The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. It has more than 175 aircraft and spacecraft. Here are some of the airplanes of the 1930s which are displayed in the Museum’s Great Gallery.
1933 Stinson Model O (reproduction)
According to the display:
“The Stinson Aircraft Company of Wayne, Michigan built the Model O to serve as a military training and utility aircraft. Based on the company’s popular Reliant series, the Model O was first developed to help the government of Honduras establish its own air force.”
The Stinson Model O has a top speed of 136 mph, a cruising speed of 122 mph, a service ceiling of 16,000 feet, and a range of 450 miles.
Lockheed Model 10-E Electra
According to the display:
“The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation developed the Model 10 as a twin-engine airliner to compete with the Boeing 247 and the Douglas DC-2. The company named the aircraft “Electra” after one of the stars in the Pleiades constellation.”
Between 1934 and 1941, Lockheed built 148 Electras. The aircraft was used by both domestic and foreign airlines as well as by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Coast Guard. During World War II, the Electra was used for VIP transport by the U.S. Army Air Forces.
The Electra has a top speed of 202 mph, a cruising speed of 190 mph, a range of 713 miles, and a service ceiling of 19,400 feet. It carried 10 passengers.
In 1937, Amelia Earhart used a modified version of the Electra in her attempt to fly around the world. The modifications included additional fuel tanks and blanked out cabin windows.
More airplane photo tours
Museum of Flight: Some early airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Some early Boeing airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Building early airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Airplanes of the 1920s (photo diary)
WAAAM: 1930-1931 Airplanes (Photo Diary)
WAAAM: 1927-1928 Airplanes (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: 1930s Monoplanes (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: 1930s Biplanes (Photo Diary)