The Lockheed Model 33 Little Dipper was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 single-seat monoplane, designed by John Thorp

John Thorp

John Willard Thorp was an aeronautical engineer who made significant contributions to aircraft design throughout his life....

 and built by Lockheed

Lockheed Corporation

The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...

 at Burbank, California

Burbank, California

Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....

, only one was completed.

Development

The Model 33 design was originally started as a private venture two-seat light aircraft by John Thorp, a Lockheed engineer. In April 1944 the company agreed to build the aircraft as the Lockheed Model 33. Due to wartime restrictions on materials the company gained the interest of the United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 in the aircraft as an aerial flying motorcycle under the name Air Trooper. The Army authorised Lockheed to build two prototypes of the Model 33 and the first flew in August 1944, the aircraft flew well but the Army had lost interest. Lockheed intended to market the Little Dipper as an inexpensive light aircraft but without any interest the prototype and the partly completed second aircraft was scrapped in January 1947 for tax reasons.

Design

The Model 33 was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed nosewheel landing gear. Originally with an open cockpit it was later fitted with a fully enclosed canopy. Powered by a 50 horsepower

Horsepower

Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...

 Franklin engine it had STOL

STOL

STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...

performance.

Specifications