Lockheed Sirius 8C
Lockheed Corporation · United States · first flew 1929 · light aircraft
The Lockheed Sirius 8C is a variant of the Lockheed Sirius, a sleek low-wing monoplane designed for long-distance record flights and personal transport. The Sirius was notably used by Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh for survey flights across the North and South Atlantic.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tandem open or enclosed cockpits with streamlined fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Sleek low-wing monoplane from the Lockheed Detroit series
- Single Pratt & Whitney or Wright radial engine
- Tandem open or enclosed cockpits with streamlined fuselage
Distinguished by its clean low-wing monoplane form, tandem cockpits, and the streamlined NACA-cowled radial engine; floatplane configurations were common for survey roles.
Specifications
- The Lockheed Sirius 8C has a length of 8.38 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.05 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 282 km/h (175 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Lockheed Sirius first flew in 1929 and was designed by Jack Northrop and Gerard Vultee. The Lindberghs' famous aircraft was a modified Sirius 8A fitted with floats for their Pacific and Atlantic survey flights in the early 1930s. The 8C designation indicated a specific engine or equipment variant.
Variants
Sirius variants were differentiated by engine type (Pratt & Whitney Wasp or Wright Cyclone) and float versus wheeled undercarriage; the 8 series denoted the later refined production standard.
Where you'll see it
Very small numbers built primarily for wealthy private owners and record-breaking aviators; the type was never in widespread commercial or military service.
Related aircraft
- Lockheed Explorer
- Lockheed Sirius 8A
- Lockheed Air Express
- Lockheed Model 9 Orion
- ABC Robin
- Adcox Student Prince
- Aero A.34 Kos
- Aeronca C-2
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