2-839-617 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

NR7952. High-speed cabin monoplane with cantilever wings and streamlined design. On May 20-21, 1932, Amelia Earhart flew this Vega across the Atlantic Ocean becoming the first woman to fly, and only the second person to solo, the Atlantic. Vegas were highly prized as racing and record-setting aircraft, and as seven-place airliners. Amelia Earhart set two of her many aviation records in this bright red Lockheed 5B Vega. In 1932 she flew it alone across the Atlantic Ocean, then flew it nonstop across the United States-both firsts for a woman. Introduced in 1927, the Vega was the first product of designer Jack Northrop and Allan Loughead's Lockheed Aircraft Company.