Lockheed C-56 Lodestar - TAM, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

The Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar was a passenger transport aircraft used during WW II. The prototype of the Lockheed Model 18 was constructed from one of a batch of Lockheed Model 14 Super Electras which had been returned to the manufacturer by Northwest Airlines after a series of crashes of Model 14s. The fuselage was lengthened by 5 ft, enabling the fitting of two more rows of seats and hopefully making the aircraft more economical to operate. However, most US airlines were by then committed to purchasing the Douglas DC-3, and Lockheed found the Lodestar difficult to sell at home. The Model 18 was a 17-passenger civilian airliner, some of which were impressed into US Army Air Corps service. Variants of the Model 18 were the C-56, C-57, C-59 and the C-60 which was produced specifically for military use (Navy designation R5O). These aircraft received different numerical designations based on engine type.

The Model 18's first flight was on 21 September 1939 and introduced into civilian service on 30 March 1940. A total of 625 were built.

This aircraft, a civilian Model 18-56, was delivered on 2 April 1941 in El Paso, TX, to New York publisher, Arthur Kudner at a cost of $102,000. Originally ordered by Pan Am as a 17-passenger airliner, it was instead plushed out as a 12-passenger luxury ship with a 7-foot davenport along one side, five reclining Model 14 seats, two writing tables and a Lackawanna Blue leather interior. It was powered by more powerful engines allowing a higher gross weight and bore registration number NC2333.

After owning the aircraft for just nine days, the USAAC pressured Kudner to sell it to them. Returned to the Lockheed Burbank plant, it was fitted out with military radios and was designated C-56 s/n 41-19729, the only C-56, destined for VIP transport duties. Her first assignment was to Bolling Field, Washington, DC. Claims have been made that Presidents Franklin D Roosevelt and John F Kennedy flew in this plane. Eventually she was removed from the VIP role and relegated to training Navy R5O pilots. Later she transferred to the National Guard Bureau and served with the armed forces until 1945.

After the war, 41-19729 was re-registered as NC2333 and sold to a broker for $39,000, who turned it around in three days into a sale for $69,000 to Continental Oil. By 1947 she was owned by Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Co. Penn Central Airlines took over ownership for a short period after 1963. In 1978, Joe Brenner of Flying Tiger Airlines found the derelict aircraft, with N61M civil registration, at Grand Prairie Municipal Airport, TX, in very bad shape. He bought it for $10,000, restored it, added it to the Flying Tigers aircraft inventory and returned the registration number to NC2333. In January 1985, she was donated to the Travis Air Museum.

Specifications:
Crew: 3
Pax: 17
Power Plant: 2× 1,200 hp Wright R-1820-71 Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engines
Dimensions:
- Span: 65' 8"
- Length: 49' 10"
- Height: 11' 1"
Weight:
- Empty: 12,500 lb
- Maximum: 21,000 lb
Performance:
- Speed:
- - Max: 253 mph @ sea level
- - Cruise: 200 mph
- Range: 1,600 miles
- Ceiling: 23,300 ft
- Climb: 1,515 fpm

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Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Lockheed C-56 Lodestar Tail Number: (S/N): s/n 41-19729 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located at Travis Air Museum, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA inside / outside: outside Other Information:: JIMMY DOOLITTLE AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Building 80 461 Burgan Bl Travis AFB, CA 94535 Mailing Address: 400 Brennan Circle Travis AFB, CA 94535 Office: (707) 424-5605 Gift Shop: (707) 424-4450 Email: TravisAirMuseum@travis.af.mil Museum Link: http://jimmydoolittlemuseum.org/index.html Museum Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-4pm Closed Sundays, Mondays, and Federal holidays Escort hours (no military ID) 9am-(around) 3pm Docent tours on a call-ahead basis. Air park hours: Everyday until dark Admission is free. Gift shop in the museum 10am-3pm Picnic area next door. If you will require a base visitor access pass, please read Access to Travis Air Force Base. Access restrictions: Located at Travis Air Museum, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA Access to Travis Air Force Base If you are traveling to the Travis Air Museum and you do not have someone with official access to Travis Air Force Base to sponsor you, you will need to have an escort sponsor you and bring you to the Museum. You will be required go to the Travis Air Force Base Visitors Center to present a valid drivers license, vehicle registration, current proof of insurance for each vehicle, and submit to a criminal background check. Be advised this is required for all vehicles regardless of type. If a bus or other commercial vehicle will be used, please collect vehicle and driver information to include drivers license, vehicle type, company owner, and contact information, for the vehicle company, and be prepared to provide it upon request. In addition, a valid photo ID is required for all visitors age 18 and older. Please contact the Travis Air Force Base Visitors Center for all questions concerning access to the base and museum. Once this process has been completed and you have a pass, you will be escorted by authorized personnel to the Travis Air Museum. This pass is only valid for travel to and from the Travis Air Museum, is only valid for a specified time, and is not authorized for any other travel on Travis Air Force Base. If you wish a tour of the base or more information please contact the Travis Air Force Base Public Affairs office.

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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