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The following specifications relate to a standard Altair 8E. They appear in Ted Wixted's booklet "The Search for the Lady Southern Cross" and evidently originate from Lockheed. NOTE: A study of the history of the Lady Southern Cross will reveal that even the regulators of the day found it difficult to obtain appropriate performance data for this much-modified aeroplane, so it is perhaps not surprising that we must make do with data for a different version of the Altair! The inapplicability of some of the data to the Lady Southern Cross will be obvious in some cases and not so obvious in others, therefore it is most important that the following information is used with caution, for there has been no attempt at modifying these specifications to make them relevant to the Lady Southern Cross except where noted. Although it is not normal policy to include specifications in The Lockheed File, an exception has been made in the case of the Altair as it is "Special", both in name and in character. |
|
SPECIFICATION
- ALTAIR 8E
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IMPERIAL
|
METRIC
|
|
Engine
|
Pratt
& Whitney Wasp S1D1 (See Note: 1)
|
|
|
Engine HP
at Rated RPM
|
550 hp at
2200 rpm
|
|
|
Engine Rated
Altitude
|
5000 ft
|
1525 m
|
|
Engine Blower
Ratio
|
10:1
|
|
| Engine Compression Ratio | 6:1 | |
|
Engine Fuel
Octane Rating Required
|
80
|
|
|
Length
|
28
ft 11 in (See Note: 2)
|
8.82
m
|
|
Span (Wing)
|
42 ft 9 1/4
in
|
13.03 m
|
|
Height (Tail
on ground)
|
9 ft 3 in
|
2.82 m
|
|
Wing Root
Chord
|
8 ft 6 in
|
2.59 m
|
|
Wing Tip
Chord
|
5 ft 2 15/16
in
|
1.61 m
|
|
Wing Area
(incl ailerons and fuselage)
|
294.1 sq
ft
|
27.3 sq m
|
|
Wing Incidence
|
0°
|
|
|
Wing Dihedral
(median line)
|
4° 30'
|
|
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Wing Airfoil
Section at Root
|
Clark Y (18%)
|
|
|
Wing Airfoil
Section at Tip
|
Clark Y (9.47%)
|
|
|
Wing Taper
in Plan
|
1.62 to 1
|
|
|
Wing Aspect
Ratio
|
6.22
|
|
|
Fin Area
|
11.0 sq ft
|
1.02 sq m
|
|
Rudder Area
|
12.8 sq ft
|
1.18 sq m
|
|
Stabilizer
Area (both sides)
|
38.0 sq ft
|
3.53 sq m
|
|
Elevator
Area (both sides)
|
21.6 sq ft
|
2.01 sq m
|
|
Aileron Area
(both sides)
|
22.4 sq ft
|
2.08 sq m
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|
Landing Gear
Tread
|
11 ft 7 in
|
3.53 m
|
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Span Tail
Surfaces
|
16 ft 0 in
|
4.88 m
|
|
Fuselage
Material
|
Wood (Spruce)
|
|
|
Wing Material
|
Wood (Spruce)
|
|
|
Empennage
Material
|
Wood (Spruce)
|
|
|
Shock Absorbing
Unit (landing gear)
|
Aerol Strut
|
|
|
Total Volume
Cargo Compartment
|
100.0 cu
ft
|
2.83 cu m
|
| Max Width Inside Cargo Compartment |
44
in
|
1.12
m
|
| Max Height Inside Cargo Compartment |
45
in
|
1.14
m
|
| Max Length Inside Cargo Compartment |
11
ft 0 in
|
3.36
m
|
| Gross Weight |
5800
lb
|
2630
kg
|
| Empty Weight (with standard equipment) |
3550
lb
|
1610
kg
|
| Useful Load |
2250
lb
|
1020
kg
|
| Pilot (one) |
170
lb
|
77
kg
|
| Cargo |
1306
lb
|
593
kg
|
| Maximum Oil Capacity (12 gal / 45 litres) |
90
lb
|
41
kg
|
| Maximum Fuel Capacity (175 gal / 662 litres) |
1050
lb
|
476
kg
|
| Normal Fuel Capacity (114 gal / 432 litres) |
684
lb
|
309
kg
|
| Wing Loading |
19.72
lb/sq ft
|
9.64
kg/sq m
|
| Power Loading |
10.54
lb/hp
|
4.78
kg/hp
|
| Takeoff Run at Sea Level (at max gross weight) |
900
ft
|
274
m
|
| Takeoff Time at Sea Level (at max gross weight) |
13
sec
|
|
| Max Rate of Climb at Sea Level (wheels up) |
1400
ft/min
|
427
m/min
|
| Landing Speed at Sea Level (flaps down) |
63
mph
|
101
km/h
|
| Fuel Consumption at 75% Power |
33
gal/hr
|
125
litres/hr
|
| Cruising Range at 75% Power (175 gal / 662 litres) |
1050
mi
|
1690
km
|
| Fuel Consumption at 65% Power |
28.5 gal/hr
|
108 litres/hr
|
|
Cruising
Range at 65% Power (175 gal / 662 litres)
|
1150 mi
|
1850 km
|
|
Service Ceiling
|
22000 ft
|
6720 m
|
|
Absolute
Ceiling
|
24500 ft
|
7480 m
|
|
Maximum Speed
at Sea Level (90% power)
|
200 mph
|
322 km/h
|
|
Max Speed
at 5000 ft (1525 m) at 100% Power
|
220 mph
|
354 km/h
|
|
Cruising
Speed at Sea Level at 75% Power
|
187 mph
|
302 km/h
|
|
Cruising
Speed at 11000 ft (3355 m) at 75% Power
|
205 mph
|
330 km/h
|
|
Cruising
Speed at Sea Level at 65% Power
|
176 mph
|
284 km/h
|
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Cruising
Speed at 5000 ft (1525 m) at 65% Power
|
185 mph
|
298 km/h
|
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Cruising
Speed at 13000 ft (3960 m) at 65% Power
|
197 mph
|
318 km/h
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NOTES
| When Lockheed began assembling the Altair (Ship # 152) which was to become the Lady Southern Cross, a works order dated 11 May 1934 specified that the standard Pratt & Whitney Wasp S1D1 be installed. However, another works order dated 25 May 1934 specified a Pratt & Whitney Wasp SE rated at 500hp at 11,000 feet. An Application for Registration lodged in Australia on 26 July 1934 stated that the engine installed was a Pratt & Whitney Wasp SE serial number 5522 rated at 550hp at 11,000 feet. | |
| An Application for Certificate of Airworthiness lodged in Australia on 26 July 1934 quotes a maximum length of 27 feet 10 inches. |
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Issue
|
Date
|
Remarks |
|
2
|
02APR09
|
Added a table of known variations relevant to the Lady Southern Cross. |
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|
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