Lockheed Vega
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- This article is about the aircraft type. For the subsidiary of Lockheed, see Vega Aircraft Corporation.
The Vega was a six-passenger monoplane built by the Lockheed company starting in 1927. It became famous for its use by a number of record breaking pilots who were attracted to the rugged and very long-ranged design. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the Atlantic single handed in one, and Wiley Post flew his around the world twice.
Designed by John Northrop and Gerrard Vultee, both of whom would later form their own companies, the plane was originally intended to serve with Lockheed's own airline routes. They set out to build a four-seat plane that was not only rugged, but the fastest plane as well. Utilizing the latest designs in monocoque fuselages, cantilever wings and the best engine available, the Vega delivered on the speed promises.
The fuselage was monocoque, but built from sheets of plywood skinned over wooden ribs. The plane was built in two halves in large presses, and then glued together. With the fuselage constructed in this fashion, the wing spar had to be kept clear, so they decided to make a single spar cantilever mounted on the very top of the plane. The only part of the aircraft that wasn't particularly streamlined was the landing gear. For power they chose the Wright Whirlwind, which delivered 225 horsepower (168 kW).
The first Vega 1, named the Golden Eagle, flew from Lockheed's Los Angeles plant on July 4, 1927. It could cruise at a then-fast 120 mph (193 km/h), and had a top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h). However the four-passenger (plus one pilot) load was considered too small for airline use. A number of private owners placed orders for the design however, and by the end of 1928 they had produced 68 of this original design. In the 1928 National Air Races in Cleveland, Vegas won every speed award.
Looking to improve the design, Lockheed delivered the Vega 5 in 1929. Adding the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp engine of 450 hp (336 kW) improved weights enough to allow two more seats to be added. A new NACA cowling increased cruise speed to 155 mph (249 km/h) and top speed to 165 mph (266 km/h). However, even the new six-seat configuration proved to be too small, and the 5 was purchased primarily for private aviation and executive transport. Sixty-four Vega 5s were built. In 1931 the Air Corps bought two Vega 5s; one designated C-12 and one as C-17. The C-17 also had long range fuel tanks installed. Like the C-17 Globemaster III, the wings on the Vega are mounted above the fuselage.
[edit] Surviving Vegas
Both Wiley Post's Winnie Mae and Amelia Earhart's Vegas are on display in the National Air and Space Museum. Four others are believed to exist, at least one of which is still in flying condition.
[edit] Specifications (Vega 5)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
- Wingspan: 41 ft in (12.49 m)
- Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
- Wing area: 259 ft (25.548 m)
- Empty weight: 2,565 lb (1,163 kg)
- Loaded weight: 4,500 lb (2,041 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney Wasp R1340C , hp (kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 165 mph (265 km/h)
- Range: 725 mi (1,165 km)
- Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,570 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,300 ft/min (396 m/s)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)
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