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Kit PD-07 Lockheed Orion is a laser cut
balsa wood kit for the serious flying competitor. Designed by Tom Nallen, the
kit qualifies for FAC Scale contests and dependent on the color scheme chosen,
it qualifies for Bendix Races.
The first Orion entered service with Bowen Air Lines in May 1931 and was
faster than any military aircraft of that time. Designed by Richard A. Von Hake,
it was the last wooden monoplane design produced by the Lockheed Aircraft
Corporation. It was the first airliner to have retractable landing gear. The
Orion used all the elements of the Lockheed Altair but included a forward top
cockpit and NACA cowling. It featured an enclosed cabin with seating for six
passengers.
Only one Orion survives today. Originally built as an experimental Altair
with a metal fuselage in 1931, it was converted in 1934 to an Orion 9C after
being damaged in a belly-landing accident. It was sold to Shell Aviation
Corporation, painted in their colors and named "Shellightning". It was
used by Shell's aviation manager, Jimmy Doolittle, on cross county and
exhibition flights. Today the plane is located in the
Swiss
Transport
Museum
and wears red with white trim.
This kit includes a full-size rolled CAD drawn plan, building and flying
instructions, premium laser cut balsa parts, hand-picked competition weight
balsa strip wood, vacuum-molded canopy, exhaust and air scoop, FAI rubber, Peck
nose bearing and propeller, laser cut bond paper for the passenger windows,
LaserCal™ markings (precut markings), and Easy Built Lite tissue in red and
white
PVHC Price: $37.69
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