s/n 42-55884 USAAF, c/n 18-2274, c/r N30N. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 12 December 2016.
    53. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N30N]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 12 December 2016.
    54. Web site: C-60 Lodestar. Commemorative Air Force Houston Wing. Commemorative Air Force, Inc.. 13 December 2016.
    55. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-60A Lodestar, s/n 42-56005 USAAF, c/n 18-2478, c/r N60JT. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 December 2016.
    56. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N60JT]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 13 December 2016. 20 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220113638/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N60JT. dead.
    57. Web site: N1940S. Mid America Flight Museum. 3 March 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170303201332/http://www.midamericaflightmuseum.org/Lodestar%20Info%20%28N1940S%29.pdf. 3 March 2017.
    58. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N1940S]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 3 March 2017. 3 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170303200804/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N1940S. dead.
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    61. Web site: R50-5 Lodestar. March Field Air Museum. 13 December 2016.
    62. Web site: LODESTAR. Pima Air & Space Museum. Pimaair.org. 12 December 2016. 20 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220095914/http://www.pimaair.org/aircraft-by-name/item/lockheed-r5o-5-lodestar. dead.
    63. Web site: Museo Aeronáutico. Arte Mercosur. 12 December 2016. es.
    64. Web site: Romero. Álvaro. Visitamos el nuevo Museo Aeronáutico del Uruguay. ModoCharlie. 12 December 2016. es. 2015-03-23.
    65. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Lockheed C-60 Lodestar, s/n 42-32215 USAAF, c/n 18-2349, c/r N69415. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 13 December 2016.