LOCKHEED L-188 ELECTRA

Aircraft Summary

The Lockheed L-188 Electra is a medium haul cargo aircraft capable of transporting 15,000 kg via an internal pallet system. Cargo pallets require either a high-loader or forklift to access its main deck.

Aircraft History and Features

Lockheed’s second airliner named Electra, the Model 188 was a medium-sized, 4-turboprop airliner first flown on December 6, 1957.  Its career was cut short by the advent of more efficient jet aircraft and by two high-profile accidents in 1959 and 1960, but the design lived on as an effective patrol and anti-submarine aircraft that is still in use around the world.

Used initially by major airlines including American, Eastern and Braniff, the 170 civil Electra airliners received mixed reviews from customers.  This hardened into active avoidance when two Electras crashed because of inadequate wing and engine-mount strength.  Lockheed remedied the problem by redesigning the wing and rebuilding existing examples at its own expense, but the flying public had lost trues in the plane and no further airliner orders were placed after 1960.  Short-haul airlines and cargo lines used them well into the 1980s.

During the mid-1970s, around 40 aircraft were retired and modified from passenger service into air cargo use. The  modifications were carried out by a subsidiary of Lockheed from with one or two large doors in the left side of the fuselage and a reinforced cabin floor.

Aircraft of similar role, capacity and era were: Antonov An-10, Antonov An-12, Bristol Britannia, Canadair CL-44, lyushin Il-18, Vickers Vanguard, Vickers Viscount