Post by flyboy on Mar 13, 2019 17:43:39 GMT
The Lockheed 12A to Lodestar, Learstar and P2V Harpoon.
The Lockheed line of lighter aircraft flying in the 1930's included the Lockheed 10 Electra which carried 10 passengers. However, the company felt that a smaller version would act better as a feeder airliner and started production of the Model 12A which would carry 6 passengers.
Following a first flight on 27th June 1936 the pre-WWII produced Lockheed 12A 'Electra Junior', as it was known, did not prove popular with the airlines as a light airliner but was used more extensively by company executives and government officials. There were just 130 model 12A's produced before production ceased in 1941.
At the start of the war many of the civilian aircraft were requisitioned for use by the US Army and Navy, Britain's Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The model 18 or Lodestar followed the design No.14 which had been returned by Northwest Airlines following a series of crashes. One of the returned aircraft was modified by stretching the fuselage by 5' 6'' (1.68m) to allow an extra 2 rows of seats to be installed. This first prototype flew for the first time on 21st September 1939 to be quickly followed by a further two prototype conversions. These were followed by the first production aircraft which flew on 2nd February 1940 but sales were slow as most airlines world-wide opted for the Douglas DC-3. Only 31 of the aircraft were sold to US airlines with overseas airline sales being also very slow. A single much modified aircraft was sold to The Brazilian president in 1942 and was fitted with 11 seats.
As the United States started to build up it's military strength in 1940-41 many American operated aircraft were impressed as as the C-56. Many new built aircraft were used with different designations by American forces and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Following the end of the war many aircraft were returned to private use mainly as executive transports with many conversions being offered such as that by DAS Dalaero, Bill Lear's Learstar and Howard Aero's Howard 250. A number of these conversions featured a nose landing gear.
A single Lodestar was used by the Israeli Air Force during the Arab-Israeli war in 1946 with others used for top dressing crops in New Zealand and a number of the type as parachute platforms in the United States.
The PV-2 Harpoon was a major redesign of the PV-1 Ventura which had an increased load-carrying capability. The US Navy placed an order for 500 of the aircraft but the early PV-2s had wing problems that meant that the wing would wrinkle when taking off with a full fuel load. A re-design of the entire wing was therefore undertaken and early PV-2s were retained for training purposes. Only 69 of the modified winged version had been delivered by the end of 1944 but were by now proving both reliable and popular with the crews flying them.
The French Navy - Aeronavale operated the PV-1 between 1944 and 1947 but updated with the PV-2 from 1953 to 1960 with Escadrille 11S operating aircraft for transport duties only. It was these aircraft that were seen visiting Blackbushe during Farnborough Airshow Week in 1959. Similarly the Portuguese Air Force purchased 42 aircraft which they operated from 1954 to 1975. Many others were operated by military forces world wide including the Royal Air Force during wartime hostilities.
Variants:
18-07 Powered by 2x 875hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet S1E2-G engines. 25 built plus 2 prototypes.
18-08 Powered by 2x 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S1C3-G engines. 33 built.
18-10 Similar to 18-08. 39 built.
18-14 Powered by 2x 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S4C4-G engines. 4 built.
18-40 Powered by 2x 1,200hp Wright Cyclone G-1820-G104A engines. 26 built.
18-50 Powered by 2x 1,200hp Wright Cyclone G-1820-G202A engines. 13 built.
C-56 plus C-56 A,B,C,D and E variants for US Army.
C-57 plus C-57 A,B,C and D variants for US Army.
C-59 Lodestar 1A to RAF. 10 built.
C-60 36 built some to RAF as Lodestar 11s
C60A As C-60 but fitted out for para dropping. 325 built.
XC-60B 1x C-60A fitted with experimental de-icing.
C-66 1x 21 seater for Brazilian Air Force.
US Navy Loadstars
XR50-1 1x model 18-07 acquired for evaluation.
R50-1 Staff transport. 3x built, 2 for USN, 1 for US Coast Guards.
R50-2 Navy version of the C-59. 1 aircraft built.
R50-3 4 seat VIP transport. 3 aircraft built.
R50-4 Impressed, 7 seat staff transport. 12 aircraft built.
R50-5 Navy version of C-60. Similar to R50-4 but with 14 seats. 41 aircraft.
R50-6 Navy version of C-60A for the US Marine Corps. 18 paratrooper seats. 35 built.
Specification:
Lodestar:
Sorry no metric conversions.
Seats 17
Power 2x 1,200hp Wright R-1820-71 piston radials.
Wing span 65' 6''
Length 49' 10''
Height 11' 1''
Weight Empty 11,600lb.
Weight Gross 17.500lb.
Speed Max 253mph.
Ceiling 23,300ft.
Range 1,600 statute miles
Armament Nil.
Visitors Noted:
Reg Type C/N Operator Inmformation/Codes Date Noted
37316 PV-2 15-1282 French Navy ......................11-S-3... 11S .... 00.9.53.
37311? --..-- 15-1277 ? --..-- ......................11-S-5... 11-5.... 8.9.59-9.9.59.
37503 --..-- 15-1469 --..-- .......................11-S-1............... 8.9.59-9.9.59.
37511? --..-- 15-1477 ? --..-- ............................................... . 8.9.59.
4607 PV-2D 15-1513 ? Portuguese Air Force.................................... 5.7.58,7.7.58.
D-CAFU Learstar 18-2499 Krupps....................................................... 4.9.56-5.9.56,17.3.57.
G-AGTL Lockheed 12 1287 ................................................................ 22.7.57,27.7.58.
G-AGWN --..-- 12A 1275 Zinc Corporation ........................................ 20.6.50,20.9.50.
N24W Learstar 18-2613 C.B Wrightsman ........................................ 6.8.55,11.8.56->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ............................................00.3.58.
N2722A Lodestar 18-2363 Fairchild Aerial Surveys................................. 4.9.59,3.10.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 4.10.59.
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 5.12.59,26.5.60.
N69415 --..-- 18-2349 --..-- --..-- ................................. 29.7.55,1.3.59,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 16.6.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 24.10.59,31.10.59,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 1.11.59,16.11.59,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 17.11.59.
N94536 --..-- 18-2091 ex East African Airways VP-KPV return to USA.. 25.11.51,6.1.52,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- .... 27.1.52.
N94537 --..-- 18-2421 --..-- --..-- VP-KHE --..-- .. 25.11.51.
N94538 --..-- 18-209 --..-- --..-- VP-KPX --..-- .. 25.11.51,6.1.52.
N94539 --..-- 18-2604 ex Aero Africiane......... F-BALZ --..-- .. 20.12.51.
N94540 --..-- 18-2605 --..-- --..-- ......... F_BAMA --..-- .. 20.12.51.
N94541 --..-- 18-2606 --..-- --..-- ......... F-BALX --..-- .. 20.12.51.
N94545 --..-- 18-2332 --..-- --..-- .......... ? ...................... 18.7.53.
OO-AFA Lockheed 12A 1211 .................................................................. 11.9.53.
OY-ADB --..-- 12 1304 Zomenes Flyvestsseneste............................... 29.6.58,3.11.58->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ............................... 13.4.59,2.6.59.
SA-AAF Lodestar 18-2411 Saudi Arabian Airlines ex ZS-DAX not delivered... 30.5.50.
SA-AAG --..-- 18-2562 --..-- --..-- --..-- ZS-DAU --..-- ... 00.00.50.
SA-AAH --..-- 18-2565 --..-- --..-- --..-- ZS-DAZ --..-- ... 00.00.58.
SA-AAi --..-- 18-2601 --..-- --..-- --..-- ZS-DBA --..-- ... 00.00.50.
VP-KHA --..-- 18-2013 East African Airways........................................14.8.51.
VP-KHX --..-- 18-2038 --..-- --..-- ........................................00.9.52'
VP-KHZ --..-- 18-2048? --..-- --..-- ...................return to USA..2.9.52.
VP-KMZ --..-- 18-2048? --..-- --..-- ........................................00.12.53.
ZS-DAU --..-- 18-2562 ................................ex NC66110 ..................00.11.48,1.5.49,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. --..-- ...................27.9.49.
ZS-DAX --..-- 18-2411 ................................ex NC9200H ..................00.11.48,1.5.49,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- ................................ --..-- ...................27.9.49.
ZS-DAZ --..-- 18-2565 ................................ex NC66076 ..................00.11.48,1.5.49,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- ................................ --..-- ..................27.9.49.
ZS-DBA --..-- 18-2601 ................................ex NC4426N ..................00.11.48,1.5.49,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- ................................ --..-- ..................27.9.49,26.3.50.
Credits:
Wikipedia
rj for use of his extensive records.
The enthusiasts for keeping their records and making them available.
pb for the photos and his assistance.
complete JSM 15.3.19.
The Lockheed line of lighter aircraft flying in the 1930's included the Lockheed 10 Electra which carried 10 passengers. However, the company felt that a smaller version would act better as a feeder airliner and started production of the Model 12A which would carry 6 passengers.
Following a first flight on 27th June 1936 the pre-WWII produced Lockheed 12A 'Electra Junior', as it was known, did not prove popular with the airlines as a light airliner but was used more extensively by company executives and government officials. There were just 130 model 12A's produced before production ceased in 1941.
At the start of the war many of the civilian aircraft were requisitioned for use by the US Army and Navy, Britain's Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The model 18 or Lodestar followed the design No.14 which had been returned by Northwest Airlines following a series of crashes. One of the returned aircraft was modified by stretching the fuselage by 5' 6'' (1.68m) to allow an extra 2 rows of seats to be installed. This first prototype flew for the first time on 21st September 1939 to be quickly followed by a further two prototype conversions. These were followed by the first production aircraft which flew on 2nd February 1940 but sales were slow as most airlines world-wide opted for the Douglas DC-3. Only 31 of the aircraft were sold to US airlines with overseas airline sales being also very slow. A single much modified aircraft was sold to The Brazilian president in 1942 and was fitted with 11 seats.
As the United States started to build up it's military strength in 1940-41 many American operated aircraft were impressed as as the C-56. Many new built aircraft were used with different designations by American forces and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Following the end of the war many aircraft were returned to private use mainly as executive transports with many conversions being offered such as that by DAS Dalaero, Bill Lear's Learstar and Howard Aero's Howard 250. A number of these conversions featured a nose landing gear.
A single Lodestar was used by the Israeli Air Force during the Arab-Israeli war in 1946 with others used for top dressing crops in New Zealand and a number of the type as parachute platforms in the United States.
The PV-2 Harpoon was a major redesign of the PV-1 Ventura which had an increased load-carrying capability. The US Navy placed an order for 500 of the aircraft but the early PV-2s had wing problems that meant that the wing would wrinkle when taking off with a full fuel load. A re-design of the entire wing was therefore undertaken and early PV-2s were retained for training purposes. Only 69 of the modified winged version had been delivered by the end of 1944 but were by now proving both reliable and popular with the crews flying them.
The French Navy - Aeronavale operated the PV-1 between 1944 and 1947 but updated with the PV-2 from 1953 to 1960 with Escadrille 11S operating aircraft for transport duties only. It was these aircraft that were seen visiting Blackbushe during Farnborough Airshow Week in 1959. Similarly the Portuguese Air Force purchased 42 aircraft which they operated from 1954 to 1975. Many others were operated by military forces world wide including the Royal Air Force during wartime hostilities.
Variants:
18-07 Powered by 2x 875hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet S1E2-G engines. 25 built plus 2 prototypes.
18-08 Powered by 2x 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S1C3-G engines. 33 built.
18-10 Similar to 18-08. 39 built.
18-14 Powered by 2x 1,200hp Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S4C4-G engines. 4 built.
18-40 Powered by 2x 1,200hp Wright Cyclone G-1820-G104A engines. 26 built.
18-50 Powered by 2x 1,200hp Wright Cyclone G-1820-G202A engines. 13 built.
C-56 plus C-56 A,B,C,D and E variants for US Army.
C-57 plus C-57 A,B,C and D variants for US Army.
C-59 Lodestar 1A to RAF. 10 built.
C-60 36 built some to RAF as Lodestar 11s
C60A As C-60 but fitted out for para dropping. 325 built.
XC-60B 1x C-60A fitted with experimental de-icing.
C-66 1x 21 seater for Brazilian Air Force.
US Navy Loadstars
XR50-1 1x model 18-07 acquired for evaluation.
R50-1 Staff transport. 3x built, 2 for USN, 1 for US Coast Guards.
R50-2 Navy version of the C-59. 1 aircraft built.
R50-3 4 seat VIP transport. 3 aircraft built.
R50-4 Impressed, 7 seat staff transport. 12 aircraft built.
R50-5 Navy version of C-60. Similar to R50-4 but with 14 seats. 41 aircraft.
R50-6 Navy version of C-60A for the US Marine Corps. 18 paratrooper seats. 35 built.
Specification:
Lodestar:
Sorry no metric conversions.
Seats 17
Power 2x 1,200hp Wright R-1820-71 piston radials.
Wing span 65' 6''
Length 49' 10''
Height 11' 1''
Weight Empty 11,600lb.
Weight Gross 17.500lb.
Speed Max 253mph.
Ceiling 23,300ft.
Range 1,600 statute miles
Armament Nil.
Visitors Noted:
Reg Type C/N Operator Inmformation/Codes Date Noted
37316 PV-2 15-1282 French Navy ......................11-S-3... 11S .... 00.9.53.
37311? --..-- 15-1277 ? --..-- ......................11-S-5... 11-5.... 8.9.59-9.9.59.
37503 --..-- 15-1469 --..-- .......................11-S-1............... 8.9.59-9.9.59.
37511? --..-- 15-1477 ? --..-- ............................................... . 8.9.59.
4607 PV-2D 15-1513 ? Portuguese Air Force.................................... 5.7.58,7.7.58.
D-CAFU Learstar 18-2499 Krupps....................................................... 4.9.56-5.9.56,17.3.57.
G-AGTL Lockheed 12 1287 ................................................................ 22.7.57,27.7.58.
G-AGWN --..-- 12A 1275 Zinc Corporation ........................................ 20.6.50,20.9.50.
N24W Learstar 18-2613 C.B Wrightsman ........................................ 6.8.55,11.8.56->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ............................................00.3.58.
N2722A Lodestar 18-2363 Fairchild Aerial Surveys................................. 4.9.59,3.10.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 4.10.59.
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 5.12.59,26.5.60.
N69415 --..-- 18-2349 --..-- --..-- ................................. 29.7.55,1.3.59,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 16.6.59->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 24.10.59,31.10.59,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 1.11.59,16.11.59,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. 17.11.59.
N94536 --..-- 18-2091 ex East African Airways VP-KPV return to USA.. 25.11.51,6.1.52,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- .... 27.1.52.
N94537 --..-- 18-2421 --..-- --..-- VP-KHE --..-- .. 25.11.51.
N94538 --..-- 18-209 --..-- --..-- VP-KPX --..-- .. 25.11.51,6.1.52.
N94539 --..-- 18-2604 ex Aero Africiane......... F-BALZ --..-- .. 20.12.51.
N94540 --..-- 18-2605 --..-- --..-- ......... F_BAMA --..-- .. 20.12.51.
N94541 --..-- 18-2606 --..-- --..-- ......... F-BALX --..-- .. 20.12.51.
N94545 --..-- 18-2332 --..-- --..-- .......... ? ...................... 18.7.53.
OO-AFA Lockheed 12A 1211 .................................................................. 11.9.53.
OY-ADB --..-- 12 1304 Zomenes Flyvestsseneste............................... 29.6.58,3.11.58->
--..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- --..-- ............................... 13.4.59,2.6.59.
SA-AAF Lodestar 18-2411 Saudi Arabian Airlines ex ZS-DAX not delivered... 30.5.50.
SA-AAG --..-- 18-2562 --..-- --..-- --..-- ZS-DAU --..-- ... 00.00.50.
SA-AAH --..-- 18-2565 --..-- --..-- --..-- ZS-DAZ --..-- ... 00.00.58.
SA-AAi --..-- 18-2601 --..-- --..-- --..-- ZS-DBA --..-- ... 00.00.50.
VP-KHA --..-- 18-2013 East African Airways........................................14.8.51.
VP-KHX --..-- 18-2038 --..-- --..-- ........................................00.9.52'
VP-KHZ --..-- 18-2048? --..-- --..-- ...................return to USA..2.9.52.
VP-KMZ --..-- 18-2048? --..-- --..-- ........................................00.12.53.
ZS-DAU --..-- 18-2562 ................................ex NC66110 ..................00.11.48,1.5.49,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- ................................. --..-- ...................27.9.49.
ZS-DAX --..-- 18-2411 ................................ex NC9200H ..................00.11.48,1.5.49,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- ................................ --..-- ...................27.9.49.
ZS-DAZ --..-- 18-2565 ................................ex NC66076 ..................00.11.48,1.5.49,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- ................................ --..-- ..................27.9.49.
ZS-DBA --..-- 18-2601 ................................ex NC4426N ..................00.11.48,1.5.49,->
--..-- --..-- --..-- ................................ --..-- ..................27.9.49,26.3.50.
Credits:
Wikipedia
rj for use of his extensive records.
The enthusiasts for keeping their records and making them available.
pb for the photos and his assistance.
complete JSM 15.3.19.