Vega Model 2 Starliner
Vega Airplane Company · United States · first flew 1939 · airliner
The Vega Model 2 Starliner was a prototype five-seat feeder airliner produced by the Vega Airplane Company, a Lockheed subsidiary. It was designed around an unusual powerplant of two Menasco piston engines coupled to drive a single propeller.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.88 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing monoplane of light-alloy semi-monocoque construction
- Rearward-retracting main undercarriage that stayed exposed when retracted
- Single propeller driven by two coupled Menasco engines
A small low-wing feeder-liner with a conventional tail and an exposed rearward-retracting undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Vega Model 2 Starliner has a length of 9.88 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.5 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 338 km/h (210 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
In 1935 Lockheed's chief engineer Hall Hibbard discussed coupling two Menasco C6S-4 engines side by side with Al Menasco. In 1937 the AiRover Company designed the Starliner around the 520 hp Menasco U2-544 Unitwin, and the company became the Vega Airplane Company in 1938. The sole Starliner flew on 22 April 1939.
Variants
The enclosed cabin was available in a custom luxury layout for private owners or a five-seat Starliner layout with a smaller baggage compartment for airline use.
Where you'll see it
A single example was built and no production followed. The twin-engine design was intended to give a margin of safety if one engine half failed, the aircraft continuing on the other half.
Related aircraft
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