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The Electra Story: The Dramatic History of Aviation's Most Controversial Airliner
At 11:08 P.M. on the humid night of September 29, 1959, Braniff Flight 542 crashed on a farm near Buffalo, Texas. Less than six months later, Northwest Flight 710 crashed in a soybean field near Tell City, Indiana. Both planes were Lockheed Electras, and both, for no apparent reason, had lost a wing in mid-air. The combined toll of the two crashes was 97 lives. There were no survivors. Early the following October, during take-off from Boston’s Logan Airport, there was another Electra disaster, and the plane that had been supposedly foolproof became the object of the ugliest controversy in the history of commercial aviation. While the search for a “probable cause” went on, there was a crucial decision to be whether or not to let the Electras go on flying. Elwood R. Quesada, then Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency, had to make that decision, and how he coped with this frightening responsibility is a remarkable tale in itself. The Electra Story is an illuminating and incomparably thorough study of the plane’s entire career. From design through construction, rigorous testing, and brilliant initial performance, to the minute-by-minute record of the fatal flights, the scenes of wreckage, and then the painstaking efforts to solve the mystery. Praise for Robert ‘High level of suspense and excitement’ - De Moines Sunday Register ‘Serling has spun another winner’ – Publisher’s Weekly ‘…keeps you guessing til the end’ - Arizona Daily Star ‘Aviation buffs will revel in this thoroughgoing chronicle’ – Kirkus Robert J. Serling (1918-2010) was aviation editor of United Press International and won the annual TWA Best Aviation News Reporting Award for four years running.
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 2, 2020
There are many interesting parallels in this story to the current issues with the 737 Maxx: The CAA ( predecessor to the FAA) was heavily involved in certifying new aircraft, but because of reduced staffing many of the tasks were left to the company. For years the CAA had utilized a “designee” system to assure compliance with its regulations. Under this system, key employees of the applicant manufacturer were delegated to approve test methods and data, blueprints, design work, etc. The perennially money-starved CAA simply did not have the manpower to monitor aircraft design. Sound familiar? The DC-6, Martin 202, and Constellation all developed bugs that made it through the certification process.
Engineering progress is often measured by learning from mistakes. Unfortunately disasters are essential to help us learn as Henry Petroski has so eloquently written about in To Engineer is Human: The Roles of Failure in Succesful Design.
The Lockheed Electra, one of the most tested and lauded aircraft in the early sixties, was a marvel -- until the wings began to fall off. It was a ship that fulfilled the pilot’s prerequisites for a transport better than any other plane in history. It had enormous reserve power. It handled smoothly, docilely, responsively. It was fast, versatile, uncomplaining and even — for such a huge aircraft — forgiving of mistakes. In brief, it was a pilot’s airplane.
Investigation following two crashes showed that the outboard engine mounts were not strong enough to damp a phenomenon called "whirl mode flutter" (analogous to the wobbling of a child's top as it slows down). "When the oscillation was transmitted to the wings and the flutter frequency decreased to a point where it was resonant with the outer wing panels (at the same frequency, or harmonically related ones), violent up-and-down oscillation increased until the wings would tear off."
After two violent crashes where the wings had been torn off, a crash (pathetic pun) effort was made to determine the cause. Resources of competing companies like Boeing and Douglas were offered and used. Wind tunnel tests and thousands of hours of test flights finally revealed the problem." Basically the trouble had nothing to do with the Electra’s strength. It involved stiffness — stiffness of the nacelle structure. Stiffness is not the same as strength. If one confuses the two, it is like thinking glass and air are the same because both are transparent. And in an airplane, stiffness is the chief resistant force against flutter. What had happened to the Electra was devastating in its deadly simplicity.
At enormous cost to Lockheed, the planes were all retro-fitted and it went on to have a reasonably successful commercial life. The hull plan is still being used in P-3 Orions. It took a while for the aircraft to get beyond its "jinxed" reputation, especially following a crash where on takeoff three of the planes engines shut down after ingesting hundreds of starlings. Yes, birds are still a problem. (The book was written in 1963.)
I remember flying in an Electra in 1968, several years after the problem was fixed. It was a nice airplane. But I won't get on a DC-10.
Engineering progress is often measured by learning from mistakes. Unfortunately disasters are essential to help us learn as Henry Petroski has so eloquently written about in To Engineer is Human: The Roles of Failure in Succesful Design.
The Lockheed Electra, one of the most tested and lauded aircraft in the early sixties, was a marvel -- until the wings began to fall off. It was a ship that fulfilled the pilot’s prerequisites for a transport better than any other plane in history. It had enormous reserve power. It handled smoothly, docilely, responsively. It was fast, versatile, uncomplaining and even — for such a huge aircraft — forgiving of mistakes. In brief, it was a pilot’s airplane.
Investigation following two crashes showed that the outboard engine mounts were not strong enough to damp a phenomenon called "whirl mode flutter" (analogous to the wobbling of a child's top as it slows down). "When the oscillation was transmitted to the wings and the flutter frequency decreased to a point where it was resonant with the outer wing panels (at the same frequency, or harmonically related ones), violent up-and-down oscillation increased until the wings would tear off."
After two violent crashes where the wings had been torn off, a crash (pathetic pun) effort was made to determine the cause. Resources of competing companies like Boeing and Douglas were offered and used. Wind tunnel tests and thousands of hours of test flights finally revealed the problem." Basically the trouble had nothing to do with the Electra’s strength. It involved stiffness — stiffness of the nacelle structure. Stiffness is not the same as strength. If one confuses the two, it is like thinking glass and air are the same because both are transparent. And in an airplane, stiffness is the chief resistant force against flutter. What had happened to the Electra was devastating in its deadly simplicity.
At enormous cost to Lockheed, the planes were all retro-fitted and it went on to have a reasonably successful commercial life. The hull plan is still being used in P-3 Orions. It took a while for the aircraft to get beyond its "jinxed" reputation, especially following a crash where on takeoff three of the planes engines shut down after ingesting hundreds of starlings. Yes, birds are still a problem. (The book was written in 1963.)
I remember flying in an Electra in 1968, several years after the problem was fixed. It was a nice airplane. But I won't get on a DC-10.
July 7, 2023
I stumbled across this title and thought it might be interesting. Was it ever! It's a story of a series of airline disasters all revolving around what was, in 1959 when the story started, the newest and best-ever, most-wildly-excellent airbus designed by Lockheed. The author takes us through the string of disasters, the head-scratching investigations that followed, and the waves of dread and hostility directed towards that same plane, the L-188 Electra. The author did a great job of contrasting the way pilots and designers felt about the plane -- most of them insisted it was the best thing ever -- and the inexplicable way the Electra had of snapping off a wing in midair. At times I had to squint and re-read to understand some of the technical language, but for the most part it was very clear and accessible to a lay reader. This story focused not at all on the human interest element, only the politics, logistics, and physics. Serling skimmed over the fact that a whole planeful of people were impossible to provide with decent burials because of the way they were inextricably telescoped into a plane's fuselage, as if caught in a trash compactor. Dealing with that kind of element in more detail would have been a fine addition to this story. As it was there was just a notation towards the end of the damages awarded to the victims' families.
December 14, 2021
This is the story about the development of the transitional aircraft from the prop planes into the jets. Lockheed not only asked airline company executives what they were looking for in a plane but asked the pilots as well. And the Electra's engineers and designers hit many of those desires and needs.
Unfortunately, it also managed to have several fatal accidents - two which killed a total of 97 passengers and crew in 1959 almost brought the death of the plane and Lockheed. Eventually determined to be due to an area of physics called whirl mode, Serling actually attempts to explain what it means as well as how Lockheed retro-fitted every manufactured Electra that had been sold in order to make them safer and to hopefully restore confidence in their planes.
It is remarkable the extensive and brutal testing that the Electras went through in order to find and re-create what caused the accidents. And surprisingly - especially in today's corporate secretive practices - Lockheed opened their testing not only to pilot suppositions but to the engineers of their competitors of Boeing and Douglas.
It was a fascinating episode in the aviation history as well as into the growth of a company that was bought in bankruptcy court in the early 1930's into the multi-billion-dollar juggernaut of today.
One negative is that besides the cover photo which has the airliner basically 'peeking' over the bottom of the photo like a fence and showing only part of the craft's nose and windscreens of the cockpit, there are no photos of the actual airliner. Although the author describes it extensively, a few photos would have been appreciated rather than have the reader use their search engine for a visual.
2021-257
Unfortunately, it also managed to have several fatal accidents - two which killed a total of 97 passengers and crew in 1959 almost brought the death of the plane and Lockheed. Eventually determined to be due to an area of physics called whirl mode, Serling actually attempts to explain what it means as well as how Lockheed retro-fitted every manufactured Electra that had been sold in order to make them safer and to hopefully restore confidence in their planes.
It is remarkable the extensive and brutal testing that the Electras went through in order to find and re-create what caused the accidents. And surprisingly - especially in today's corporate secretive practices - Lockheed opened their testing not only to pilot suppositions but to the engineers of their competitors of Boeing and Douglas.
It was a fascinating episode in the aviation history as well as into the growth of a company that was bought in bankruptcy court in the early 1930's into the multi-billion-dollar juggernaut of today.
One negative is that besides the cover photo which has the airliner basically 'peeking' over the bottom of the photo like a fence and showing only part of the craft's nose and windscreens of the cockpit, there are no photos of the actual airliner. Although the author describes it extensively, a few photos would have been appreciated rather than have the reader use their search engine for a visual.
2021-257
September 13, 2022
Lessons, Some Unheeded, Remain
I like airplanes, perhaps because my Dad was a WWII flier (though he seldom flew after the war), or perhaps because I grew up in a Los Angeles suburb where my neighbors all worked in the aircraft industry.
This book reminds me of several truths: humans make honest mistakes; systems fail on all our inventions, but seldom as fatally as on aircraft; wishful thinking often dominates the human condition; failure of imagination simply means well-meaning designers can’t accurately see into the future; and, tragically, history often repeats itself.
After all the lessons learned by the Lockheed Electra story, 50 years later, we still had the Boeing 737 Max crashes, seemingly ignoring a lot of lessons of the Electra.
For aviation enthusiasts, or perhaps just for those who get on airliners, this is an interesting read and perhaps a cautionary tale.
I like airplanes, perhaps because my Dad was a WWII flier (though he seldom flew after the war), or perhaps because I grew up in a Los Angeles suburb where my neighbors all worked in the aircraft industry.
This book reminds me of several truths: humans make honest mistakes; systems fail on all our inventions, but seldom as fatally as on aircraft; wishful thinking often dominates the human condition; failure of imagination simply means well-meaning designers can’t accurately see into the future; and, tragically, history often repeats itself.
After all the lessons learned by the Lockheed Electra story, 50 years later, we still had the Boeing 737 Max crashes, seemingly ignoring a lot of lessons of the Electra.
For aviation enthusiasts, or perhaps just for those who get on airliners, this is an interesting read and perhaps a cautionary tale.
November 26, 2023
3.5 rounded down to 3. The use of "the author" and "this author" was so annoying, just say "I" and "me" lol (especially since he'll do that a sentence after using "the author"). I agree with the other reviewers who said he definitely had a pro-Electra slant, sometimes to the detriment of how other "characters" (real life people) were portrayed. The first six chapters were great. I know there was more to the story for the plane, but I would have been happy if the book ended with the sixty chapter. The writing itself was fine. Easy to comprehend most of the time, but sometimes the author (whoops) wrote very convoluted sentences that were hard to follow. Anyway, a good quick read if you're into aviation history as a pilot, engineer, or just a fan.
November 16, 2017
Another one for the aircraft buffs and although the book was written in the 1960s it is still relevant today. In fact, it reads like a script for the TV series 'Air Crash Investigation'. But, as a book, it is well-researched, well written and flows well, without too much overly technical jargon. It is a long while since 1960s when the Electra was flown in Australia as a passenger aircraft, I think by both Ansett-ANA and TAA, and is still flying today as the P3 Orion with the RAAF as a maritime surveillance aircraft. Not bad for an aircraft that came close to being grounded after two horrendous crashes in the US.
February 21, 2019
Interesting treatment of the introduction of the Lockheed Electra turboprop transport and its troubled introduction, marked by two catastrophic crashes. The cause, like many in the post-WWII era of aviation development, was due to an unsuspected phenomenon. In this case, the high rpm needed from the propellers to achieve the 400 mph plus led under stress to a gyroscopic precession of the propeller that was couple in the wing eventually leading to the wing being torn off. Serling’s treatment is thorough, though some technical details could have used a clearer explication.
This Kindle volume also could have used better editing, with a number of typos throughout.
This Kindle volume also could have used better editing, with a number of typos throughout.
December 24, 2017
A clear narrative of America's famous turbo-prop aircraft
Flying machines have seldom failed to kindle any form of interest even amongst those who can only think of surviving the next day. To those who would dream of flying into pages of history, this book can help appreciate and understand how unfortunate events influence manufacturers to build safer flying machines for the general public.
I have never flown an Electra. Nor am I ever likely to do. This book helped me picture in my mind the romance of flying an iconic aircraft in the skies of America.
Flying machines have seldom failed to kindle any form of interest even amongst those who can only think of surviving the next day. To those who would dream of flying into pages of history, this book can help appreciate and understand how unfortunate events influence manufacturers to build safer flying machines for the general public.
I have never flown an Electra. Nor am I ever likely to do. This book helped me picture in my mind the romance of flying an iconic aircraft in the skies of America.
October 25, 2018
Has held up pretty well
I enjoy books about extremes: polar exploration, mountain climbing, plane crashes, shipwrecks, terrible storms--and combinations thereof. This was an old, but quite readable account of the investigation of the seemingly "cursed" Lockheed Electra crashes of the 1950s-'60s. I had to skim some of the very technical aeronautical engineering details, but there was enough of momentum of the storyline that I found the book quite enjoyable. Fascinating how government and the private sector once worked together for the common good.
I enjoy books about extremes: polar exploration, mountain climbing, plane crashes, shipwrecks, terrible storms--and combinations thereof. This was an old, but quite readable account of the investigation of the seemingly "cursed" Lockheed Electra crashes of the 1950s-'60s. I had to skim some of the very technical aeronautical engineering details, but there was enough of momentum of the storyline that I found the book quite enjoyable. Fascinating how government and the private sector once worked together for the common good.
December 27, 2017
Closer to 2.5. Interesting but very dated, not so much in the facts themselves, but in how Serling has a clear agenda of defending the Lockheed L-188 Electra to the point that it seems rather biased. It hurts even more because it actually succeeds as a primary source, but the author's narrative almost puts what he has written into doubt with his peppered asides and "this author" moments sprinkled about.
March 11, 2018
Interesting story
Good story of the development of the Lockheed Electra in during the transition from prop planes to jets. The book was written in the early 60’s I was surprised that the author defended the decision by the FAA to not ground the Electra after 2 accidents where a plane loaded with passengers broke up in mid air! How they determined the cause of the failures would be enjoyable for engineers or pilots.
Good story of the development of the Lockheed Electra in during the transition from prop planes to jets. The book was written in the early 60’s I was surprised that the author defended the decision by the FAA to not ground the Electra after 2 accidents where a plane loaded with passengers broke up in mid air! How they determined the cause of the failures would be enjoyable for engineers or pilots.
September 15, 2018
Very informative, and enlightening
Wow, this is a superb book, well written detailing a special time in US aviation history. The author masterly balances the facts and forces, which come into play after a airline crash. He also shows how previous assumptions, decisions and funding impact current events
Dated, but well worth reading, as the forces which impacted the Electra are still at work today
Wow, this is a superb book, well written detailing a special time in US aviation history. The author masterly balances the facts and forces, which come into play after a airline crash. He also shows how previous assumptions, decisions and funding impact current events
Dated, but well worth reading, as the forces which impacted the Electra are still at work today
July 26, 2019
Having flown many times in the early years of the Electra and Braniff I am happy I was not on the fatal flight of course. as I recall the main issue for passengers was the really noisy area in the near front of the aircraft which was a lounge as I recall. It was a comfortable aircraft in most of the other area. The book is well written and mostly unbiased. Very interesting on how they finally figured it out as to the cause
October 21, 2019
Interesting read
I knew very little about this airplane before reading this book. The book itself is well laid out and I appreciate the brief history the author gives us about Lockheed. Towards the end of the book the author laments on how little blame the government gets for the tragedies surrounding this airplane. How ridiculous it is something as important as air safety is so poorly funded. Wouldn't he be surprised to see nothing has changed
I knew very little about this airplane before reading this book. The book itself is well laid out and I appreciate the brief history the author gives us about Lockheed. Towards the end of the book the author laments on how little blame the government gets for the tragedies surrounding this airplane. How ridiculous it is something as important as air safety is so poorly funded. Wouldn't he be surprised to see nothing has changed
April 20, 2022
In the era of corporate malfeasance illustrated by the Boeing 737 Max scandal, it bears remembering that aviation can be a risky business. This book is the story of another airliner that, while designed with integrity and care, sustained several fatal catastrophes until it was understood what was wrong. Robert Serling, brother of Rod Serling, and for many years the aviation writer for the New York Times, tells this story concisely and very well.
January 25, 2019
WOW!
A very enlightening account of designers, builders, airlines and flyers. Very brave people who love their work and the public they serve. Every time I hear an aircraft fly overhead, I will breathe a prayer for their safety. I think this is the W-right and only thing to do.
A very enlightening account of designers, builders, airlines and flyers. Very brave people who love their work and the public they serve. Every time I hear an aircraft fly overhead, I will breathe a prayer for their safety. I think this is the W-right and only thing to do.
March 15, 2020
Good read and lessons learned that
I am a retired navy flier with over 2000 hours in the navy version of this airplane. Brought back a lot of memories. Many lessons learned certainly apply to the current 737 Max grounding. Looking forward to a future book that takes advantage of the hindsight that this book brought to the Electra
I am a retired navy flier with over 2000 hours in the navy version of this airplane. Brought back a lot of memories. Many lessons learned certainly apply to the current 737 Max grounding. Looking forward to a future book that takes advantage of the hindsight that this book brought to the Electra
May 20, 2021
Great book
Factual, fair, and balanced account of how the aircraft industry, airlines, and govern,ent worked together to find the cause and fix a fatal flaw in the airplane. Unfortunate that Congress apparently paid no attention to the lessons learned, many of which had the potential of saving Boeing management from destroying their company.
Factual, fair, and balanced account of how the aircraft industry, airlines, and govern,ent worked together to find the cause and fix a fatal flaw in the airplane. Unfortunate that Congress apparently paid no attention to the lessons learned, many of which had the potential of saving Boeing management from destroying their company.
November 27, 2021
Engaging narration of tragic events and lessons learned
It’s hard to make a naturally dry topic as the account of aviation safety challenges and its highly technical details more engaging than Sterling’s Electra Story. It’s a page-turner and relatively quick read you won’t regret investing a few hours in.
It’s hard to make a naturally dry topic as the account of aviation safety challenges and its highly technical details more engaging than Sterling’s Electra Story. It’s a page-turner and relatively quick read you won’t regret investing a few hours in.
June 17, 2024
A well written and well balanced history of the famous problem with the Lockheed L-188 Electra in the early 1960s. This is a quick read and not difficult to follow. Even though it's history from 60 years ago it is easy to see how aircraft designers and manufacturers could face similar challenges today.
December 22, 2018
Well told story of one of the most ominous airliners of the world. Very well put out for a book that’s 50 years old.
Working in the aerospace industry we see the age old story of there are no new incidents. Only rehashes of the same in different ways. (Comparing to the recent B738 Max accident)
Working in the aerospace industry we see the age old story of there are no new incidents. Only rehashes of the same in different ways. (Comparing to the recent B738 Max accident)
January 1, 2019
Review of Electra
Interesting but too long. The book was very through in describing the accidents and repairs.made to the plans. Many times the author repeated the facts. Could of been much more condensed.
Interesting but too long. The book was very through in describing the accidents and repairs.made to the plans. Many times the author repeated the facts. Could of been much more condensed.
February 17, 2019
Fast-paced telling of the unforeseen flaws in the Electras early in service
Flew the Electras many times in the 60s. It was a great aircraft. The author ably explained the peculiar, fatal phenomenon, and 56 years later some of his writing devices are almost nostalgic.
Flew the Electras many times in the 60s. It was a great aircraft. The author ably explained the peculiar, fatal phenomenon, and 56 years later some of his writing devices are almost nostalgic.
March 10, 2019
Fascinating reading about how a small design flaw can be catastrophic and the means and ways engineers and test pilots have to overcome them. Despite this the aircraft went on to long service and is still used as the P3 Orion Sub hunting plane.
May 23, 2019
Impressive account of engineering inquiry. More compelling, to me, than a crime story. Written with sufficient drama to hold interest, while maintaining a factual, objective tone. The technical facets were made understandable to the average reader, without seeming "dumbed down". Well worth a read! Loved the Kindle Unlimited "bargain" too!
September 4, 2019
Very Informative
This is a good read if you are interested in the Electra story or aviation safety in general. Some familiarity with planes or aircraft structure may be required for comprehension.
This is a good read if you are interested in the Electra story or aviation safety in general. Some familiarity with planes or aircraft structure may be required for comprehension.
August 3, 2021
I had never heard of the Electra before, so I was fascinated with this story and the lengths that people went through to fix critical errors in it. It's so shocking to think that how fast airflight began and what was necessary to ensure the public's safety. This was very informative.
April 20, 2022
Detailed, well balanced, thorough
Historical review on one stage in air safety improvements and two airplane crashes of Electra turbo props. An insight into the government and industry figures involved.
Historical review on one stage in air safety improvements and two airplane crashes of Electra turbo props. An insight into the government and industry figures involved.
November 4, 2017
A short engaging read on a venerable and interesting aircraft. A recommended read.
July 26, 2018
Brings back lots of memories, Well researched
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews