IATA LOEICAO L188

Lockheed L-188 Electra

Lockheed

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

First flight

1957

Category

Regional turboprop

Seating

66–99 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 blend of speed and efficiency that bridged the gap between piston-engine airliners and the emerging jet age. The Electra's early career was marred by two fatal crashes caused by a phenomenon known as 'propeller whirl mode,' which led to a structural modification program called LEAP (Lockheed Electra Achievement Program). Once rectified, the aircraft proved reliable and economical to operate. While largely retired from major passenger routes by the late 1960s as jets became dominant, the Electra found a long second life as a freighter. Its airframe was also adapted into the highly successful Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft used by numerous navies worldwide.

Notable operators

Major operators included American Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, United Airlines, Braniff International, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Notable facts

›The L-188 was the first large turboprop airliner designed and built in the United States.
›Early crashes due to 'propeller whirl mode' led to the LEAP modification program, which resolved the structural issue.
›The Electra served as the basis for the Lockheed P-3 Orion, one of the most widely used maritime patrol aircraft in history.
›A total of 170 L-188 aircraft were built before production ended in 1961.
›Many Electras transitioned to cargo operations and continued flying well into the 21st century with freight carriers.

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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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