R5O-2 Lodestar

The Lockheed R5O‑2 Lodestar was a twin‑engine transport aircraft developed in the late 1930s as a military derivative of the commercial Model 14 Super Constitution. First flown in 1938, the R5O‑2 entered service with the United States Army Air Forces under the designation C‑69 before being redesignated R5O‑2 when the Navy adopted it for transport and liaison duties. Powered by two 1,200‑horsepower Wright R‑1820‑97 radial engines, the aircraft featured a low‑wing monoplane layout, all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, and a spacious cabin that could accommodate up to 18 passengers or equivalent cargo. Its retractable landing gear and variable‑pitch propellers gave it a top speed of about 300 mph and a range exceeding 2,000 miles, making it one of the fastest and longest‑ranged transports of its era. Although only a handful were built before production shifted to the more advanced Lockheed Constellation, the R5O‑2 demonstrated the viability of high‑performance twin‑engine transports and influenced post‑war airliner design. Its brief operational career in World War II and subsequent civilian conversions underscored Lockheed’s transition from wooden biplanes to all‑metal, pressurized aircraft that would dominate mid‑century aviation. The R5O‑2 remains a notable stepping stone in the evolution of modern air transport.