Hudson VI

The Hudson VI was Lockheed’s last major variant of the Hudson series, introduced in 1944 as a maritime patrol and transport aircraft. Building on earlier I‑V models, the VI featured an all‑metal airframe, a 94‑foot wing and two Pratt & Whitney R‑1830‑94 Twin Wasp radials producing 1,200 hp each. These changes raised top speed to 315 mph, extended range to 2,300 nm and allowed a payload of up to 4,000 lb of bombs or eight passengers. The cockpit received modern radio navigation, a Mark III radar set and a retractable landing gear that reduced drag. Reinforced wing spars and a monocoque fuselage increased durability in harsh oceanic conditions. Only 275 units were built before production shifted to the Lockheed Ventura, yet the Hudson VI saw extensive service in both the European and Pacific theatres, helping close the Atlantic “mid‑Atlantic gap.” After World War II surplus aircraft entered civilian service as early air‑liners on trans‑Atlantic routes and as bush planes in remote areas. The Hudson VI’s blend of combat capability and peacetime utility reinforced Lockheed’s reputation for adaptable, rugged designs and influenced later multi‑role aircraft development.

Lockheed Corporation

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