Lockheed Orion-Explorer

The Lockheed-Orion Model 9E Special, formerly owned by TWA, that was modified by Wiley Post for his trip to Alaska. Among other modifications, Post replaced the engine with a 550 horsepower type, installed a three-bladed variable pitch propeller, swapped out the wing with one that was six feet longer from a Lockheed-Explorer Model 7 Special, that had fixed landing gear. It is interesting to note that the modified Orion was more like an Altair than an Orion. Lockheed built these aircraft with interchangeable parts and several were actually hybrids.