Lockheed Model 9 Orion
Lockheed Corporation · United States · first flew 1931 · transport aircraft
The Lockheed Orion was a revolutionary American fast transport of the early 1930s, combining a retractable undercarriage with a smooth wooden monocoque fuselage to achieve speeds that outpaced many contemporary fighters. It set the template for the high-speed commercial aircraft of the decade.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.64 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1930s Lockheed wooden monocoque fast mail and passenger transport
- Retractable undercarriage — among the first production types to feature it
- Streamlined NACA cowled radial engine
Distinguished by its clean single-engine low-wing monoplane form with a fully retractable undercarriage, smooth monocoque fuselage, and NACA cowled radial — unmistakably of the 'Lockheed family' of the period.
Specifications
- The Lockheed Model 9 Orion has a length of 8.64 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.04 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 354 km/h (220 mph).
- Typical crew: 1, up to 6 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Derived from the earlier Lockheed Vega and Air Express, the Orion first flew in 1931 and entered service with airlines including Varney Speed Lines and Swissair. Its performance advantage was so pronounced that US airline regulations were tightened to prevent it competing directly with slower multi-engine types on safety grounds.
Variants
Several sub-variants were produced with different engine fits; Swissair operated it alongside the Heinkel He 70 in a famous speed comparison.
Where you'll see it
Used by US domestic airlines in the early 1930s and exported to Switzerland; a handful of surviving examples are preserved in museums.
Related aircraft
- Lockheed Model 9A Orion Special
- Lockheed Model 9B Orion
- Lockheed Model 9D Orion
- Lockheed Model 9E Orion
- Avro 619 Five
- General Aviation PJ-1
- Lublin R-XIII
- Martin P3M-2
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