Lockheed Lodestar

The Lockheed Lodestar was a twin‑engine, all‑metal transport aircraft built by Lockheed Corporation between 1939 and 1945. Developed from the earlier Model 12 Electra Junior, the Lodestar featured a stressed‑skin fuselage, retractable landing gear and two Pratt & Whitney R‑985 Wasp Junior radial engines delivering 450 hp each. With a maximum speed of about 225 mph, a range near 1,300 mi and a cabin that could accommodate 14 to 18 passengers, it offered a speed and comfort level that surpassed most contemporary propeller‑driven airliners.

First delivered to commercial operators such as Eastern Air Lines and TWA, the Lodestar quickly found a military role after the United States entered World War II. Designated the C‑60 in Army service, it was used for personnel transport, light cargo, and training, with more than 500 built for civil and military customers combined. Postwar, surplus aircraft were sold to airlines worldwide, helping to rebuild civil aviation in Europe and Asia.

The Lodestar’s combination of reliability, performance and economical operation made it a bridge between early single‑engine transports and the larger four‑engine airliners that would dominate the jet age, cementing its place in aviation history.

Lockheed Corporation

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