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LOCKHEED VEGA Model 5B NC868E
LIFE-LONG DEMONSTRATOR
This airplane is a Lockheed Vega Model 5B (S/N 68; ATC #227)
manufactured in May 1929 by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation,
Burbank,
CA. It left the factory with a Pratt & Whitney
Wasp C engine (S/N 2035) of 450 HP. It was a seven-place
airplane.
It was a Lockheed company demonstrator, originally to have
been a Vega 2 with Wright Whirlwind J-6 engine, but converted
and finished with the 5B configuration and Wasp engine.
We find NC868E landing at Tucson on February 13, 1930 flown
by Herbert Fahy. He carried two passengers, his wife,
Claire, and a Mrs. Bransom. They were eastbound from
Palm Springs, CA to St. Louis, MO. Fahy was a test
pilot for Lockheed.
Now NC868E suffered two accidents in quick succession. First
at Newark, NJ on February 20, 1930. No report of injuries
to the pilot and single passenger. The right half
of the landing gear collapsed and a wing tip was damaged
(sounds like a ground loop accident). It was repaired
as of March 18, 1930. The NASM record gives no details
of the second accident at Washington, DC on September 24,
1930.
The final disposition of this airplane is found in a letter
to the CAA from the Detroit Aircraft Corporation, Detroit,
MI: “…ship has, through service, been worn
out, and cancellation of license requested. Fuselage
used to replace discarded one on Vega…NC7952….” As such, the fuselage of 898E is on exhibit at the National Air & Space Museum as part of Amelia Earhart's Vega, which is NC7952. Please follow the link to learn about her airplane.
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UPLOADED: 04/19/06 REVISED:
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