Seeing, in the latter part of 1930, a potential market for a light transport aircraft, Lockheed began development of the six-passenger Lockheed 9 Orion. This combined a Vega fuselage with the low-wing and landing gear of the Altair, and the NACA cowling introduced on the Air Express, the first being flown in early 1931. The first Orion (NC960Y) entered service with Bowen Air Lines at Fort Worth, Texas, in May 1931. The type found use with 12 other American airlines. At least 13 of these aircraft, from various sources, were supplied to the Spanish Republican air force in late 1936, soon after the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Orion production totalled 35, and the single Altair DL-2A was also converted to Orion configuration.
Lockheed 9C Orion Engine: Wright Cyclone 1820-E, 567 hp Length: 28.051 ft / 8.55 m Height: 9.514 ft / 2.9 m Wingspan: 42.782 ft / 13.04 m Max take off weight: 5402.3 lb / 2450.0 kg Max. speed: 157 kts / 290 km/h Service ceiling: 16732 ft / 5100 m Range: 513 nm / 950 km Crew: 1+4
Lockheed 9D Orion Engine: 1 x Pratt & Whitney Wasp S1D1 radial, 410kW / 450 hp Max take-off weight: 2359 kg / 5201 lb Empty weight: 1651 kg / 3640 lb Wingspan: 13.04 m / 42 ft 9 in Length: 8.64 m / 28 ft 4 in Height: 2.95 m / 9 ft 8 in Wing area: 27.32 sq.m / 294.07 sq ft Cruise speed: 330 km/h / 205 mph Ceiling: 6705 m / 22000 ft Range: 1159 km / 720 miles Undercarriage: retractable. Pax cap: 5.