View source for Lockheed Explorer

{{Short description|Series of pioneering aircraft}}
{{More citations needed|article|date=January 2010}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
|name           = Explorer<!-- avoid stating manufacturer (it's stated 3 lines below) unless name used by other aircraft manufacturers -->
|image          = Lockheed Explorer.jpg
|caption        = <!--Image caption; if it isn't descriptive, please skip-->
|type           = Exploration
|national_origin = [[United States of America]]<!-- Use the main nation (ie. UK), not constituent country (England); don't use "EU". List collaborative programs of only 2 or 3 nations; for more than 3, use "Multi-national:. -->
|manufacturer   =[[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]]
|designer       = <!--Only appropriate for single designers, not project leaders-->
|first_flight   = <!--If this hasn't happened, skip this field!-->
|introduction     = <!--Date the aircraft entered or will enter military or revenue service-->
|retired        = <!--Date the aircraft left service. If vague or more than a few dates, skip this -->
|status         = <!--In most cases, redundant; use sparingly-->
|primary_user   = <!-- List only one user; for military aircraft, this is a nation or a service arm. Please DON'T add those tiny flags, as they limit horizontal space. -->
|more_users     = <!-- Limited to THREE (3) 'more users' here (4 total users).  Separate users with <br/>. -->
|produced       = <!--Years in production (eg. 1970-1999) if still in active use but no longer built -->
|number_built   = 4
|program cost   = <!--Total program cost-->
|unit cost      = <!--Incremental or flyaway cost for military or retail price for commercial aircraft-->
|developed_from =[[Lockheed Vega]]
|variants = <!--Variants OF this aircraft-->
}}

The '''Lockheed Explorer''' was the least successful wooden airplane design produced by the [[Lockheed Aircraft Company]]. The [[Lockheed Vega|Vega]] fuselage was combined with a cantilevered low wing. Seating for a single pilot was provided in an open cockpit behind the wings.

==Design and development==

Work on the Explorer was commenced in 1927 for [[George Hubert Wilkins|Sir Hubert Wilkins]] as an aircraft for use in exploration of [[Antarctica]]. However, this configuration was judged impractical, and Wilkins opted to use a Vega equipped with floats instead. The incomplete aircraft was brought out of storage to make an attempt at a nonstop flight between Japan and the United States, funded by lumber dealer John Buffelen and members of the [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] Chamber of Commerce. Named ''City of Tacoma'', the first Pacific crossing attempt ended in disaster when overfilled fuel tanks spilled over on takeoff. Two subsequent attempts in newer Explorers also met with failure.

The wing of a wrecked Explorer was fitted to the fuselage of an [[Lockheed Model 9 Orion|Orion]] by aviator [[Wiley Post]], resulting in an Orion-Explorer hybrid variously referred to as 'Wiley's Bastard' and 'Aurora', though Post himself referred to the aircraft only by its serial number. The aircraft, nose-heavy, crashed after its engine failed shortly after takeoff near [[Point Barrow, Alaska]] on August 15, 1935, taking the lives of Post and humorist [[Will Rogers]].

Lockheed built a total of four Explorers, all of which were destroyed in crashes.

== Variants ==
;4 Explorer: Single-seat single-engined aircraft, powered by a 450-hp (336-kW) [[Pratt & Whitney Wasp]] radial piston engine. Built for a non-stop trans-Pacific flight between Japan and the united States; two built.
;7 Explorer: Improved version of the 4 Explorer, powered by a [[Pratt & Whitney Wasp C]] radial piston engine; two built.

== Specifications (Explorer 4) ==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp


|ref=Lockheed Aircraft since 1913<ref name="Francillon82 p93">Francillon 1982, p. 93.</ref>

|crew=1
|length ft=27
|length in=6
|length m=8.38 
|span ft=48
|span in=6
|span m=14.78 
|height ft=8
|height in=2
|height m=2.49 
|wing area sqft=313
|wing area sqm=29.08
|empty weight lb=3,075 
|empty weight kg=1,395 
|gross weight lb=9,008 
|gross weight kg=4,086 
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney Wasp]]
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 hp=450 
|eng1 kw=336 
|max speed mph=165 
|max speed kts=143
|max speed kmh=265
|range miles=5,500 
|range km=8,850 
|climb rate ftmin=1,200 
|climb rate ms=6.1 
|wing loading lb/sqft=28.8 
|wing loading kg/m2=140.5
}}

==See also==
{{Aircontent
|similar=
|related=
* [[Lockheed Vega]]
* [[Lockheed Air Express]]
* [[Lockheed Sirius]]
* [[Lockheed Altair]]
* [[Lockheed Model 9 Orion|Lockheed Orion]]

|lists=
* [[List of Lockheed aircraft]]
}}

== References ==
{{commons category|Lockheed Explorer}}
;Notes
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
* Francillon, René J., ''Lockheed Aircraft since 1913''. London:Putnam, 1982. {{ISBN|0-370-30329-6}}.
* Francillon, René J, ''Lockheed Aircraft since 1913''. Naval Institute Press: Annapolis, 1987. {{ISBN|0-87021-897-2}}

{{Lockheed Martin aircraft}}

[[Category:Lockheed aircraft|Explorer]]
[[Category:1920s United States civil utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]