Aircraft [Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar ZK-BVE]
Maker and role
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Manufacturer
Production date
1939
1941
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
1982.758
Production period
Description
Commercial transport aircraft. Two 1200 HP Wright R Cyclone - 1820-71-G205AG-Cylinder Radial Air-Cooled engines. The aircraft is all metal. Wings - mid-wing cantilever monoplane of single spar construction. Wing in 3 sections. Fuel tanks integral with centre section. Fowler flaps. Ailerons are inter-connected to droop with flaps. Fuselage - elliptical cross-section monocoque of all metal construction. Tail unit - Cantilever monoplane type with twin fins and rudders. Undercarriage - hydraulically operated, retractable type. Low pressure tyres and hydraulic disc brakes. Pneumatic hydraulic shock absorbers. Accommodation - Pilots cabin seats two. Main cabin area accommodates 14 passengers and one flight attendant.
Silver fuselage, yellow wing tips. Yellow nose, yellow and black engines.
Silver fuselage, yellow wing tips. Yellow nose, yellow and black engines.
Brief History
Lodestar ZK-BVE has one of the most interesting and lengthy careers of any aircraft at MOTAT. Its career began in 1940 and it has flown all over the world, including North America, Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific. The first part of its career was as a passenger airliner for United Airlines, BOAC and a Spanish airline called CANA. CANA’s Lodestars were taken over by the Spanish Air Force, who later sold this example to a company in America. It was bought from them by Fieldair in 1958 and flown to New Zealand where it was operated as a topdressing aircraft until 1969. It was retired after sustaining damage caused by a wheels-up landing, and was donated to MOTAT in 1970 by Airland.
Although Lodestars were used in New Zealand for civil aviation, this example represents their other use as heavy agricultural aircraft. They were used in this way by aviation companies Airland, Fieldair, and James Aviation.
Most early topdressing aircraft in New Zealand were small aircraft operating off farm air strips. However in the 1950s and 60s some companies began to use large multi-engined aircraft such as Lodestars and DC-3s. These topdressers were loaded at aerodromes which cut the cost of transporting fertiliser by road. MOTAT’s Lodestar was operated in this way out of Gisborne by Fieldair. The company was later taken over by conglomerate Airland.
Date: 1939
Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, California
Type: Twin-engined all-metal commercial transport aircraft
Wing span: 19.96 m
Length: 15.19 m
Engine: Two 750 HP Pratt & Whitney Hornet engines
Accommodation: Three crew and fourteen passengers
Although Lodestars were used in New Zealand for civil aviation, this example represents their other use as heavy agricultural aircraft. They were used in this way by aviation companies Airland, Fieldair, and James Aviation.
Most early topdressing aircraft in New Zealand were small aircraft operating off farm air strips. However in the 1950s and 60s some companies began to use large multi-engined aircraft such as Lodestars and DC-3s. These topdressers were loaded at aerodromes which cut the cost of transporting fertiliser by road. MOTAT’s Lodestar was operated in this way out of Gisborne by Fieldair. The company was later taken over by conglomerate Airland.
Date: 1939
Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, California
Type: Twin-engined all-metal commercial transport aircraft
Wing span: 19.96 m
Length: 15.19 m
Engine: Two 750 HP Pratt & Whitney Hornet engines
Accommodation: Three crew and fourteen passengers
Marks
NC25630/AX756/G-AGCN/N9933F
Media/Materials
Credit Line
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. 1939
1941. Aircraft [Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar ZK-BVE], 1982.758. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
1941. Aircraft [Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar ZK-BVE], 1982.758. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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