Lockheed Air Express
Lockheed Corporation · United States · first flew 1928 · transport aircraft
The Lockheed Air Express was a high-wing parasol monoplane built in 1928 for fast mail and cargo services in the United States. Derived from the famous Lockheed Vega, it featured a parasol wing arrangement to improve pilot visibility and passenger cabin access.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Wooden Vega-derived fuselage with open cockpit forward |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Late 1920s Lockheed high-wing parasol monoplane
- Single Wasp radial engine with long enclosed cabin
- Wooden Vega-derived fuselage with open cockpit forward
Distinguished from the Vega by its parasol wing mounting, with the wing raised above the fuselage on short struts; the pilot sat in an open cockpit ahead of the enclosed passenger cabin.
Specifications
- The Lockheed Air Express has a length of 8.38 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.95 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 283 km/h (176 mph).
- Typical crew: 1+4 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed at the request of Western Air Express, the Air Express was essentially a Lockheed Vega with its wing repositioned above the fuselage as a parasol. Only four examples were built, but the type set several speed records and demonstrated the potential of high-performance commercial aircraft. One example, flown by Frank Hawks, set a transcontinental speed record in 1929.
Variants
Four aircraft were built, with minor differences in engine fit and interior configuration; no formal production variants.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Western Air Express and used for mail contracts and record-setting flights across the United States in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
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