Lockheed Lodestar for Belgium
For some time, rumours circulated amongst people interested in historic aviation, that a Lockheed Lodestar was to find its way to Belgium. This has now been confirmed by the ‘Belgian Vintage Aircraft’ group on Facebook.
The aircraft concerned is Lodestar N21G (c/n 2326) which is in the final stages of its restoration. This process has been undertaken by Patrick Donovan (a retired United Airlines Captain) in Chelan (WA), USA.
He was the restorer of another Lockheed, L12 Electra Junior NC14999. This aircraft, owned by mr. Luc Hellings, is based at the airfield of Genk-Zwartberg, Belgium.
The costs of restoration of the Lodestar alone tend to reach USD 1 million. Donovan expected to be financially unable to operate an aircraft like this (costs comparable with that of operating a DC-3), so he decided to go for a plan ‘B’.
Thanks to his connection with Luc Hellings, N21G will be flown to Belgium where an organization will have to be set up to operate the plane. For this goal, one of the initiators, Frank Depaepe (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), is looking for volunteers to help founding an airline-type organization comparable with e.g. DDA Classic Airlines.
When finished, the plane is expected to cross the Atlantic this summer. The people behind the plans have hopes that N21G can already be presented to the public at airshows in the summer/autumn of this year. Hangar space for the winter is said to be arranged at Koksijde air base.
Lodestar N21G is one of the seven Lockheed Lodestars that are still in flying conditions on this day. It is however the only one left, of the 625 Lodestars produced, that is still in original condition without modifications made.
The plane was originally built for the United States Army Air Force as a C-60 transport in December of 1942. It was configured to be a glider tug, with a large attachment under the tail cone. However, there is no evidence in the military records of it being used for this purpose.
It was not used much during WW2, it was moved between Air Force bases as a means of transportation. At the end of the war in 1946 it was sold to Goodyear Corporation and civilianized as an executive airplane where it spent many years transporting company executives. It was sold by Goodyear in the late 60s and was on a steady downhill course through a series of private owners until it arrived in the private museum of Wally Fisk of Anoka (MN) in the early 1990s.
After the dissolution of this museum it sat derelict at the local airport until it was to be sold at a secret sheriffs sale. A group of locals rescued it and began a restoration, doing a considerable clean up and overhauled the propellers and engines in 1995. They however ran out of money and placed the plane up for sale in 2015. Patrick Donovan, the current owner, then purchased this rather large project and had it transported to the town of Chelan in the eastern slopes of the Cascade mountains in the State of Washington.
Why this Belgian interest in the Lockheed Lodestar?
Some of you might not be aware of the fact that Belgian airline Sabena operated at least seven Lodestars in their former Belgian colony Congo. The first of these were two civilian Lockheed 18s, registered as OO-CAI and OO-CAJ, which were delivered in 1941.
Two years later five Lodestars of the basic military C-60 version were flown in to be used for airline duties. These were registered as OO-CAK, OO-CAO, OO-CAR, OO-CAS and OO-CAV. Two of the Lodestars were lost in accidents, the others were sold in 1948-1949.
The Lodestar to arrive in Belgium is almost identical to the planes that Sabena used for their operations back in 1945. So there is a chance that N21G will be painted in Sabena colours!
Ties with the Netherlands
For transport operations in the former colony Netherlands Indies, the Dutch Government ordered 29 Lodestars for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force. Twenty of these were of the Model 18-40, and nine of the Model 18-50.
Source: Belgian Vintage Aircraft
Photos: Dave Mangham, Belgian Wings. Artist impression by STAX