Lockheed L-9 Orion

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Lockheed Orion Model 9

This model 9 Orion named "North Wind" was one of 6 owned by Varney Speed Lanes of Burbank California
Type	Airliner
Manufacturer	Lockheed Aircraft Limited

The Lockheed Orion Model 9 was a single engine passenger aircraft built in 1931 for commercial airlines. It was the first airliner to have retractable landing gear and was faster than any military aircraft of that time. It was the last wooden monoplane design produced by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. It was designed and built by Richard A. Von Hake, but an interesting historical note is that Kelly Johnson of SR-71 fame was flight test engineer on the project. The Orion was the last design using many identical elements from the Lockheed designs preceding it. It primarily used all the elements of the Altair but included a forward top cockpit similar to the Vega. Lockheed used the same basic fuselage mold and wing for all their early designs, hence the close similarities between them. The Orion featured an enclosed cabin with seating for six passengers. The first Orion, tested by Marshall Headle, received its Approved Type Certificate on May 6, 1931. Although designed with the passenger market in mind, its speed made it a natural for air races. The first Bendix race of 1931 had a showing of 2 Orions and 3 Altairs and 1 Vega in a race that had only 9 aircraft competing. On July 11, 1935 Laura H. Ingalls flew a Lockheed Orion, powered by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine, from FBF to Burbank, California, establishing an East-West record for women. Two months later she flew it back to set an West-East record.
Many safe miles were flown in airline service and the headlines won by a few expert speed pilots proved the advanced design and reliability of the "Orion". Those that went into airline use as a passenger transport had their life span limited, however. In 1934 the Civil Aeronautics Authority issued a ruling prohibiting further use of single engine passenger aircraft from operating on all major networks. It also became mandatory to have a co-pilot and thus a two-seat cockpit arrangement on all such flights. The requirements of the ruling brought an end to the "Orion" as a passenger carrying airlines' airplane, but a number of leading lines converted their "Orions" to cargo or mail carrying machines exclusively. Because of their complicated wood construction they were often disposed of after minor accidents due to the cost of repairs. Many of the excess Orions were also purchased for service in the Spanish Civil War and destroyed in use.

In all, Lockheed built a total of 35 Orions costing $50,000 each new. It is not known if any survived past the 1940's except the one that survives to the present day. This lone remaining Orion was originally built as an experimental Altair (metal fuselage), then converted to Orion 9C configuration by the original designer of the Orion, Richard A. Von Hake, and others who worked for free during a slow period when the Lockheed factory was going into bankruptcy. It was later purchased by Shell Oil Company and flown by James H. Doolittle as Shellightning. Damaged in an accident in 1936, the 9C Orion was repaired at Parks Air College in St. Louis, Missouri, before being purchased by movie and racing specialist Paul Mantz in 1938. Mantz used it in film work and raced it in the Bendix Trophy events in 1938 and '39. After this its history is sketchy. It suffered a few minor accidents, went into storage for a few years, and by 1964 was sitting out in the open at the Orange County Airport. It was rebuilt to flying status by the famous "Fokker" restoration team and is on display at the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne, Switzerland in the livery of the original Swiss Air Orion. Swissair.http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com/htmi/ite/l9.htm

[edit] Specifications

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General characteristics

   * Length:  27.6 ft (8.55 m)
   * Wingspan:  42.9 ft (2.90 m)
   * Height:  9.6 ft (2.90 m)
   * Max takeoff weight: 5402.3 lb (2450.0 kg)

Performance

   * Maximum speed:  192 knots at sea level (220 mph)
   * Range: 750 nm (1389 km)
   * Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6705 m)
   * Engine: Single, Wright Cyclone 1820-E or Pratt Whitney 450hp
   * Max Power Rating: 567 hp  (575 ps)

[edit] References

Francillon, René J, Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. Naval Institute Press: Annapolis, 1987.
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http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5326359/anchors_5326359/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#5326359