Mid-Continent Airlines Lockheed 18-07 Lodestar  NC25601         (c/n  2002)

                                    

                                           Mid-Continent Airlines were actually the launch customer for the Lockheed Lodestar, putting
                                           three of them into service (on "The Great Plains Route" as their network was known) early in
                                           1940.   The machine was a natural enhancement from the earlier Lockheed 14 (Super Electra),
                                           which, in turn had been developed from the model 10A Electra.    NC25601 was the second
                                           production model, the first going to a private buyer who sold it on to BOAC.     The Lodestars
                                           served MCA well during the war years and were augmented by, and later replaced by, the
                                           ubiquitous DC-3 in 1946.     N25601 went to Capital Equipment Company as an executive
                                           transport in 1948.   Photos above and lower (showing NC25602)  were gleaned from Mid-
                                           Continent in 1948. 
                                           The color shot # 3 of  NC25602 is from the collection of graphic artist Tim Bradley, and for
                                           modelers I append below that the excellent color profile worked up by Tim.     NC25602
                                           was c/n 2003 and was sold to S.T. Murray when withdrawn from use by MCA.