Top speed 161 km/h Length 5.33 m Designer John Thorp | Wingspan 7.62 m Manufacturer Lockheed Corporation | |
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The Lockheed Model 33 Little Dipper was an American single-seat monoplane, designed by John Thorp and built by Lockheed at Burbank, California, only one was completed.
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Development
The Model 33 design was originally started as a private venture two-seat light aircraft by John Thorp, a Lockheed engineer. In April 1944 the company agreed to build the aircraft as the Lockheed Model 33. Due to wartime restrictions on materials the company gained the interest of the United States Army in the aircraft as an aerial flying motorcycle under the name Air Trooper. The Army authorised Lockheed to build two prototypes of the Model 33 and the first flew in August 1944, the aircraft flew well but the Army had lost interest. Lockheed intended to market the Little Dipper as an inexpensive light aircraft but without any interest the prototype and the partly completed second aircraft was scrapped in January 1947 for tax reasons. Designer John Thorp went on to develop the Thorp T-211 with lessons learned from the Little Dipper Project.
Design
The Model 33 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed nosewheel landing gear. Originally with an open cockpit it was later fitted with a fully enclosed canopy. Powered by a 50 hp (37 kW) Franklin 2A4-49 engine it had STOL performance.
Specifications
Data from
General characteristics
Performance