Lockheed Lodestar

C-56 Lodestar
Description
Role	Transport
Crew	3
First Flight	September 21, 1939
Entered Service	March 30, 1940
Manufacturer	Lockheed
Dimensions
Length	49ft 10in	15.2 m
Wingspan	65ft 6in	20 m
Height	11ft 10in	3.6 m
Wing Area	551 ft²	51.2 m²
Weights
Empty	12,000 lbs	5,440 kg
Loaded	17,500 lbs	7,940 kg
Maximum takeoff	lbs	kg
Capacity	14 passengers
Powerplant
Engine	2 × Pratt & Whitney Wasp; S1C3-G
Power (each)	1,050 hp	780 kW
Performance
Maximum speed	265mph @ 13,300ft	426km/h @ 4,050m
Combat range	1,700 miles	2,740 km
Ferry range	km	miles
Service ceiling	25,400 ft	7,740 m
Rate of climb	1,600 ft/min	490 m/min
Wing loading	31.8 lb/ft²	155.1 kg/m²
Power/Mass	0.12 hp/lb	0.196 kW/kg

The Lockheed Lodestar was a passenger transport aircraft of the Second World War era. The prototype, which first flew in 1939, was constructed from one of a batch of Lockheed L-14 Super Electras which had been returned to the manufacturer by Northwest Airlines after a series of crashes of L-14s. The fuselage was lengthened by 5 feet (1.5m), enabling the fitting of two more rows of seats and hopefully making the aircraft more economical to operate. However, most US airlines were by then committed to purchasing the Douglas DC-3, and Lockheed found the Lodestar difficult to sell at home.

Overseas sales were a little better, with 29 bought by the government of the Netherlands East Indies. South African Airways (21), TCA (12) and BOAC (9) were the biggest airline customers. Various Pratt & Whitney; and Wright Cyclone powerplants were installed.

When the United States started to build up its military air strength in 1940-41, American operated and part-built Lodestars were impressed for Army or Navy services under various designations.

US Army Lodestars

• C-56 (1) with 760hp Wright R-1820.
• C-56A, C-56B, C-56C, C-56D, C-56E (25 in all) with Pratt & Whitney R-1690
• C-57A, C-57B (1+7) with Pratt & Whitney R-1830. The C-57Bs were converted as troop ships.
• C-57C (3) Repowered C-60A with Pratt & Whitney R-1830-51.
• C-57D (1) Repowered C-57A with Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92.
• C-59 (10) with Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet. Transferred to RAF as Lodestar Mk.IA.
• C-60 (36) with Wright R-1820-87. Transferred to RAF as Lodestar Mk.II.
• C-60A (125) with Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp. Ordered by the Army as troop-carriers.
• XC-60B (1) C-60A with experimental de-icing equipment.
• C-66 (1) as C-60, transferred to Brazilian Air force.

US Navy Lodestars

• XR5O-1 (1) 1,200 hp (895 kW) Wright R-1820-40.
• R5O-1 (3) 1,200 (895 kW) Wright R-1820-97. One was for the US Coast Guard.
• R5O-2 (1) 850 hp (634 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1690-25
• R5O-3 (2) 1,200 hp (895 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-34A. Originally 4-seater VIP transports.
• R5O-4 (12) 1,200 hp (895 kW) Wright R-1820-40. Impressed. 7-seater staff transports.
• R5O-5 (14) 1,200 hp (895 kW) Wright R-1820-40. Similar to the R5O-4 but had 14-seats.
• R5O-6 (35) Transferred USAAF C-60A-5-LOs transferred to the USN (US Marine Corps). 18 paratroop seats.

Lodestars also served with the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and South African Air Force.

A total of 625 Lodestars of all variants were built. After the war they returned to civilian service, mostly as executive transports. Around 10-15 are still airworthy in the USA alone.

Related content
Related Development	Lockheed L-14 Super Electra
Similar Aircraft
Designation Series	L-10 - L-12 - L-14 - L-18
	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
Related Lists	List of airliners - List of military aircraft of the United States

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