Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar

The Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar is a passenger transport aircraft of the World War II era.

Design and development

Sales of the 10–14 passenger Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra, which first flew in 1937, had proved disappointing, despite the aircraft's excellent performance, as it was more expensive to operate than the larger Douglas DC-3, already in widespread use. In order to improve the type's economics, Lockheed decided to stretch the aircraft's fuselage by 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m), allowing an extra two rows of seats to be fitted.

The prototype for the revised airliner, designated Model 18 by Lockheed, was converted from the fourth Model 14, one of a batch which had been returned to the manufacturer by Northwest Airlines after a series of crashes. The modified aircraft first flew in this form on September 21, 1939, another two prototypes being converted from Model 14s, with the first newly built Model 18 flying on February 2, 1940.

A total of 625 Lodestars of all variants were built.

C66

C66 or C-66 may refer to :

and also :

C-66 (Michigan county highway)

C-66 is a county-designated highway in the US state of Michigan running about 28 miles (45 km) across the northern tip of the Lower Peninsula. The roadway starts in the unincorporated community of Cross Village in Emmet County at an intersection with M-119 and C-77. It follows Levering Road through rural areas to an interchange with Interstate 75 (I-75) west of Cheboygan. The eastern terminus is at an intersection with US Highway 23 (US 23) and M-27 in downtown Cheboygan. The first roadways along what is now C-66 were in place by the early 20th century. Segments were paved by 1936, although some reverted to a gravel surface during World War II. The full roadway was paved by the mid-1950s, and the C-66 moniker was designated on the roadway in the early 1970s.

Route description

The roadway starts at a junction with M-119 (Lake Shore Drive) and C-77 (State Road) in the community of Cross Village near Lake Michigan in Emmet County. C-66 travels southward for about 300 feet (91 m) concurrently along C-77 to the intersection with Levering Road. From there, C-66 turns eastward on Levering Road, leaving town. The landscape outside of town is mostly woodland with scattered fields. Except for a jog near Hill Road in Bliss Township, Levering Road is a straight road running due east. C-66 intersects C-81 (Pleasantview Road) in a clearing before entering the community of Levering. The county road passes through some residential areas and by a baseball field before meeting US 31. C-66 turns south to run concurrently along US 31 for about a quarter mile (0.4 km) before turning eastward again.