Model 9D Orion

The Lockheed Model 9D Orion was introduced in 1931 as the final evolution of Lockheed’s successful Vega line. Built at the Burbank, California plant, the 9D incorporated a more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine delivering 450 horsepower, which gave the four‑seat, low‑wing monoplane a top speed of 210 mph and a range of 1,400 miles. Its all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, retractable landing gear and clean aerodynamic profile set new standards for speed and efficiency in the civilian market during the early 1930s. The Orion quickly found favor with corporate executives, wealthy private owners, and a few small airlines that prized its reliability and long‑range capability for cross‑country routes. Notably, the aircraft was used in several record‑breaking flights, including a 1932 trans‑continental speed run that demonstrated the practicality of high‑performance monoplanes for commercial transport. Although production ceased in 1934 after only 44 examples, the Model 9D Orion’s innovations influenced later Lockheed designs such as the Model 12 Electra Junior and helped cement the company’s reputation as a pioneer of modern, all‑metal aircraft. Today the 9D Orion is prized by vintage enthusiasts and museums as a milestone that linked early wood‑frame transports to the sleek metal airliners of the mid‑century.

Lockheed Corporation

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