Lockheed Vega DL-1B

Role: Single Pilot Passenger Aircraft

National Origin: United States

Manufacturer: Lockheed/Detroit Aircraft Corporation

First Flight: 1926

Primary User: US Commercial

Number Built: 129

The Lockheed Vega is an American six-passenger high-wing monoplane airliner built by the Lockheed Corporation starting in 1927. It became famous for its use by a number of record-breaking pilots who were attracted to the rugged and very long-range design. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in one, and Wiley Post used his to prove the existence of the jet stream after having flown around the world twice.

Vega S/N 161, NC12288 was one of ten constructed with a with metal Vega fuselage. It was originally sold to John Morrell and Company in 1933. Painted green/red and named Morrell’s Pride II. It was later purchased by Braniff Airways and converted to airline configuration in 1934. In 1943 it was used for personal transport in the construction of Whitehorse Division, Alaska Military Highway. Jack Lowe and Robert Taylor (founder of the Antique Airplane Association) purchased the project after the pieces were collected in Alaska and rebuilt to flying 1969. In need of another restoration and repair it was purchased by John Magoffin. Mogoffin returned it to flight 2014. It joined the museums collection in Winter 2020.