IATA LOEICAO L188

Lockheed L-188 Electra

Lockheed

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America's pioneering turboprop airliner from the late 1950s.

First flight

1957

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

66–98 passengers

Range

4,458 km

Engines

Four Allison 501-D13 turboprop engines

Status

Retired

The Lockheed L-188 Electra is a four-engine turboprop airliner developed by Lockheed in the late 1950s, representing the United States' first domestically produced turboprop transport. It entered commercial service in 1959 and offered a significant step forward in speed and passenger comfort compared to piston-engine airliners of the era. The Electra's early service was marred by two fatal accidents caused by a phenomenon called 'whirl mode,' a propeller and engine oscillation problem that, if triggered, could destroy a wing. Lockheed implemented a modification program called the 'Lockheed Electra Achievement Program' (LEAP) to address the structural issue, and the aircraft went on to serve reliably. Although overshadowed by the rapid adoption of pure jet airliners, the Electra found a long second career as a freighter and maritime patrol platform. Its military derivative, the P-3 Orion, proved highly successful and remained in widespread use well into the 21st century.

Notable operators

Major operators included Eastern Air Lines, American Airlines, Western Airlines, Braniff International, and KLM.

Notable facts

›First flight occurred on December 6, 1957.
›A total of 170 aircraft were built between 1957 and 1961.
›Early accidents led to discovery of the 'whirl mode' structural resonance problem, prompting fleet-wide modifications.
›The P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft is a direct military derivative of the L-188.
›Several L-188s continued cargo operations into the 2000s, long after passenger retirement.

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This profile is provided for general information only. Specifications may be inaccurate or vary by variant/operator — verify with the manufacturer before relying on them.

Encyclopaedia

The Lockheed L-188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flown in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner built in the United States. With its fairly high power-to-weight ratio, huge propellers and very short wings resulting in the majority of the wingspan being enveloped in propwash, large Fowler flaps which significantly increased effective wing area when extended, and four-engined design, the airplane had airfield performance capabilities unmatched by many jet transport aircraft even today—particularly on short runways and high altitude airfields. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes that led to expensive modifications to fix a design defect, no more were ordered. Jet airliners soon supplanted turboprops for many purposes, and many Electras were modified as freighters. Some Electras are still being used in various roles into the 21st century. The airframe was also used as the basis for the Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

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