Lockheed Model 10 Electra
Lockheed Corporation · United States · first flew 1934 · transport aircraft
The Lockheed Model 10 Electra was a revolutionary all-metal twin-engine monoplane airliner of 1934 that proved far faster and more economical than biplane contemporaries. It established Lockheed as a major airliner manufacturer and spawned a family of advanced civil and military transports.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.76 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-tail 1930s US airliner with twin Wasp Junior engines
- All-metal stressed-skin construction
- Associated with Amelia Earhart's 1937 round-the-world attempt
A sleek low-wing twin with an oval fuselage, twin endplate fins, and retractable main gear; smaller than the later Model 14 and 18, and identified by the twin-tail arrangement uncommon among airliners of its era.
Specifications
- The Lockheed Model 10 Electra has a length of 11.76 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.76 m (55 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 320 km/h (199 mph).
- Typical crew: 2, plus 10 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown on 23 February 1934, the Model 10 quickly entered service with airlines including Northwest Airlines and Braniff. Its advanced stressed-skin metal construction and retractable undercarriage set new standards. The Model 10 is best remembered publicly as the aircraft in which Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific in 1937 during her round-the-world flight attempt.
Variants
The Model 10A used P&W Wasp Junior engines, the 10B used Wright R-975 Whirlwinds, and the 10C and 10E had differing powerplants; the Model 12 Electra Junior was a smaller six-seat derivative.
Where you'll see it
Used by US regional airlines and later adopted by military forces worldwide as liaison and transport aircraft.
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