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Lockheed L-18 Project

The "side" window slides aft in a track. In this pic you can see the starboard one open an inch or so.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Lockheed-18-56-Lodestar/1971359/L/

The "Adjustable front window" is interesting. As Milton said, it opened so the pilots could see out, protected by the 'wind deflector'. Working from the replacement instructions: View attachment 5356
and the notations on this pic
View attachment 5357
to open the window for visibility, the pilot would loosen the two clamps at the bottom, then release the tensioner on the ball joint at the top and pivot the window... inward at the bottom using the 'handle', pulling aft slightly and then turning, rotating on the ball joint to be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. There is no indication from the exterior photos that the window was able to move outward and the taper on the inside of the frame indicates it was designed to clear the inner frame. It makes no sense to pivot the window forward where a iced-over panel would then ruin any view through the front windshield. lemonadedrinker's Hudson pic shows a near-identical arrangement. It should look something like this when open.

View attachment 5355

As far as modeling and animating it, I'll bow to Milton's expertise, but think it would be a PITA for anything other than the novelty value.
 
Hi Milton,

Has the mailman delivered the CDs "already"? If not, I'll do a new attempt.

Cheers,
Maarten
 
Maarten said:
I can't remember having seen it in this thread before, but anyway... Just found this:
View attachment 5360
Cheers,
Maarten

P.S. Milton Sir, I'll e-mail the original scan to you.
Click to expand...

You can tell that either the drawing is of a Navy Lodestar or the drawing was done by an ex-Navy person. The only time you see the toilet referred to a 'head' :).
 
Okay, now that I have some reasonable pictures of the factory released cockpit, I have started on fleshing out the L-18 Commercial VC. The cabin is mostly done except for mapping. Making some headway here. :jump:
 
Great looking plane. I am always amazed at the productivity level Milton exudes. I think this will be even more popular than the Harpoon.

The he cockpit side windows are known as clear vision windows. Indeed if iced up one can open these and get some forward vision. They are designed such that the wind will be deflected around the side. It appears that this aircraft needed additional deflectors.

tom
 
Working on the basic cockpit infrastructure now, cleaning up interior mesh, building sidewall shapes, working on panels, sizes, shapes, positioning, all necessary but somewhat tedious work.
 
Milton kindly sent me the ongoing and flyable airplane to begin tuning it into a Loadstar. I even re installed FS9 on my "mainframe" but somehow couldn't get FSUPIC and AFSD to work for some reason so am currently developing it in FSX. The military added so much stuff to the Ventura (later project) it is amazing that one would fly!

cheers. Tom
 
fliger747 said:
Milton kindly sent me the ongoing and flyable airplane to begin tuning it into a Loadstar. I even re installed FS9 on my "mainframe" but somehow couldn't get FSUPIC and AFSD to work for some reason so am currently developing it in FSX. The military added so much stuff to the Ventura (later project) it is amazing that one would fly!

cheers. Tom
Click to expand...

Just finished first round of flight performance testing Tom. Climb-out and cruise testing at various altitudes and cruise settings show you are in the ballpark on speeds and SFC. Very nice and well-mannered in all phases of flight. Max speeds also very close. This is a great start to another hand-flying pilot's aircraft. I am really liking this. :jump:
 
Just something to ponder re: the flight model.

Toward the end of the operational civil life of the Lodestars there were several that saw use as jump aircraft (since it was designed for it). However, the skydiver crowd was a bit different from the troops in that they tended to cluster near the door pre-jump. I've found at least two references to the Lodestar's sensitivity to aft out-of-CG loading and a relatively nasty upset into a flat spin. Apparently it gained quite an unpleasant reputation with the jump crowd.

http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19830821-0

Of course, it was even more sensitive to the transport of certain South American agricultural products...
 
Sounds like the PIC had the aircraft on auto-pilot and the nose up trim occurred after the stall in trying to correct.

The Lodestar runs a fairly aft CoG anyhow, from 28.5 to 39% MAC is normal range.
 
Yep. Autopilot compensated for weight aft until they exited, then there was a sudden reaction to a significant change in CofG.

BTW, I missed it in an earlier run through "the Sedona Legend" but there's a factory work order which describes the forward light as a "Nose Warning Light"

For anyone contemplating paint projects this is an almost-perfect resource:
http://www.sedonalegendhelenfrye.com/1945.html
and from that page...
http://www.sedonalegendhelenfrye.com/files/LostLodestarWorkorderB.jpg
http://www.sedonalegendhelenfrye.com/files/LostLodestarWorkorder2B.jpg
http://www.sedonalegendhelenfrye.com/files/LostLodestarWorkorder3B.jpg
Doesn't leave much doubt about the details :untroubled:
 
WOW! Great find there Rob! :applause:

EDIT: I read other references to the "Warning Light" but do not know what it was used for. Can anyone explain?
 
Last edited:
Milton Shupe said:
Can anyone identify this airline?
Click to expand...

Swedair Lodestar SE-BZE. The version is Model 18-56. c/n 18-2593. Engines: Two 9 cyl 1200 hp Wright R-1820-71.

Then further in the thread is

National Lodestar N45324. The version is C-60A-1-LO. c/n 18-2260. Engines: Two 9 cyl 1200 hp Wright R-1820-87.

Under this link http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=485370 the one and only RAF Lodestar (in this thread) and the civil aircraft are:

Royal Air Force Lodestar HK973. Originally delivered to BOAC as G-AGBO, version Model 18-07. RAF designation: Lodestar 1A. c/n 18-2064. Engines: Two 9 cyl 874 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1690-S1E2-G Hornet (same nacelles as Wright R-1820 engines, so without cowl gills).

Union Airways of New Zealand Lodestar ZK-AJM 'Kotare'. The version is Model 18-56. Built a C-60A c/n 18-2555 for USAAF and RNZAF. Engines: Two 9 cyl 1200 hp Wright R-1820-87.

Pacific Alaska Airways Lodestar NC33664. The version is Model 18-10. c/n 18-2079. Ordered in 1941 for Pan American Airways but assigned to Pacific Alaska Airways. Engines: Two 14 cyl 1200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3G (so nacelles with cowl gills).

Union Airways of New Zealand Lodestar ZK-AOP 'Koropio'. The version is Model 18-56. Built a C-60A c/n 18-2508 for RAAF. Engines: Two 9 cyl 1200 hp Wright R-1820-87.

National Lodestar N15554. The version is Model 18-50. cn 18-2206. Engines: Two 9 cyl 1200 hp Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G202A (similar to R-1820-87).

Union Airways of New Zealand Lodestar ZK-AKX 'Kereru'. The version C-60A-5-LO c/n 18-2382. Built for USAAF, delivered to RNZAF. Engines: Two 9 cyl 1200 hp Wright R-1820-87.

Union Airways of New Zealand Lodestar ZK-ANB 'Karuwai'. The version C-60A-5-LO c/n 18-2383. Built for USAAF, delivered to RNZAF. Engines: Two 9 cyl 1200 hp Wright R-1820-87.

Union Airways of New Zealand Lodestar ZK-AHX 'Karoro'. The version C-60A-5-LO c/n 18-2381. Built for USAAF, delivered to RNZAF. Engines: Two 9 cyl 1200 hp Wright R-1820-87.

Hope this helps (a bit) and isn't too confusing.

Cheers,
Maarten
 
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