The Plane That Disappeared With Amelia Earhart | Lockheed 10 Electra

Today we’re taking a look at the Lockheed Model 10 Electra, this was the first in a moderate line of twin-engine aircraft designs that emerged in the 1930s. Notable for their exceptionally sleek lines and beautiful looks, most were used in the civil market, primarily as passenger airliners.

Sources:
Francillon.R.J (1987), Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913.
Gunston.B (1998), Lockheed Aircraft: The History of Lockheed Martin

[RexsHangar]

F.A.Q Section

Q: Do you take aircraft requests?
A: I have a list of aircraft I plan to cover, but feel free to add to it with suggestions:)

Q: Why do you use imperial measurements for some videos, and metric for others?
A: I do this based on country of manufacture. Imperial measurements for Britain and the U.S, metric for the rest of the world, but I include text in my videos that convert it for both.

Q: Will you include video footage in your videos, or just photos?
A: Video footage is very expensive to licence, if I can find footage in the public domain I will try to use it, but a lot of it is hoarded by licencing studies (British Pathe, Periscope films etc). In the future I may be able to afford clips :)

Q: Why do you sometimes feature images/screenshots from flight simulators?
A: Sometimes there are not a lot of photos available for certain aircraft, so I substitute this with digital images that are as accurate as possible

[FolgoreCZ]

Fun Fact. Earhart was originally supposed to fly Model 10-A, serial no. 1091. But during the time, a Czechoslovak businessman Jan Baťa was on a business trip in Chicago, when his plane broke down. He wanted a replacement ASAP, so he bought the Electra no. 1091 and Earhart had to wait for her 10-E. Meanwhile, Baťa's Electra flew all the way to Czechoslovakia, eventually flew around the world, fled Czechoslovakia before WW2 and was sold to RCAF. After the war, it went all around the place before eventually being restored and now it's displayed back in Prague as one of the two air-worthy Electras in the world.

[thekinginyellow]

The progress in aviation in this era always amazes me. The ten passenger twin engine Lockheed Electra had a gross weight of about the same as the empty weight of the single engine Republic P47D Thunderbolt just eight years later. I realize this is apples to oranges, but it is still amazing.

[RedcoatT]

One of the most beautiful aircraft of the 30's.

[mycosys]

You know, its probably worth doing a vid on the 'other' Electra - the L-188. It may be the most celebrated of the bunch - but as the PC-3 Orion, still flying with many nations after 55 years.

[brettcoster]

Have a great trip (to wherever) and I'll look forward to the later Lockheed Electra/Hudson videos. Especially that for the Lockheed 12 Electra Junior, because it was used by Sidney Cotton (of Sidcot flying suit fame) as a recon/spy plane in the very late '30s. Cheers!

[BogeyTheBear]

The advantage afforded by the change to a twin tail was that this placed a rudder into the propellor stream of each engine. The added air flow gave the tails more authority, and in the event of an engine failure the increased power on the remaining engine would throw more air back to the corresponding rudder.

[Dan_Gyros]

Lockheed's design language through their early years was just so elegant and timeless

[trickydicky]

Beautiful plane, and to think, that twin tail found its way onto the SR-71 as well.

[deejayimm]

So many beautiful planes came from that era.

[admiraltiberius]

Finding any credible remains of this aircraft and its famous pilot, navigator would be huge. Though after this long the chances are pretty slim.

[elgato]

Beautiful aircraft. Didn't Howard Hughes use a Lockheed Super Electra to fly around the world? Great content, Rex! Thank you.

[WALTERBROADDUS]

The hiring of Kelly Johnson has got to be one of the best new hire stories in history. This one grad student basically help build the biggest military contractor in the world. Just imagine if the chief engineer had decided just to keep him fetching coffee as the new guy😏☕

[craigcolavito]

I love a nice chill Civil Aviation episode. Plane Suggestion for your list: Breguet 14

[johnfriend]

My Dad started at Lockheed in 1938 after graduating from Caltech. His first project was detailing the aft side of the pilot station bulkhead. He retired years later last working on the P-3 Orion and the S-3 Viking for Lockheed's ASW fleet...

[stringpicker]

Kelly Johnston certainly designed nice looking planes. I didn't realise he was behind the Lockheed multi fin/twin boom obsession though. I grew up with Qantas Constellations landing in my small rural town as part of their pilot training. Lovely aeroplanes, though I doubt my teachers agreed as they nearly shook the windows out of the classroom wall when they flew overhead at a couple of hundred feet.

[Arglefaster]

I'm looking forward to the video on the Model 12.

[breth]

Excellent report looking forward to the series ... You've covered it well as a descendant of a primary engineer at Vega don't neglect the Howard Hughes projects

[MyBlueZed]

11:05 I have been in that Marshall Airways hanger! 😀 I was taking flying lessons at Bankstown Airport in 1978 and got to take a look inside. Hanging like models from the ceiling were a Messerschmidt 109 and a Japanese Oscar.

[towgod]

Another outstanding video. Enjoy your time off, you've earned it!