Lockheed L-188 Electra

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Model 188 Electra
An Electra freighter of NWT Air at Vancouver Airport in August 1983.
Role Short-medium-range transport
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Corporation
First flight December 6, 1957
Introduction 1958
Primary users American Airlines
Eastern Air Lines
Braniff Airways
KLM
Produced 1957–61
Number built 170
Variants Lockheed P-3 Orion

The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design defect, no further orders were placed. The type was soon replaced by turbojet airliners but many were modified as freighters and the type continues to operate in various roles into the 21st Century.[1][2] The airframe was also used as the basis for the Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

Development

Lockheed had established a strong position in airliner production with its piston-engined Constellation series and was approached by Capital Airlines to develop a turboprop airliner, but with no interest from other American carriers the company did not produce a design; Capital Airlines went on to order 60 British Vickers Viscount four-engined turboprop airliners.[3] In 1954 the company offered a twin-engined design, the CL-303, to meet an American Airlines requirement; it was a high-wing design for 60 to 70 passengers but again the design failed to interest other carriers.[3]

American Airlines then revised its requirement and specified a four-engine design for 75 passengers and a range of 2000 miles (3220 km).[3] To meet this Lockheed proposed a new design, the CL-310 with a low wing and either four Rolls-Royce Darts or Napier Elands.[3] The CL-310 design met the American Airlines requirement but Eastern Airlines wanted an aircraft with more range and 85 to 90 seats.[3] Lockheed modified and enlarged the CL-310 design to use the Allison 501-D13, a civilian version of the T56 originally developed for the prototype Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport.[3]

This design was launched as the Model 188 with an order for 35 aircraft by American Airlines on June 8, 1955, this was followed by an Eastern Airlines order for 40 on September 27, 1955.[3] The first aircraft took 26 months to complete and by that time Lockheed had orders for 129 aircraft. The prototype, a Model 188A, first flew on December 6, 1957.[4][5] and a was awarded a type certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 22 August 1958. The first delivery was to Eastern Airlines on October 8, 1958 although it did not enter service until January 1959.[3]

In 1957 the United States Navy issued a requirement for an advanced maritime patrol aircraft. Lockheed proposed a development of the Electra which was later placed into production as the P-3 Orion, which saw much greater success. The Orion approaches nearly 50 years of front-line service.

Design

The Model 188 Electra is a low-wing cantilever monoplane powered by four wing-mounted Allison 501-D13 turboprops. It has a retractable nose-wheel landing gear and a conventional tailplane. It has a cockpit crew of three and can carry 66 to 80 passengers in a mixed-class arrangement, although 98 could be carried in a high-density configuration. The first variant was the Model 188A which was followed by the longer-range Model 188C with increased fuel load and a higher take-off weight.

Operational history

Civil operations

L188C Electra of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operating a passenger service in July 1965

American Airlines was the launch customer, followed by Eastern Airlines and Braniff Airways. The Electra suffered a troubled start in service. Passengers of early aircraft complained of high noise levels in the cabin forward of the wings, caused by propeller resonance.[6] To solve this problem, Lockheed redesigned the engine nacelles to tilt the engines upwards by three degrees.[6][7] The changes were incorporated on the production line by mid-1959 or as modification kits for the aircraft already built, and resulted in much-improved performance as well as increased passenger comfort.[7][8] Much worse, three were lost in fatal accidents in 14 months between February 1959 and March 1960. Following the third crash the FAA restricted the maximum speed at which Electras could be flown until the cause could be determined.[6]

After an extensive investigation, two of the crashes (in September 1959 and March 1960) were found to be caused by an engine mount problem. They were not strong enough to dampen a whirling mode that affected the outboard engine nacelles. When the oscillation was transmitted to the wings they were attached to, a severe up-and-down vibration escalated until the wings would tear themselves off the aircraft.[6][9][10]The company implemented an expensive modification program labelled the Lockheed Electra Achievement Program or LEAP, in which the engine mounts and the wing structures supporting the mounts were strengthened, and some of the wing skins replaced with thicker material.[6] Each of the survivors of the 145 Electras built to that time was modified at Lockheed's expense at the factory, the modifications taking 20 days for each aircraft; and the changes were incorporated in subsequent aircraft as they were built.[6] However the damage had been done, the public lost confidence in the type; this and the smaller jets that were being introduced eventually relegated Electras to only the smallest airliners. Production ended in 1961 after only 170 aircraft had been built. Losses to Lockheed have been estimated as high as $57 million, not counting an additional $55 million in lawsuits.[5] Although their use continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s for passenger operations, most of the aircraft currently in service are operated as freighters.

Many airlines in the US flew Electras, but the only European airline to order the type was KLM. In the South Pacific, Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) and its successor Air New Zealand flew the Electra.[11] In Australia Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) and Ansett each operated three Electras on the trunk routes between the Australian mainland state capital cities, and later to Port Moresby, from 1959 until 1971.[8] Ansett had its three Electras converted to freighters in 1970-71 and continued to fly them until 1984.[12] Qantas also operated four Electras on its routes to Hong Kong and Japan; to New Caledonia; and to New Guinea (until the New Guinea route was handed to Ansett and TAA); then later across the Indian Ocean to South Africa, and across the Tasman in competition with TEAL after that airline became 100% New Zealand-owned.[11][13] The divestiture of TEAL's 50%-Australian shareholding was itself prompted by the Electra order, as TEAL wanted jet aircraft, but was forced by the Australian government to order Electras instead to standardise with Qantas.[13][14][15] Three of Qantas' Electras were retired in the mid-1960s and the fourth in 1971.[11]

File:LAB188Electra.jpg
Lockheed L-188 Electra of Bolivian airline Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano operated until 1975.

Some Electras were sold to South-American airlines such as Bolivian airline Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano which allowed to fly non-stop international destinatios until it received its first jet engine, displacing the Electra, and Varig, operating the Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo shuttle service (the so-called Ponte Aérea - air bridge, in Portuguese) before being sold to Zaire in 1992. Others were retired from passenger service into air cargo use, 40 airframes being modified by a subsidiary of Lockheed from 1968 with either one or two large doors in the left side of the fuselage and a reinforced cabin floor.[6]

Of the total of 170 Electras built, as of March 2011 58 have been written off because of crashes and other accidents.[16]

Military use

In 1973, the Argentine Navy bought three Electras equipped with cargo doors. These were used during the "Dirty War" to toss political prisoners into the Rio de La Plata, in the infamous death flights.[17] The Electras were also used in transport duties during the Falklands War in 1982.

In 1983, after the retirement of its last SP-2H Neptunes the Argentine Navy bought further civilian Electra airframes, modified several for maritime patrol,[18] and widely used them until their replacement by P-3s in 1994.[19] One of the Argentine Navy's Electras, known locally as L-188W Electron (for electronic warfare), is preserved at the Argentine Naval Aviation Museum (MUAN) at Bahía Blanca.

Variants

An L-188CF of Atlantic Airlines
L-188A
Initial production version
L-188AF (All Freight version)
Unofficial designation for freighter conversions of L-188A carried out under a supplementary type certificate.
L-188PF (Passenger-Freight version)
Unofficial designation for freighter conversions of L-188A carried out under a supplementary type certificate.
L-188C
Long-range version with increased fuel capacity (6,940 gallon fuel capacity from 5,450 gallons on L-188A) and a higher operating gross weight (Maximum takeoff weight is 116,000 lb compared to 113,000 lb of the "A" version)
L-188CF
Unofficial designation for freighter conversion of L-188C carried out under a supplementary type certificate.
YP-3A Orion
One Orion aerodynamic test bed, fuselage shortened by seven feet.

Operators

Current operators

As of August 2010 a total of 11 Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft (all variants) were reported in airline service, with Atlantic Airlines (7) and Buffalo Airways (3) operating cargo variants and Trans Service Airlift operating a passenger 188A.[1] As of March 2011, Atlantic Airlines' fleet numbers five, while another 13 Electras are registered to Canadian company Air Spray, converted into firefighting airtankers with a 3000 US gallon capacity tank; and two to Conair Group, also configured as an airtanker.[2][20][21][22]

Civil operators

Military operators

 Argentina
 Bolivia
 Ecuador
 Honduras
 Mexico
 Panama

Orders

Model 188A
  • Eastern Airlines ordered 40 188As which were delivered between November 1958 and August 1959, the last five as 188Cs.[24]
  • American Airlines ordered 35 188As which were delivered between November 1958 and March 1960.[24]
  • National Airlines ordered 14 188As which were delivered between April 1959 and January 1961.[24]
  • Ansett-ANA ordered three 188As which were delivered to Australia in February 1959, April 1959 and February 1960.[11][24]
  • Braniff ordered nine 188As which were delivered between April 1959 and January 1960.[24]
  • Western Airlines ordered 12 188As which were delivered between May 1959 and February 1961.[24]
  • Trans Australia Airlines ordered three 188As which were delivered to Australia between June 1959 and August 1960.[24]
  • General Motors ordered one 188A which was delivered in July 1958.[24]
Model 188C
  • Northwest Orient Airlines ordered 18 188Cs which were delivered between July 1959 and June 1961.[24]
  • Pacific Southwest Airlines ordered three 188Cs which were delivered in November and December 1959.[24]
  • Capital Airlines ordered five 188Cs but later cancelled the order, the five aircraft were sold to other operators.[24]
  • Qantas ordered four 188Cs which were delivered to Australia between October and December 1959.[24]
  • KLM ordered 12 188Cs which were delivered to the Netherlands between September 1959 and December 1960.[24]
  • Tasman Empire Airways ordered three 188Cs which were delivered to New Zealand in October and December 1959.[24]
  • Garuda ordered three 188Cs which were delivered to Indonesia in January 1961.[24]

Accidents and incidents

Specifications (Model 188A)

Data from Lockheed Aircraft since 1913[41]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Five (3 flight deck)
  • Capacity: 98 passengers

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b Flight International 2010, p. 45.
  2. ^ a b "The Air Spray fleet." Air Spray. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Francillon 1982, pp. 396–397.
  4. ^ Francillon 1982, p. 398.
  5. ^ a b Rumerman, Judy. "Lockheed in Mid-Century." centennialofflight.gov, 2003. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Allen 1995, p. 155.
  7. ^ a b Allen 1995, p. 159.
  8. ^ a b Allen 1995, p. 161.
  9. ^ Lee, Stuart. "Lockheed Electra: Killer Airliner (Part 2)." cs.clemson.edu. Retrieved: 17 July 2010.
  10. ^ Lessons of a turboprop inquest Flight 17 February 1961 p225
  11. ^ a b c d Allen 1995, p. 162.
  12. ^ Allen 1995, pp. 161–162.
  13. ^ a b Brimson 1984, pp. 190–193.
  14. ^ Allen 1995, p. 158.
  15. ^ Brimson 1984, pp. 160–165.
  16. ^ "Lockheed Model 188 page." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 18, 2010.
  17. ^ Martinez, Diego. "Aviones de la muerte (In Spanish)". Pagina 12, September 6, 2009. Retrieved on 6 March 2010.
  18. ^ official site picture (Notice all the windows compared to the P-3 Orion) Aviones de Exploración, Amarda Argentina. Retrieved on March 6, 2010.
  19. ^ Gaggero, Pablo J. "La Armada renueva su flota aérea para el control del mar (In Spanish)." La Nación, January 25, 1999. Retrieved on March 6, 2010.
  20. ^ UK Civil Aviation Authority civil aircraft register caa.co.uk. Retrieved on March 11, 2011.
  21. ^ "Transport Canada civil aircraft register." tc.gc.ca. Retrieved on March 11, 2011.
  22. ^ "Electra photos." Oldprops. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  23. ^ "Shillelagh Travel Club: L188C N125US." Airliners.net. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Eastwood 1990, pp. 313–324.
  25. ^ Flight, February 13, 1959, p. 231.
  26. ^ Accident description for "The February 3, 1959 accident of a Lockheed L-188A Electra N6101A at New York-La Guardia Airport, NY (LGA)." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  27. ^ "Accident Synopsis: 09291959." AirDisaster.Com. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  28. ^ Accident description for "The September 29, 1959 accident of a Lockheed L-188A Electra N9705C at Buffalo, TX." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  29. ^ Accident description for "The March 17, 1960 accident of a Lockheed L-188C Electra N121US at Cannelton, IN." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  30. ^ Accident description for "The October 4, 1960 accident of a Lockheed L-188A Electra N5533 at Boston-Logan International Airport, MA (BOS)." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  31. ^ Accident description for "The June 12, 1961 accident of a Lockheed L-188C Electra PH-LLM at Cairo International Airport (CAI)." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  32. ^ Accident description for "The September 17, 1961 accident of a Lockheed L-188C Electra N137US at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL (ORD)." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  33. ^ Accident description for "The February 16, 1967 accident of a Lockheed L-188C Electra PK-GLB at Manado-Sam Ratulangi Airport (MDC)." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  34. ^ Accident description for "The May 3, 1968 accident of a Lockheed L-188A Electra N9707C at Dawson, TX." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 16, 2010.
  35. ^ Accident description for "The August 9, 1970 accident of a Lockheed L-188A Electra OB-R-939 at Cuzco Airport (CUZ)." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  36. ^ Accident description for "The December 24, 1971 accident of a Lockheed L-188A Electra OB-R-941 at Puerto Inca." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  37. ^ NTSB report # AAR-77-06.
  38. ^ Accident description for "The June 4, 1976 accident of a Lockheed L-188A Electra RP-C1061 at Guam-Agana NAS (NGM)." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  39. ^ Accident description for "The January 21, 1985 accident of a Lockheed L-188A Electra N5532 at Reno/Tahoe International Airport, NV (RNO)." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 16, 2010.
  40. ^ Accident description for "The December 18, 1995 accident of a Lockheed L-188C Electra 9Q-CRR at Cahungula." at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on July 17, 2010.
  41. ^ Francillon 1982, p. 403.
Bibliography
  • "2010 World Airliner Census". Flight International, August 24–30, 2010, pp. 29–49.
  • "Air Commerce: The New York Tragedy". Flight, February 13, 1959, p. 231.
  • Allen, Eric. Airliners in Australian Service, Volume 1. Weston Creek ACT: Aerospace Publications, 1995. ISBN 1-875671-14-5.
  • Brimson, Samuel. Flying the Royal Mail: The History of Australia's Airlines. Sydney, Australia: Dreamweaver Books, 1984. ISBN 0-949825-05-0.
  • Eastwood, Tony and John Roach. Turbo Prop Airliner Production List. West Drayton, Middlesex, UK: The Aviation Hobby Shop, 1990. ISBN 0-907178-32-4.
  • Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.

External links

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