The Lockheed Model 8 Sirius was a single-engined, 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 as a utility transport.[1]
A total of 15 Sirius aircraft were constructed in 1929 and 1930.[2]
The first and best known Sirius was bought by Lindbergh, and in 1931, as NR-211, it was retrofitted to be a float plane.[3] Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh flew it to the Far East, where she wrote a book about their experiences there entitled North to the Orient.[3] The aircraft was damaged in Hankou, China, when it accidentally capsized while being lowered off the aircraft carrierHMS Hermes, and had to be sent back to Lockheed to be repaired.[4]
In 1931, György Endresz and Sándor Magyar made a successful US–Hungary transatlantic flight with a Lockheed Sirius 8A aircraft named "Justice for Hungary".[5]
In 1933, the Lindberghs set out again with their Sirius, 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.[6] While at a refueling stop in Angmagssalik, Greenland, the Inuit of the area gave the Sirius a nickname, "Tingmissartoq" or "one who flies like a bird". They continued on their flight and made many stops in Europe, Russia, then south to Africa, back across the southern Atlantic to Brazil and back over New York City at the end of 1933, after 30,000 miles and 21 countries; droves of people turned out to greet them as they landed.[3]
^"Airplanes and Rockets": Lockheed Sirius History, April 1973." American Aircraft Modeler. Retrieved: November 26, 2015.
^ Donovan, M. Regis. "A Short History of the Wooden Wonders." 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machinerustysparks.com. Retrieved: November 26, 2015.
^ abcd"Lockheed Sirius "Tingmissartoq", Charles A. Lindbergh." Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: November 26, 2015.
^"Lucky Lindy and His Lockheed Sirius." 2015-12-07 at the Wayback MachineLockheed Martin. Retrieved: November 26, 2015.
^Dawson, Brian. ""Justice for Hungary" - a historic flight, 1931." American Hungarian Federation. Retrieved: November 26, 2015.
^"Lockheed's Early Years, 1912-1940." centennialofflight.net, 2013. Retrieved: November 26, 2015.
^"Lindbergh Picks A Plane." Popular Mechanics, November 1930. Retrieved: November 26, 2015.
^"Lockheed Sirius 8A NC117W." Delta Mike Airfield, 2008. Retrieved: November 26, 2015.
^Nash, David. "Aircraft that took part in the Spanish Civil War." 2015-02-05 at the Wayback MachineAircraft of the Spanish Civil War. Retrieved: January 15, 2015.
Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN0-370-30329-6;
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lockheed Model 8 Sirius.
Aircraft of the Smithsonian: Lockheed 8 Sirius 2011-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
Lockheed Sirius in Geneva (1933)
January 01, 1970
lockheed, model, sirius, single, engined, propeller, driven, monoplane, designed, built, jack, northrop, gerard, vultee, while, they, were, engineers, lockheed, 1929, request, charles, lindbergh, versions, same, basic, design, were, built, united, states, forc. The Lockheed Model 8 Sirius was a single engined 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 as a utility transport 1 Model 8 Sirius Sirius at National Air and Space Museum Role Utility transport Manufacturer Lockheed Aircraft Limited Designer Jack NorthropGerard Vultee First flight 1929 Introduction 1929 Number built 15 Contents 1 History 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications Lindbergh s Sirius 8 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editA total of 15 Sirius aircraft were constructed in 1929 and 1930 2 The first and best known Sirius was bought by Lindbergh and in 1931 as NR 211 it was retrofitted to be a float plane 3 Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh flew it to the Far East where she wrote a book about their experiences there entitled North to the Orient 3 The aircraft was damaged in Hankou China when it accidentally capsized while being lowered off the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and had to be sent back to Lockheed to be repaired 4 In 1931 Gyorgy Endresz and Sandor Magyar made a successful US Hungary transatlantic flight with a Lockheed Sirius 8A aircraft named Justice for Hungary 5 In 1933 the Lindberghs set out again with their Sirius 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 6 While at a refueling stop in Angmagssalik Greenland the Inuit of the area gave the Sirius a nickname Tingmissartoq or one who flies like a bird They continued on their flight and made many stops in Europe Russia then south to Africa back across the southern Atlantic to Brazil and back over New York City at the end of 1933 after 30 000 miles and 21 countries droves of people turned out to greet them as they landed 3 The aircraft was in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City until 1955 when ownership 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 3 Variants edit nbsp Paul Mantz s Lockheed Sirius photo ship Lockheed 8 Sirius Single engine two seat long range high performance aircraft one built for Charles Lindbergh 7 Sirius 8 First production version similar to the Lockheed 8 Sirius one built Sirius 8A Equipped with an enlarged tail surface eight built 8 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 Metal fuselage and wooden wings One built by the Detroit Aircraft Corporation Operators edit nbsp Spain Spanish Republican Air Force 9 Specifications Lindbergh s Sirius 8 edit nbsp Lockheed 8 Sirius 3 view drawing from Aero Digest March 1930 Data from Lockheed Aircraft since 1913 10 General characteristicsCrew two Length 27 ft 1 in 8 26 m Wingspan 42 ft 9 1 4 in 13 037 m Height 9 ft 3 in 2 82 m Wing area 294 1 sq ft 27 32 m2 Empty weight 4 289 lb 1 945 kg Gross weight 7 099 lb 3 220 kg Fuel capacity 416 US gal 1 570 L 346 imp gal 11 Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney Wasp radial engine 450 hp 340 kW Performance Maximum speed 185 mph 298 km h 161 kn Cruise speed 150 mph 240 km h 130 kn Range 975 mi 1 569 km 847 nmi Service ceiling 26 100 ft 8 000 m Rate of climb 1 280 ft min 6 5 m s See also editList of Lockheed aircraftReferences editNotes edit Airplanes and Rockets Lockheed Sirius History April 1973 American Aircraft Modeler Retrieved November 26 2015 Donovan M Regis A Short History of the Wooden Wonders Archived 2015 12 08 at the Wayback Machine rustysparks com Retrieved November 26 2015 a b c d Lockheed Sirius Tingmissartoq Charles A Lindbergh Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Retrieved November 26 2015 Lucky Lindy and His Lockheed Sirius Archived 2015 12 07 at the Wayback Machine Lockheed Martin Retrieved November 26 2015 Dawson Brian Justice for Hungary a historic flight 1931 American Hungarian Federation Retrieved November 26 2015 Lockheed s Early Years 1912 1940 centennialofflight net 2013 Retrieved November 26 2015 Lindbergh Picks A Plane Popular Mechanics November 1930 Retrieved November 26 2015 Lockheed Sirius 8A NC117W Delta Mike Airfield 2008 Retrieved November 26 2015 Nash David Aircraft that took part in the Spanish Civil War Archived 2015 02 05 at the Wayback Machine Aircraft of the Spanish Civil War Retrieved January 15 2015 Francillon 1982 p 100 Francillon 1982 p 93 Bibliography edit Francillon Rene J Lockheed Aircraft since 1913 London Putnam 1982 ISBN 0 370 30329 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lockheed Model 8 Sirius Aircraft of the Smithsonian Lockheed 8 Sirius Archived 2011 08 20 at the Wayback Machine Lockheed Sirius in Geneva 1933 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lockheed Model 8 Sirius amp oldid 1186930713, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
