Lockheed L-9 Orion

The Lockheed Orion was the last wooden monoplane design produced by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. The Orion design was a combination of elements of many of the Lockheed designs preceding it: the fuselage of the Vega, the cowling of the Air Express, the low wing of the Explorer, and the retractable undercarriage of the Altair. The Orion featured an enclosed cabin with seating for six passengers. The first Orion, tested by Marshall Headle, received its Approved Type Certificate on May 6, 1931.

Lockheed built a total of 35 Orions, of which only one has survived to the present day. Originally built as an Altair, this aircraft was converted to Orion configuration and was flown by James H. Doolittle for the Shell Oil Company as Shellightning. After many years, it ended up in the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne, where it is currently on display wearing the colors of Swissair.