Lockheed Model 9B Orion

Lockheed Corporation · United States · first flew 1931 · light aircraft

The Lockheed Model 9B Orion is an engine-variant of the original Model 9 airliner, built to customer specification with a different powerplant while retaining the innovative retractable undercarriage and wooden monocoque construction.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	Wooden monocoque fuselage, streamlined NACA cowl
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Orion variant with revised engine fit
Retractable main undercarriage in low wing
Wooden monocoque fuselage, streamlined NACA cowl

Visually identical to other Orion variants; the clean low-wing monoplane with retractable gear, round cowled radial engine, and barrel-section wooden fuselage are the distinguishing Orion family traits.

Specifications

The Lockheed Model 9B Orion has a length of 8.38 m (27 ft).
It has a wingspan of 13.05 m (43 ft).
Its maximum speed is 354 km/h (220 mph).
Typical crew: 1 pilot + 6 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The 9B was one of several early Orion variants ordered by American carriers seeking the best combination of speed and economy from the available radial engines of the early 1930s. Production across all Orion variants was small, with approximately 35 aircraft total.

Variants

Sits within the 9 through 9F-1 production sequence; later variants such as the 9D and 9E progressively refined the engine and airframe.

Where you'll see it

Served with small US domestic carriers on mail and passenger routes in the early 1930s before more modern designs rendered it obsolete.

Related aircraft

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