LOCKHEED VEGA Model 5 NC195E

ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD

This airplane is a Lockheed Vega Model 5 (S/N 26; ATC #93) manufactured December 11, 1928 by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, CA.  It left the factory with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp CB engine (S/N 989) of 450 HP.  It was a five-place airplane.

It sold sometime in 1929 to Nevada Airlines, Inc., Los Angeles, CA.  It was flown on Nevada’s routes during 1929-30.  It was repossessed by Pacific Finance Company, Los Angeles (date not cited). 

NC195E landed at Tucson four times between June 15, 1929 and November 9, 1930.  On June 15th it was flown by George C. Sherwood carrying four unidentified passengers.  They were south bound from Glendale, CA to Durango, Mexico.

Sherwood flew into Tucson carrying three unidentified passengers on June 18, 1929.  This was undoubtedly the return trip because Sherwood noted in the Remarks column of the Register, "From Durango, Mexico".  The fate of the fourth southbound passenger is unknown.

Our airplane landed again on February 17, 1930 flown by Roscoe Turner.  He carried three unidentified passengers.  They stayed on the ground for 15 minutes, then continued their journey from Los Angeles to Dallas, TX.  This was probably one of the last flights (probably a charter) of Nevada Airlines (for which Roscoe was working, and which owned this plane at the time).

Pacific Finance sold it to Braniff Airways, Inc., Oklahoma City, OK in November, 1930.  It was converted to a Vega 5C with a larger vertical stabilizer and rudder, and certified as a seven-place airplane.

We find NC195E at Tucson the final time on November 9, 1930.  it was piloted by Chester Bailes, carrying one unidentified passenger.  They were eastbound from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City.  This is undoubtedly the post-sale ferry flight from LA to Braniff. We also find the airplane in the log of Register pilot R.W. Henderson July 13, 1931. Please direct your browser to his page and open Logbook #1, PDF page 19. He apparently served as a backup pilot for Braniff, since he noted this 45-minute flight in his log as, "Extra for Braniff."

According to the NASM record, NC195E suffered an accident at St. Louis, MO on April 22, 1933.  No details were given.  No further information.

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THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 04/14/06 REVISED: 02/19/09, 10/13/11