Lockheed Sirius
Encyclopedia
The Lockheed Model 8 Sirius was single engine, propeller
-driven monoplane
designed and built by Jack Northrop
and Gerard Vultee while they were engineers at Lockheed
in 1929, at the request of Charles Lindbergh
. Two versions of the same basic design were built for the United States Air Force
, one made largely of wood with a fixed landing gear, and one with a metal skin and retractable landing gear, designated Y1C-25 and Y1C-23, respectively. Its basic role was intended to be utility transport.
The first and best known Sirius was bought by Lindbergh, and in 1931 was retrofitted to be a sea plane.
He and his wife, Anne, would fly it to the Far East
, and she would write a book about their experiences there entitled North to the Orient. The aircraft was damaged in Hankou
, China
when it accidentally capsized while being lowered off the HMS Hermes
, and had to be sent back to Lockheed to be repaired.
In 1933, the Lindberghs set out again with the plane, now upgraded with a more powerful engine, a new directional gyro, and an artificial horizon.
This time their route would take them across the northern Atlantic, with no particular destination, but primarily to scout for potential new airline routes for Pan Am.
While at a refueling stop in Angmagssalik
, Greenland
, the Inuit
of the area gave the plane a nickname, "Tingmissartoq
" or "one who flies like a bird". They continued on their flight and travelled to many stops in Europe
, Russia
, then south to Africa
, back across the southern Atlantic to Brazil
and appeared back over the skies of New York City
at the end of 1933, after 30,000 miles and 21 countries, where droves of people turned out to greet them as they landed.
The aircraft was in the American Museum of Natural History
in New York City until 1955, when ownership of it was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force
in Dayton, Ohio
.
It was given to the Smithsonian Institution
in 1959, and it went on display at the National Air and Space Museum
when the original facility opened on the National Mall in 1976.
Sirius 8: First production version, similar to the Lockheed 8 Sirius; one built.
Sirius 8A: Equipped with an enlarged tail surface; eight built.
Sirius 8C: Four-seat version, fitted with an enclosed cabin seating two passengers, located between the engine and the pilot's cockpit; one built.
DL-2: One aircraft with a metal fuselage and wooden wings. One built by the Detroit Aircraft Corporation
.
Performance:
Engine:
Propeller (aircraft)
Aircraft propellers or airscrews convert rotary motion from piston engines or turboprops to provide propulsive force. They may be fixed or variable pitch. Early aircraft propellers were carved by hand from solid or laminated wood with later propellers being constructed from metal...
-driven monoplane
Monoplane
A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
designed and built by Jack Northrop
John Knudsen Northrop
John Knudsen "Jack" Northrop was an American aircraft industrialist and designer, who founded the Northrop Corporation in 1939.-Entering aviation:...
and Gerard Vultee while they were engineers at Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
in 1929, at the request of Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
. Two versions of the same basic design were built for the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, one made largely of wood with a fixed landing gear, and one with a metal skin and retractable landing gear, designated Y1C-25 and Y1C-23, respectively. Its basic role was intended to be utility transport.
History
Fifteen Sirius' were constructed in 1929 and 1930.The first and best known Sirius was bought by Lindbergh, and in 1931 was retrofitted to be a sea plane.
He and his wife, Anne, would fly it to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, and she would write a book about their experiences there entitled North to the Orient. The aircraft was damaged in Hankou
Hankou
Hankou was one of the three cities whose merging formed modern-day Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei province, China. It stands north of the Han and Yangtze Rivers where the Han falls into the Yangtze...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
when it accidentally capsized while being lowered off the HMS Hermes
HMS Hermes (95)
HMS Hermes was an aircraft carrier built for the Royal Navy. The ship was begun during World War I and finished after the war ended. She was the world's first ship to be designed and built as an aircraft carrier, although the Imperial Japanese Navy's was the first to be commissioned...
, and had to be sent back to Lockheed to be repaired.
In 1933, the Lindberghs set out again with the plane, now upgraded with a more powerful engine, a new directional gyro, and an artificial horizon.
This time their route would take them across the northern Atlantic, with no particular destination, but primarily to scout for potential new airline routes for Pan Am.
While at a refueling stop in Angmagssalik
Tasiilaq
Tasiilaq is a town in the Sermersooq municipality in southeastern Greenland. With 1,930 inhabitants as of 2010, it is the most populous community on the eastern coast, and the seventh-largest town in Greenland...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
of the area gave the plane a nickname, "Tingmissartoq
Tingmissartoq
Tingmissartoq was the name given to a Lockheed Model 8 Sirius flown by Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh in the 1930s. Tingmissartoq means "one who flies like a big bird"; the plane was thus christened by an Eskimo boy in Godthaab, Greenland, who painted the word on its side.-First flight:Lockheed...
" or "one who flies like a bird". They continued on their flight and travelled to many stops in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, then south to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, back across the southern Atlantic to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and appeared back over the skies of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the end of 1933, after 30,000 miles and 21 countries, where droves of people turned out to greet them as they landed.
The aircraft was in the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
in New York City until 1955, when ownership of it was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force
National Museum of the United States Air Force
The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base northeast of Dayton, Ohio. The NMUSAF is the world's largest and oldest military aviation museum with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display...
in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
.
It was given to the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in 1959, and it went on display at the National Air and Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It was established in 1976. Located in Washington, D.C., United States, it is a center for research into the history and science of aviation and...
when the original facility opened on the National Mall in 1976.
Variants
Lockheed 8 Sirius: Single-engined two-seat long-range high-performance aircraft; one built for Charles Lindbergh.Sirius 8: First production version, similar to the Lockheed 8 Sirius; one built.
Sirius 8A: Equipped with an enlarged tail surface; eight built.
Sirius 8C: Four-seat version, fitted with an enclosed cabin seating two passengers, located between the engine and the pilot's cockpit; one built.
DL-2: One aircraft with a metal fuselage and wooden wings. One built by the Detroit Aircraft Corporation
Detroit Aircraft Corporation
The Detroit Aircraft Corporation was incorporated in Detroit, Michigan on July 10, 1922, as the Aircraft Development Corporation. The name was changed in 1929...
.
Specifications
Dimensions:- Wing span: 42 ft 9.25 in
- Length: 27 ft 1 in
- Wing Span: 42 ft 9.25 in
- Weights: 2,978 lb empty, 4,600 lb. loaded.
Performance:
- Max Speed: 185 mph
- Cruise Speed: 150 mph
- Range: 975 miles
- Service Ceiling: 20,000 ft
Engine:
- One 450 hp Pratt & WhitneyPratt & WhitneyPratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
R-1340 WaspPratt & Whitney R-1340|-See also:* Pratt & Whitney Wasp series* Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior* Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior* Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp-Bibliography:...
. - 680 HP Wright R-1820Wright R-1820|-See also:-References:* Bridgman, L, Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7* Eden, Paul & Soph Moeng, The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152...
- Later upgraded to a 710 hp WrightCurtiss-WrightThe Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
SR-1820 CycloneWright R-1820|-See also:-References:* Bridgman, L, Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7* Eden, Paul & Soph Moeng, The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152...
.