[William P. Lear with Lockheed Lodestar aircraft]

Photograph of William P. Lear with a Lockheed Lodestar aircraft, circa January 1953. Lear is pointing to a Lear-actuated cowl flap on the engine cowling, one of the modifications made to increase the aircraft's efficiency.

Typed caption on verso: "#8165-B. January 27, 1953. William P. Lear, Chairman of the Board and Director of Research and Development of Lear, Incorporated, discusses a detail of his unique Lodestar modification program, designed to increase the efficiency of his company's executive transport Lockheed Lodestar. The innovations created and developed by Bill Lear have already produced marked increases in speed and fuel-consumption savings, even though the program is only partially completed. Bill points out the new Lear-actuated Cowl Flap, newly designed by him to provide and insure proper cooling for his plane's (dubbed the Learstar by his many pilot friends) tight-fitting, highly streamlined engine cowl system."

Stamped on verso: "Lear, Incorporated / [address in Grand Rapids, Michigan]."