Model 9 Orion

The Lockheed Model 9 Orion, introduced in 1931, was a high‑speed, single‑engine monoplane that helped define the early era of commercial and record‑breaking flight. Designed by Hall Hibbard and built at Lockheed’s Burbank plant, the Orion featured an all‑metal, low‑wing construction with retractable landing gear—a novelty that reduced drag and gave the aircraft a top speed of 219 mph (352 km/h). Powered by a Wright R‑1820 Cyclone radial engine delivering 575 hp, it could carry three passengers in an enclosed cabin while maintaining a range of 950 mi, making it attractive to airlines such as United and Transcontinental & Western Air. The Orion quickly gained fame when pilots used it to set distance and speed records, most notably the 1931 transcontinental flight by Charles Lindbergh’s associate and the 1934 round‑trip Atlantic crossing by Russell Rogers. Its sleek lines, reliable performance, and pioneering use of retractable gear influenced later designs like the Lockheed Model 10 Eagle and the famed P‑38 Lightning. The Model 9 Orion thus stands as a pivotal bridge between the barn‑storming biplanes of the 1920s and the faster, all‑metal aircraft that dominated World War II aviation.

Lockheed Corporation

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification