Aviation History – July 4, 1927. The Vega 1 prototype, an aircraft from the workshops of the American aircraft manufacturer Lockheed, will make its very first flight on July 4, 1927. The latter will evolve on this occasion above New York for this inaugural flight which will of course be echoed by the international daily press.
The Lockheed Vega 1 is, as a reminder, a monoplane-type aircraft bearing the name of the star Vega belonging to the constellation of Lyra, whose design is to be credited to John Knudsen Northrop and Gerrard Vultee. It is an aircraft that will be very popular with the sports world and will have a great career as a racing aircraft, it must be said that its top speed is 217 kilometers per hour, which will appeal to aviators in search of records!
Motorized with a nine-cylinder block, capable of developing a power of 225 horsepower, namely a Wright Whirlwind J-5, the aircraft with a wingspan of 12.5 meters and a length of 8 meters has a cruising speed of 193 kilometers per hour.
