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United States' Lockheed C-60 Lodestar transport¹

Design

The Lockheed Lodestar was developed from the Model 14 Super Electra and Hudson series.¹ Initially produced as a civilian transport.¹

Most airlines were going to buy the Douglas DC-3.¹ There were 96 orders for export purchases.¹ When the war started it was decided to be used by the military.¹

Prototype

The Lodestar prototype first flew on September 21, 1939.¹

Production

C-56: 1¹
C-57: 13¹
C-60A: 325¹
R50-4: 12¹
R50-5: 41¹
R50-6: 35¹
Total: 625¹

Variants

C-56: Cyclone engines.¹
C-57: Twin Wasp engines.¹
C-59 / Lodestar Mk I:
C-60 / Lodestar Mk II:
C-60A: Major production version.¹ Cyclone engines.¹
C-66:
C-111:
R50-1: US Navy.¹
R50-2: US Navy.¹
R50-3: US Navy.¹
R50-4: US Navy.¹
R50-5: US Navy.¹
R50-6: US Navy.¹

Usage

The Lodestar was used by Australia, Britain, Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States.¹

Britain

The Royal Air Force (RAF) used the Lodestar in four squadrons operating in the Middle East.¹ They were used as transport and air ambulances.¹

	Lockheed Lodestar¹	Lockheed C-60A¹
Type	Transport¹	Transport¹
Crew
Engine (Type)	2: Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet¹
OR	2: Wright R-1820 Cyclone¹
OR	2: Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp¹
Cylinders	Cyclone: Radial 9¹ Wasp: Radial 14¹
Cooling
HP	Hornet: 850 - 875 each¹ Cyclone: 1,100 - 1,200 each¹ Wasp: 1,200 each¹
Propeller blades	3 each¹
Capacity
Dimensions
Span	65' 6"¹ 19.96 m¹
Length	49' 10"¹ 15.19 m¹
Height	11' 10"¹ 3.61 m¹
Wing area
Weight
Empty		12,075 lb¹ 5,477 kg¹
Loaded		18,500 lb¹ 5,639 kg¹
Performance
Speed @ 17,000' / 5,180 m		266 mph¹ 428 kph¹
Cruising speed		200 mph¹ 322 kph¹
Climb to 10,000 ' / 3,048 m		6.6 minutes¹
Service ceiling		30,000'¹ 9,144 m¹
Range		1,660 miles¹ 2,671 km¹
Passengers	18: fully armed troops¹	18: paratroopers¹
OR	22: standard passengers¹

Sources:

Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998