Lockheed Vega Model 2 Starliner

[Triton]

Photograph of Vega Starliner from Code One magazine.

The Vega Airplane Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Aircraft. The Vega Starliner was designed as a commuter airliner, flying four or five passengers from small airports to larger ones. The unique feature of the Starliner was its coupled twin engines turning a single propeller. First flown in 1939, development of the Starliner was discontinued when Vega was tasked to build B-17s under license during World War II.

Only one Vega Starliner was built.

Source: http://www.codeonemagazine.com/gallery_slideshow.html?item_id=19

 

[toura]

Hi Triton
Yes, but it was modified with a single tail and a
Menesco Unitwin 640 hp.
Bye

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Early drawing of the Vega Model 2 which became the Starliner.

Source: Bill Slayton article in Dirty Plastic newsletter Issue110/112, IPMS Phoenix

 

[patvig]

More details from my database (non recorded source):

• 1 pilot
• 5 passagers
• span about 12 m
• length about 9 m
• weight 2449 kg
• speed 338 km/ for Model 2, 328 for Model 22
• distance ma : 966 km
• ceiling max 6700 m

[*]maiden flight: 22/04/1939 for Model 2, 1940 for Model 22
[/list]

 

[hesham]

From Le Fana 304,

the Vega Model-2 & Model-22 Starliner drawings.

 

[Motocar]

Cutaway...??

 

[hesham]

Cutaway...??

My dear Motocar,for Model-22,it will be nice.

 

[snark]

No cutaway, but excellent photo and complete development history of this aircraft to be found here:

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Larkins/10417.htm

History of the Menasco Unitwin engine which powered this aircraft; plus photo of the single-tail (rebuilt) edition:

https://oldmachinepress.com/2013/

 

[hesham]

Nice find Snark.

 

[jstar]

If memory serves me correctly, 'Wings' did a lengthy article in the August 1985 issue.
Title was " Lockheed Vegas Unique Unitwin. Two Decades ahead of it's time"

My copy is in storage, will try to find it over the weekend if there's any interest.

 

[hesham]

If memory serves me correctly, 'Wings' did a lengthy article in the August 1985 issue.
Title was " Lockheed Vegas Unique Unitwin. Two Decades ahead of it's time"

My copy is in storage, will try to find it over the weekend if there's any interest.

That will be great.

 

[snark]

Starliner interior schematic (from Vega brochure HERE:

http://volareproducts.com/?page_id=2076#!

 

[Boxman]

I just came across some footage of the Vega Starliner (NX21725) among the British Pathé collection of newsreels on YouTube.

Along with the film of the Starliner in action, you can also catch in the background a brief glimpse of the modified Lockheed Altair 8 (NX18149) which acted as a flying test bed for the Starliner's Menasco Unitwin 2-544 engine (made up of two side-coupled Menasco C6S Super Buccaneer engines).

YouTube - British Pathe "California" (1939)

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Good Day All!

From the Gerald Balzer Collection, nice 3 views of the Model 2 and Model 22.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[hesham]

Amazing drawings my dear Mark.

 

[Motocar]

If memory serves me correctly, 'Wings' did a lengthy article in the August 1985 issue.
Title was " Lockheed Vegas Unique Unitwin. Two Decades ahead of it's time"

My copy is in storage, will try to find it over the weekend if there's any interest.

I am really interested in knowing more details of it, and if you have a cutaway I would be very happy otherwise it will be better to pick up the one I started doing but I lost the file among so many outstanding works ...! I do them as a hobby.

Motocar

 

[Motocar]

Cutaway Lockheed Vega Starliner, from Popular Mechanics