Lockheed Model 9 Orion

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The Lockheed Model 9 Orion is a 1931 American single‑engine passenger airliner built by Lockheed. It was designed by Richard A. von Hake and was the last wooden airliner built by Lockheed. It borrowed many features from Lockheed’s earlier planes, especially the Altair, and had an enclosed cabin for six passengers. The Orion first flew in 1931 and received its official airworthiness certificate on May 6, 1931.

The Orion was fast for its time and even saw use in early air races. It was operated by Bowen Air Lines (Fort Worth) starting in 1931, then by Northwest Airways (1933–1935) and American Airlines (1934). Its speed and reliability helped it gain attention in the aviation world.

In 1934, U.S. rules limited single‑engine aircraft from scheduled passenger service under instrument flight rules, and planes with retractable gear and flaps needed two cockpits. These changes effectively ended the Orion’s role as a passenger airliner in the United States. The push toward all‑metal aircraft also reduced the use of the Orion’s wooden construction.

Some Orions were repurposed for mail or cargo, and one all‑metal Orion was built from a DL‑2A Altair.

In 1935, a Model 9 Orion was modified as a news camera plane for the Detroit News. The Orion Explorer, a version of the Orion 9E, was used by Wiley Post and Will Rogers for a round‑the‑world attempt, but the flight ended in a crash in Alaska in 1935.

Production totaled 35 Orions, costing about $25,000 each.

The last surviving Orion began as an Altair with a metal fuselage, was rebuilt as an Orion 9C in 1934 by von Hake, and was nicknamed Shellightning. It was used by Shell Aviation for cross‑country and exhibition work, later owned by Paul Mantz, and after several changes it is now on display at the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne in Swiss Air colors.