A perfect picture of the early days of commercial air travel in Canadian history, the Lockheed Electra, brings back images of early airline travel that originated from the Museum in its days as Trans-Canada Air Lines Winnipeg hangar.
The Lockheed Electra was a twin-engine, all-metal monoplane developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in the 1930s to compete with the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-2. It was the first modern type of airliner to be introduced into Canada. It carried a crew of two and up to 10 passengers.
Three Electras were delivered to Trans-Canada Air Lines in 1937. They were based in Winnipeg and used for pilot training. CF-TCC was one of those three.
Larger aircraft were soon required and the 10As were sold off. CF-TCC was found in Florida by a vacationing Air Canada employee in the early 1980s. Arrangements were made for it to be brought back to Winnipeg where it was restored. It was flown across Canada in 1987 to commemorate Air Canada's 50th Anniversary.
Specifications
Wingspan: 16.76 m (55')
Length: 11.76 m (38' 7")
Height: 3.07 m (10' 1")
Empty Weight: 2,869 kg (6,325 lbs)
Gross Weight: 4,581 kg (10,100 lbs)
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R985 Wasp Jr 450 hp
Cruise Speed: 290 km/h (180 mph)
Max. Speed: 306 km/h (190 mph)
Max. Range: 1,368 km (850 miles)
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Tales from the sky
According to Canadian Maple Wings, an association of retired Trans Canada/Air Canada flight attendants, the original 'stewardesses' in 1938 had a rigorous (and unusual) set of screening prerequisites. They included women between 21 and 25 years of age, who:
- Must be a registered nurse
- Must be single
- Height: 5' 2" to 5' 5"
- Weight: no more than 125lbs
- In good health with a personable manner
- Hair: ear lobe length or worn up
- Be prepared to wear a girdle
- No glasses
- Own a wrist watch
Click here to see a virtual tour of the inside of this plane.
