Restoration Underway To Flying Condition

The Spirit of Flight museum has taken delivery of a rare 1936 Lockheed 12A Electra Junior as part of its growing collection.  The museum plans to restore the plane to flyable condition as part of the museum’s living history program.

“We are thrilled to add serial number 1205 to the Spirit of Flight collection,” said Gordon Page, President of the Spirit of Flight Center.   “It was originally registered as NC16079 to Continental Oil Company in 1936, and at one point is was registered to well-known aircraft dealer Charles Babb.”

The eight seat Lockheed 12A is an all-metal, twin-engine transport aircraft that was developed in the late 1930s.  It was mostly used by small airlines, companies, and wealthy private individuals. The Lockheed 12 was not very popular as an airliner, but was widely used as a corporate and government transport. After life with Conoco, the Spirit of Flight Lockheed 12A was sent to Canada during WWII as part of the lend-lease program.

“Only 70 Lockheed 12A aircraft were ever built,” said Gordon Page.  “Serial number 1205 is one of only 19 that are registered with the FAA and I can’t wait to fly it,” added Page.

The Spirit of Flight Lockheed 12A was made possible by generous support from Robert and Carol Leyner.  The museum is looking for donors to support the restoration through tax deductible donations.  

“The Lockheed 12A will be a great compliment to the full-size Amelia Earhart statue that is on display at Spirit of Flight,” said museum board member, Doug Eastman.  Eastman added, “The really neat thing is that Charles Babb, who once owned serial number 1205, signed Amelia’s first pilot’s license."

(Images provided with Spirit of Flight Museum news release)

FMI: www.spiritofflight.com