Lockheed C-56 'Lodestar'

Description

Manufacturer:	Lockheed
Base model:	C-56
Designation:	C-56
Nickname:	Lodestar
Designation System:	U.S. Air Force
Designation Period:	1925-1962
Basic role:	Transport

Specifications

Length:	49' 10"	15.1 m
Height:	11' 1"	3.3 m
Wingspan:	65' 6"	19.9 m
Wingarea:	550.0 sq ft	51.0 sq m
Empty Weight:	11,650 lb	5,283 kg
Gross Weight:	17,500 lb	7,936 kg

Propulsion

No. of Engines:	2
Powerplant:	Wright R-1820-71
Horsepower (each):	1200

Performance

Range:	1,600 miles	2,576 km
Max Speed:	253 mph	407 km/h	220 kt
Ceiling:	23,300 ft	7,101 m

Known serial numbers

41-19729

Examples of this type may be found at

Museum	City	State
Castle Air Museum	Atwater	California
Travis Air Force Museum	Travis AFB	California

C-56 on display

Castle Air Museum

Travis Air Force Museum

Recent comments by our visitors

John D. Voss  , CA	The USAAF procured a grand total of 36 of the C-56 Lodestar aircraft as follows: C-56 (1), C-56A (1), C-56B (13),C-56C (12), C-56D (7), C-56E (2). The difference between all of these variations was the engine type. (a variety of P&W and Wright). 04/04/2006 @ 09:17 [ref: 13031]
Chris Bampton  , OTH	My father Dick Bampton(RAAF) flew a Lodestar C56 #VH CAF with Capt Edgerton out of Archerfield (Brisbane ,Australia) on a Brisbane - Sydney- Melbourne- Sydney- Brisbane flight on 5 Nov 1943. This aircraft was attached to ANA (Aust National Airways)at the time. He also flew a number of Lodestar C60 around that time- Reg VH-CEC, VH-CEH. 06/05/2004 @ 08:02 [ref: 7552]
John Ford  Vacaville, CA	Recently declassified historical documents reveal several C-56 serial numbers of aircraft flown by the 21st TCS of Brisbane, Australia in 1942: 907, 908, 909, 916, 917, 919, 921, 923, and VH-CAK. The lettered tail numbers indicate a conscripted civilian airline aircraft. 04/27/2002 @ 07:52 [ref: 4810]

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