R5O-1 Lodestar

The Lockheed R5O‑1 Lodestar was a twin‑engine transport aircraft developed in the late 1930s as a militarized version of the civilian Model 14 Super Super Constellation. First flown in 1939, the R5O‑1 entered service with the United States Army Air Forces as a high‑capacity personnel and cargo carrier, later seeing extensive use by the US Navy, the Royal Air Force and several Allied air forces during World II. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney R‑1830‑92 radial engines delivering 1,200 hp each, the Lodestar could cruise at 225 mph and haul up to 8,000 lb of freight or 21 fully equipped troops. Its all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, retractable landing gear and fully enclosed cabin offered a spacious, comfortable interior that set a new standard for military transport comfort. The aircraft’s robust design allowed operation from rough fields, and its versatile load‑planning system enabled rapid conversion between passenger, cargo and medevac configurations. Though eclipsed by larger transports such as the C‑47 after the war, the R5O‑1 demonstrated the strategic value of twin‑engine logistical aircraft and helped shape post‑war air‑lift doctrine, influencing the development of modern tactical airlifters.

Lockheed Corporation

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