Continental Air Lines  Lockheed 18-08 Lodestar  NC25635         (c/n   2027)

                                       

                                           Continental was one of the few airlines to purchase the Lockheed Lodestar in the 1940s in lieu of
                                           Douglas transports (although they did receive DC-3s after WW II).   They had an initial fleet of six
                                           of them to augment their Lockheed 12As.  During WW II the company had been permitted to expand
                                           its area of operations and by 1944 was flying east to Kansas City and south as far as San Antonio,
                                           Texas.   Seen on this page are two of the fleet.  The above image was taken at Pueblo in the 1940s
                                           and the lower over typical Rocky Mountain terrain.  Both photographs are courtesy Continental Air
                                           Lines, and depict "true" civil Lodestars (not converted C-60s).   At the foot of the page is a color
                                           profile worked up by Tim Bradley for any modelers who might like to make a replica of this historic
                                           aircraft.          

                                           The image below comes from a set of color photos, acquired from Lockheed in the 1940s.
                                           This Lodestar was delivered in 1940 and was written off in some sort of ground accident at
                                           Albuquerque NM on 27 August 1945, wherein it was burned. 

                                          Lockheed 18-08 Lodestar  NC25636                                                     (c/n   2028)

                                       

                                          Lockheed 18-10 Lodestar  NC25638                                                    (c/n    2074)
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