On this day in aviation history, 68 years ago (December 6, 1957), the first flight of the Lockheed L-188 Electra took place. The Electra was the first large American turboprop airliner to be built. Designed and built by Lockheed, the L-188 featured a high power-to-weight ratio with four engines and a relatively short wing. The L-188 utilized large Fowler-type flaps, which increased the wing area significantly when deployed. Compared to many jet transport aircraft of today, the Electra had performance that is tough to match, especially on short runways and high-elevation airports.
The L-188 Electra’s first flight was conducted at Lockheed Air Terminal in California. On 12/6/57, at 10:28 a.m., Lockheed Chief Engineering Test Pilot Herman Salmon and co-pilot Roy Edwin Wimmer began to start the engines of Model L-188A Electra, c/n 1001 (registered N1881). At 10:44 a.m., the crew put the balls to the wall and accelerated down the runway. In just 1,800 feet of runway, the L-188A became airborne. During the test flight that followed, Electra 1001 would attain a maximum airspeed of 400 mph. After nearly an hour and a half of flying, Electra 1001 and crew returned to land at LAT. This flight was conducted 56 days ahead of schedule.
The L-188 would enter commercial service on January 12, 1959, with Eastern Air Lines. The Electra would go on to serve with dozens of airlines, including American, Northwest, Cathay Pacific, Braniff International, and Qantas. Additionally, the L-188 would be further developed by Lockheed into a military variant known as the P-3 Orion. The P-3 is an anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft, which still serves with the US Navy, and others, today. Buffalo Airways, of television fame, continues to operate two L-188s in a supply-transport role.
The Lockheed L-188A model was powered by four Allison 501-D13 turboprop engines, each with 3,750 shaft-horsepower. The Electra would cruise at 373 mph, and could attain a maximum airspeed of 448. A crew of three flew the L-188, which had a capacity for either 98 passengers or 33,800 pounds. A range of 1,900 nautical miles and a service ceiling of 28,400 feet made the Electra a solid performing airliner. A total of 170 Electras were built by Lockheed between 1957 and 1961.
