Editing Lockheed Model 9 Orion (section)

==Operational history==
Although designed with the passenger market in mind, its speed made it a natural for air races. The first [[Bendix Trophy|Bendix race]] of 1931 had a showing of two Orions, three Altairs and one Vega in a race that had only nine aircraft competing. On 11 July 1935, [[Laura Ingalls (aviator)|Laura H. Ingalls]] flew a Lockheed Orion, powered by a [[Pratt & Whitney Wasp]] engine, from [[Floyd Bennett Field]] to [[Burbank, California]], establishing an East-West record for women. Two months later she flew it back to set a West-East record.<ref name="Francillon" />

The first Orion entered service with [[Bowen Air Lines]] at [[Fort Worth, Texas]], in {{start date|1931|5}}.<ref name="eden" /> [[Northwest Airlines|Northwest Airways]], later renamed to Northwest Airlines, operated the plane from 1933 to 1935.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northwest Airlines |url=https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/delta-history/family-tree/northwest-airlines |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124130418/https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits/delta-history/family-tree/northwest-airlines |archive-date=2021-11-24 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=[[Delta Flight Museum]] |language=en}}</ref> [[American Airways]], itself also renamed to [[American Airlines]] in 1934, operated several 9D Orions. Many safe miles were flown in airline service and the headlines won by a few expert speed pilots proved the advanced design and reliability of the Orion. Those that went into airline use as a passenger transport had their lifespan limited, however. In 1934, the [[Civil Aeronautics Authority]] issued a ruling prohibiting further use of single-engined passenger aircraft from operating on all major networks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-22 |title=FAA History: 1930s |url=http://aireform.com/resources/faa-history-pages/faa-history-1930s/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413202814/http://aireform.com/resources/faa-history-pages/faa-history-1930s/ |archive-date=2021-04-13 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Aviation Impact Reform |language=en}}</ref> It also became mandatory to have a [[copilot]] and therefore a two-seat cockpit arrangement on all such flights. The requirements of the ruling brought an end to the "Orion" as a passenger-carrying airlines airplane. They were then used for [[cargo]] or [[mail]] carrying or sold for private use and charter. Because the aircraft had a complicated wood construction and needed to be sent back to Lockheed in Burbank California to be repaired, they were often disposed of after any type of significant accident. At least 12 of the used "Orions" were purchased for service in the [[Spanish Civil War]] and destroyed in use.<ref name="Francillon" />

In 1935, a single Model 9 Orion was modified by Lockheed as a news camera plane for the [[Detroit News]]. To work in the role, a pod was built into the front leading edge of the right wing about eight feet out from the fuselage.  This pod had a glass dome on the front and mounted a camera. To aim the camera the pilot was provided with a primitive grid similar to a gunsight on his windshield.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 1935 |title='Flying Camera' Aimed Like a Machine Gun |url={{GBurl|wt8DAAAAMBAJ|p=513}} |magazine=[[Popular Mechanics]] |volume=63 |issue=4 |page=513 |issn=0032-4558 |access-date=2022-03-21 |lang=en |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

The '''Orion Explorer''' was a modified '''9E'''. It had a damaged wing replaced with the wing of the Explorer 7 after a crash, and was fitted with a {{convert|600|hp|0|abbr=on}} [[Pratt & Whitney Wasp]] S3H1 engine. Fixed landing gear and later floats were also fitted. It was used by [[Wiley Post]] and [[Will Rogers]] for a round-the-world flight attempt, but both men died when the aircraft crashed in [[Alaska]] on 15 August 1935.<ref name="eden" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sterling |first1=Bryan B. |url=https://archive.org/details/forgotteneaglewi00brya |title=Forgotten eagle : Wiley Post, America's heroic aviation pioneer |last2=Sterling |first2=Frances N. |date=2001 |publisher=[[Carroll & Graf Publishers]] |isbn=978-0-7867-0894-9 |location=[[New York City]] |page=246 |lccn=2002265806 |oclc=48421639 |ol=3579752M |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>