Lockheed Altair
Altair | |
---|---|
The C-23, an Altair 8D purchased by the US Army Air Corps for use as a staff transport | |
Role | Civilian sport |
National origin | United States of America
|
Manufacturer | Lockheed Aircraft Limited |
First flight | September 1930 |
Number built | 11 |
Developed from | Lockheed Sirius
|
The Lockheed Altair was a single-engined sport aircraft produced by
Development and design
Lockheed designed an alternative wing fitted with a retractable undercarriage for the Lockheed Sirius as a result of a request from Charles Lindbergh, although Lindbergh in the end chose to buy a standard Sirius. The first Altair, converted from a Sirius, flew in September 1930.[1] Like the Sirius, the Altair was a single-engined, low-winged monoplane of wooden construction. The undercarriage, which was operated by use of a hand crank, retracted inwards.
Four Altairs following the prototype were converted from examples of the Sirius, with another six Altairs built from scratch: three by Lockheed, two by the
Operational history
The prototype Altair was purchased by the United States Army Air Corps and designated Y1C-25, with a second Altair, fitted with a metal construction fuselage was also purchased by the Army as the Y1C-23 and used as a staff transport, as was a single similar aircraft operated by the US Navy as the XRO-1.[3]
Altairs were used to carry out a number of record-breaking long-range flights. One aircraft, named
Two Altairs were used by the Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun as high-speed passenger and cargo aircraft, one remaining in use until 1944.[5]
Variants
- 8D Altair
- Two-seat long-range high-performance sports aircraft, fitted with a retractable undercarriage, powered by a 500 hp (373 kW) Pratt & Whitney SR-1340E Wasp radial piston engine; One prototype, four converted Sirius aircraft, six production aircraft.
- 8G Altair
- One aircraft built by the AiRover Company as a testbed for the Menasco Unitwin 2-544 engine, intended for the Vega Model 2 Starliner.
- Sirius 8 Special
- One aircraft built for the Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith, it was converted into an Altair 8D aircraft, later named the Lady Southern Cross.
- DL-2A
- Two Altair 8Ds built by the Detroit Aircraft Corporation.
- Y1C-23
- The second Altair 8D was purchased by the US Army Air Corps, it was used as a staff transport aircraft. Later redesignated C-23.
- Y1C-25
- The Altair 8D prototype was purchased by the US Army Air Corps, powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-17 Wasp radial piston engine.
- XRO-1
- One Altair DL-2A acquired by the U.S. Navy, it was used as staff transport aircraft.
Operators
Specifications (Y1C-23)
Data from Lockheed Aircraft since 1913[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft 9 in (13.03 m)
- Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
- Wing area: 293.2 sq ft (27.24 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,235 lb (1,468 kg)
- Gross weight: 4,895 lb (2,220 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney SR-1340E Wasp 9-cylinder air cooled radial engine, 500 hp (373 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn) at 7,000 ft (2,140 m)
- Cruise speed: 175 mph (282 km/h, 152 kn)
- Range: 580 mi (935 km, 504 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 23,800 ft (7,255 m)
- Wing loading: 52.5 lb/sq ft (81.5 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.10 hp/lb (0.17 kW/kg)
- Climb to 7,000 ft (2,140 m): 9.4 min
See also
Related development
- Lockheed Vega
- Lockheed Air Express
- Lockheed Explorer
- Lockheed Sirius
- Lockheed Orion
Related lists
- List of Lockheed aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. ISBN 0-87021-897-2.
- Layman, R. D. (1993). "Question 15/91: Early USN Aircraft". Warship International. XXX (3): 318. ISSN 0043-0374.