Rob Mackley's stunning Lockheed 10A Electra flew again in January 2024 following years of restoration. The highly polished scheme pays tribute to the Union Airways of NZ Electra named 'Kuaka' on its port side and its time in service with Chile's LAN airlines on starboard. The Lockheed 10 was the first all-metal airliner to see service in New Zealand.
In June 1937, a Lockheed 10 inaugurated the first Auckland to Wellington air service, and by late 1938, the type had serviced all Union Airways' main routes. In 1947, National Airways Corporation (NAC) acquired Union Airways, retiring the last three Electras in 1950.
However, many will associate the type with the famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart and her attempt to cross the Pacific in 1937 to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the globe. Sadly, the Electra disappeared en route, and her fate remains a mystery, which many have attempted to solve since.
This stunning aircraft, which calls Omaka home, is one of only two Model 10As currently flying, the other residing in the Czech Republic.
Image: Lockheed 10A - Photo by Gavin Conroy
About Marlborough Lines Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ.
