Lockheed produced 170 L-188 Electras from 1957 to 1961 and, when I undertook the exercise of determining how many "survivors" remain extant, I was surprised that the number was almost 25%. Four prototype aircraft were built by Lockheed, with N1881 making its first flight on December 6, 1957. N5501 was the first production aircraft and Eastern Airlines went on to operate a total of 40 Electras, retiring the type in October 1977. Other major airlines operating large Electra fleets included American Airlines (35); Northwest Airlines (18); National Airlines (17); Western Airlines (12); KLM (12); and Braniff Airlines (10). PK-GLC was the final aircraft produced and it was delivered to Garuda Indonesian Airlines on January 15, 1961.
With the exception of Eastern Airlines, the Electra had a relatively short service life carrying passengers with the majors. Companies like California Airmotive converted many to freighters that went on to serve airlines such as Zantop International Airlines (26); Overseas National Airways (13); Universal Airlines (13); and Saturn Airways (9).
The Electra is currently operated by only two companies; both located in Canada. Air Spray operates nine Electras converted to firebombers and Buffalo Airways operates two freighters and two firebombers. Air Spray has introduced the BAE 146-200 and, with the Electras now 65 years old, one has to wonder how long they will remain in the fleet. Buffalo acquired B737-301 C-FBAE in 2022 and B737-219 C-GTVO in March 2025 for flying cargo. Although the press release said that they will "complement" the two Electra freighters, the fact that C-GTVO is equipped with a "gravel kit" makes one wonder about the future of the two Electra freighters. Since the two firebombers were converted relatively recently, hopefully they will be in operation for the foreseeable future.
ELECTRA "SURVIVORS"
c/n 1006 - Active - C-FVFH/T489 - Air Spray -- N5501V GM; N1R GM, LA Dodgers; N1006T Intermountain, Johnson Flying Service, Evergreen Intl Airlines; N125AC Air California; PK-RLF Mandala.
c/n 1025 - Preserved - PP-VJM - Museu Aeroespacial, Rio de Janeiro -- N6104A American Airlines; PP-VJM Varig.
c/n 1028 - Stored - C-GNPB - Air Spray -- N6106A American Airlines, McCulloch Properties, PSA; FAH-555/HR-EMA Fuerza Aerea Hondurena; stored Red Deer, AB.
c/n 1032 - Stored? - ZP-CBX - Lineas Aereas Paraguayas (LAP) -- N5521 Eastern Air Lines, Overseas National Airways; reported derelict at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, Paraguay (ASU) in July 2006 but not evident on Google Maps.
c/n 1036 - Active - C-GZVM/T485 - Air Spray -- N5524 Eastern Air Lines; XA-FAM Aeroservicios de California; N83MR Cardinal Corporation; C-FNWY NWT Air, Air Bridge; G-FNWY Air Bridge; N3209A JBQ Aviation; N351Q JBQ Aviation, Renown Aviation.
c/n 1038 - Active - C-FDTH/T498 - Air Spray -- N5525 Eastern Airlines, Reeve Aleutian, Hawaiian Airlines; N344HA Hawaiian Airlines, Zantop, MHD Rockland; C-GKIL Air Spray.
c/n 1039 - Active - C-FBAQ/T417 - Buffalo Airways -- VH-RMA Ansett-ANA; N356Q TPI Intl Airways; N355WS TPI Intl Airways, JBQ Aviation; N356Q JBQ Aviation, Amerer Air; OE-ILB Amerer Air; marked "In Memory of Arnie Schreder."
c/n 1043 - Stored - N346HA - MHD Rockland -- N5527 Eastern Airlines; HK-691 SAM Colombia; XA-SAM Aeroservicios de California; N61AJ Hawaiian Airlines; N346HA Hawaiian Airlines, Zantop; stored Keystone Heights, Florida.
c/n 1053 - Stored - C-GOIZ - Air Spray -- N5530 Eastern Airlines; HK-692 SAM Colombia; TI-ALK APSA; N429MA Hawaiian Airlines; N343HA Hawaiian Airlines, Zantop, MHD Rockland; partially converted to tanker and stored Red Deer, AB.
c/n 1060 - Active - C-FZCS/T487 - Air Spray -- N5532 Eastern Airlines; HR-SAV SAHSA, TAN Honduras; HR-ANE ANHSA; HR-TNT TAN Honduras, SAHSA; HR-SHN SAHSA; C-FZCS Conair.
c/n 1067 - Preserved - 0791/6-P-102 - Aviacion Naval Argentina -- N9703C Braniff; HR-TNN TAN Honduras; transported by road to Trelew Aeroclub on 28 Nov 2021.
c/n 1068 - Cockpit Preserved - G-CHNK - Channel Express -- N5535 Eastern Air Lines; Evergreen Airlines; Galaxy Airlines, Channel Express; EI-CHO Iona National Airways; cockpit on display Midland Air Museum, Coventry, England.
c/n 1070 - Stored - 0790/6-P-103 - Aviacion Naval Argentina -- N7136C Western Airlines, Johnson Flying Service, Evergreen Intl Airlines; reported stored Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport, Argentina (REL); two Electra airframes evident on Google Maps.
c/n 1071 - Stored - 0792/2-P-101 - Aviacion Naval Argentina -- N5536 Eastern Airlines; HP-654 COPA Airlines; N511PS W.K.B. Aviation; parts airplane reported derelict at Comandante Espora Naval Base, Argentina (BHI); three Electra airframes evident on Google Maps; 0793/6-P-104 and 0692/6-P-106 on display at the museum and 0792/2-P-101 stored in an adjacent area in faded COPA colors.
c/n 1072 - Preserved - 0793/6-P-104 - Museo de la Aviacion Naval Argentina - Comandante Espora Naval Base, Argentina (BHI) --
N6118A American Airlines, McCulloch Properties, McCullough Intl Airlines, PSA, Evergreen Intl Airlines; 0793/6-P-104 Aviacion Naval Argentina; three Electra airframes evident on Google Maps; 0793/6-P-104 and 0692/6-P-106 on display at the Museo de la Aviacion Naval Argentina and 0792/2-P-101 stored in an adjacent area in faded COPA colors.
c/n 1078 - Stored? - ZP-CBY - Lineas Aereas Paraguayas (LAP) -- N5538 Eastern Air Lines; although reported to be stored Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, Paraguay (ASU) it is not evident on Google Maps and has probably been scrapped.
c/n 1082 - Stored - C-FVFI - Air Spray -- N123US Norwest Orient Airlines, San Diego Padres, Air California; N123AC Air California; PK-RLD Mandala Airlines; stored Red Deer, AB.
c/n 1084 - Stored - N282F - MHD Rockland -- N5006K National Airlines, Overseas National Airways; N282F Overseas National Airways, Zantop; stored Keystone Heights, FL.
c/n 1091 - Active - C-GZCF/T490 - Air Spray -- N171PS PSA; N971HA Holiday Airlines, PSA; N171PS PSA; N5539 Evergreen Intl Airlines, Channel Express; G-CEXS Channel Express.
c/n 1100 - Active - C-GXFC - Buffalo Airways -- N6123A American Airlines; N289AC Air California; N289C Qualitron Aero, Wharfca; N665F Fleming Intl Airways; CAM Air Intl, Spirit of America Airlines; G-LOFC Atlantic Cargo, Atlantic Airlines.
c/n 1102 - Stored - 0691/6-P-105 - Aviacion Naval Argentina -- N6124A American Airlines, McCullough Properties, McCullough Intl Airlines; 5-T-1 Aviacion Naval Argentina; stored Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport, Argentina (REL); two Electra airframes evident on Google Maps.
c/n 1103 - Active - C-FLJO/T482 - Air Spray -- N9725C Lockheed Aircraft; N111/N97 FAA; N429NA NASA, Neptune Aviation.
c/n 1109 - Stored - N340HA - MHD Rockland -- N172PS PSA; TI-LRN LACSA Lineas Aereas Costarricenses; N172PS Hawaiian Airlines; N340HA Hawaiian Airline, Zantop; stored Keystone Heights, FL.
c/n 1112 - Stored - C-GYVI/T83 - Air Spray -- N129US Northwest Orient Airlines, Intl Skyways; N777DP Intl Skyways; PT-DZK Pignatari; N8LG TPI Intl Airways; N360Q TPI Intl Airways, JBQ Aviation, Renown Aviation.
c/n 1120 - Preserved - 0692/6-P-106 - Museo de la Aviation Naval Argentina - Comandante Espora Naval Base, Argentina (BHI) -- N6129A American Airlines, McCulloch Properties, McCullough Intl Airlines; 0692/6-T-2 and 0692/6-P-106 Aviacion Naval Argentina; three Electra airframes evident on Google Maps; 0793/6-P-104 and 0692/6-P-106 on display at the Museo de la Aviacion Naval Argentina and 0792/2-P-101 stored in an adjacent area in faded COPA colors.
c/n 1122 - Preserved - 0693/5-T-3 - Aviacion Naval Argentina -- N6131A American Airlines, McCulloch Properties, McCullough Intl Airlines; 5-T-3 Aviacion Naval Argentina; noted mounted on poles at an industrial location in the town of Nueve de Abril, Buenos Aires Province in 2016.
c/n 1124 - Stored - C-GZYH - Air Spray -- N6133A American Airlines; PP-VJW Varig; HR-AMM Interlink of Congo; stored Red Deer, AB.
BR>
c/n 1125 - Preserved - TAM-69 - Bolivia Aeronautical Museum -- N6134A American Airlines; CP-853 Lloyd Aereo Boliviano; TAM-69/TAM-01 Transporte Aereo Militar (TAM) - Bolivia, TAM-69 in 1973 and became the presidential transport in 1975 as TAM-01; preserved in Bolivia Aeronautical Museum as TAM-69.
c/n 1130 - Active - C-FLXT/T481 - Air Spray -- N181H Lockheed; N175PS PSA; N595KR King Resources Co; N308D National Science Foundation, Neptune Aviation Services.
c/n 1133 - Active - C-GJTZ/T492 - Air Spray -- N182H/N181H Lockheed; N376PS PSA, Universal Airlines; N863U Universal Airlines; N290F Overseas National Airways, Zantop, MHD Rockland.
c/n 1138 - Stored - C-GYCG - Buffalo Airways -- N134US Northwest Orient Airlines; C-FIJR Jetair, Imperial Oil, NWT Air, Air Bridge; G-FIJR AirBridge, Hunting Air Cargo, Air Atlantique, Atlantic Airlines; C-GYCG Conair Aviation; stored Abbotsford, BC in Atlantic Airlines colors.
c/n 1140 - Stored - C-FIJV - Buffalo Airways -- N9744C Western Airlines, Reeve Aleutian Airways; stored Red Deer, AB.
c/n 1143 - Stored - C-FYYJ/T460 - Buffalo Airways -- N9745C Western Airlines; CF-IJC Jetair; LN-MOD Nordic Air; LN-FOG Fred Olsen; G-LOFD Air Atlantique, Atlantic Airlines; C-FYYJ Conair; stored Red Deer, AB in Conair colors.
c/n 1144 - Active - C-GZFE - Buffalo Airways -- N138US Northwest Orient Airlines, FPE Travel Club; N24AF Air Florida; N668F Fleming Intl Airways, CAM Air Intl, Spirit of America Airlines; EI-CET Hunting Cargo Airlines, Air Atlantique; G-LOFE Atlantic Airlines.
c/n 1145 - Stored - C-GLBA - Buffalo Airways -- N9746C Western Airlines; CF-IJJ Jetair; LN-MOI Nordic Air; LN-FOH Fred Olsen, Amerer Air; OE-ILA Amerer Air; stored Red Deer, AB.
c/n 1146 - Stored - N286F - MHD Rockland -- N5013K National Airlines, Overseas National Airways; N286F Overseas National Airways, Zantop; stored Keystone Heights, FL.
c/n 2005 - Preserved - LN-FOI - Fred Olsen -- ZK-TEA TEAL, Air New Zealand; LN-FOI Fred Olsen; scrapped at Coventry in July 2004 with nose section reportedly going to the Gerrymead Aeronautical Society in Christchurch, New Zealand.
c/n 2007 - Active - C-GHZI/T484 -- Air Spray -- VH-ECC Qantas; ZK-CLX Air New Zealand; N1968R Reeve Aleutian.
c/n 2010 - Active - C-FIJX/T416 - Buffalo Airways -- ZK-TEB TEAL, Air New Zealand; CF-NAX Nordair; N178RV Reeve Aleutian; C-GNWC NWT Air; N2RK Electra Aero; marked "In Memory Mr. Forbes."
c/n 2014 - Stored - C-GIZU - Buffalo Airways -- PH-LLG KLM, Martinair; N857U Universal, Saturn, Trans Intl Airlines, TransAmerica Airlines, Interstate Airlines; SE-IZU Falcon Air; G-FIZU Hunting Cargo Airlines, Air Atlantique, Atlantic Airlines; EI-CHY Hunting Cargo Airlines; G-FIZU Conair; stored Red Deer, AB in Atlantic Airlines colors.
Ralph M. Pettersen
April 24, 2025
Photo Credits: John Olafson, Richard Vandervord, Mike Golberg, Peter Unmuth, Kenneth I. Swartz, Steve Brimley, Kevin Porter, DAD - Baires Aviation, Vito Cedrini, Sandro Rota, Aad van der Voet, Martin Cooper, Gerard Helmer, Michael Eaton, Philipp Schuetz, Glenn Thrower, Robert Domandl, Miguel Cano Alva, Stephan Barth Collection, Mick Bajcar, Peter Gates, Frank Duarte Jr., Ignacio J. Colla, Mark van der Vliet, Air Nikon Collection, Tim Martin, Gary Vincent, Propfreak Collection, Brandon Siska, Bo-Goren Lundkvist, Nigel Hitchman, Alex Praglowski, Ralph M. Pettersen.
References: Air Britain - Lockheed L-188 Electra & Orion (1977); Lundkvist Aviation Research - Lockheed L-188 and L-1011; Air Britain - Turboprop Airliners & Military Transports of the World 1948-2012; PLANESPOTTERS.NET Lockheed L-188 Electra Production List.
