Lockheed L-14 Super Electra

The pre-war design of the Lockheed L-14 Super Electra was a very modern aircraft. It had a range 2.5 times greater than its predecessor L-10A "Electra" and 1.5 times greater than the Douglas DC 2.

The flight of the prototype took place on July 29, 1937, and in September of the same year, the first plane entered regular service at the airlines. 6 planes and put them into service on domestic and foreign lines in June 1939. Four more purchased planes arrived in Poland in May 1939. Until the outbreak of the war, "Super Electra" flew in PLL "LOT" for an average of 650 hours and could still fly until the first overhaul after 00 hours. Two planes suffered serious accidents in 1938. One crashed due to abrasion of the elevator cable (the entire crew and all passengers were killed), the other caught fire and burned down during taxiing at the airport (a tire burst and its wing hit the ground, resulting in the wing fuel tank exploding).

In the first days of the war, "Super Electra" performed a number of foreign courier flights for the Polish government. Four planes were interned in Romania, one in Estonia, and three were evacuated to Angin. They served there in the English air transport, taking part in the evacuation of troops from France. One plane from France has not returned. and the other two were taken over by the British airlines BOAC, paying after the war, PLL 'LOT "for the lease. several years in various English companies, and was sold to Sweden in 1951. In the same year it was smashed and burned down.

In total, 112 aircraft were produced in the passenger version in 1937-40, and 1600 in the Hudson "military version" produced during the war.

Tactical and technical data:
Span 19.96 d
Length: 13.51 m
Curb weight 4850 kg
Gross weight is 7940 kg
2 x 850 hp engines
Fuel tanks capacity: 2438 I.
Top speed 365 km / h
Cruising speed: 300 km / h
Service ceiling 6,500 m
Maximum range: 3,100 km
Crew passengers 3 + 11 people