National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
Lockheed Model 5C Vega Special, NC965Y (6th Earhart Aircraft) [Photos]
Collection Creator:
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
Lockheed Model 5C Vega High-Speed Special [**No File**]
Collection Creator:
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
The Lockheed Model 5C Vega Special (A/C No. NC965Y) was one of Amelia Earhart's aircraft in which she set numerous records. This collection consists of one scrapbook documenting the aircraft and Earhart's flights in it.
This collection is in English.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of one scrapbook compiled by Charles H. Babb and Paul Mantz as the "Story of NC-965-Y." The scrapbook is contained in a 14 x 18 inch spiral notebook and includes a map of some of Amelia Earhart's flights in the Lockheed Model 5C Vega Special (A/C No. NC965Y); photographs of Earhart and the aircraft; newspaper clippings regarding some of her flights in the aircraft; and a history of the aircraft itself. The newspaper clippings set up to look like a collage are actually superimposed upon other clippings and printed on a single sheet and the photographs and map are printed as well rather than being originals adhered to the pages. The scrapbook appears to be professionally produced, possibly commissioned by Pratt & Whitney for advertising purposes.
Arrangement:
Collection is in original order.
Biographical / Historical:
Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Model 5C Vega Special (A/C No. NC965Y) was completed by Lockheed in 1931. It had been ordered by John Henry Mears, who did not take delivery, and then sold to Elinor Smith before being purchased by Earhart. Earhart removed the Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine from her Lockheed Model 5B Vega (NR7952) in which she had made her record-setting solo transatlantic flight and installed it in the Lockheed Model 5C Vega Special. The aircraft was also fitted with special fuel tanks, radio, high speed landing gear, and a NACA engine cowling. Earhart set several records flying in the Lockheed Model 5C Vega Special including a women's transcontinental speed record flying from Los Angeles, California to Newark, New Jersey in July 1932; a women's international airline distance record flying from Los Angeles to Newark in August 1932 (a record she would break herself in 1933 flying the same aircraft); first person to fly solo from Honolulu, Hawaii, to the US mainland (Oakland, California) in January 1935; and the first person to fly solo from Mexico City, Mexico to Newark in May 1935. Also in 1935, Earhart made a record flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City, and she placed fifth in the 1935 Bendix Race. Earhart sold the Lockheed Model 5C Vega Special (A/C No. NC965Y) in 1936. It appeared in two Paramount Pictures movies, Wings in the Dark and Border Flight
, and was sold two more times before being destroyed in a hangar fire in 1943.
Provenance:
Unknown, material found in collection, NASM.XXXX.0049.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Full-length view of pilot Elinor Smith posed standing leaning against the left rear fuselage (tail) of her Lockheed Vega 5C Special "Mrs. Question Mark" (r/n NR-965-Y), Floyd Bennett Field, New York; circa 1930s.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
Rudy Arnold Photo Collection, Acc. NASM.XXXX.0356, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
These are the original Aeronautics Branch, Department of Commerce (later Civil Aeronautics Administration and Federal Aviation Agency) aircraft registration files on sixteen (16) historically significant aircraft or pilots. Aircraft include the following: first aircraft registration issued; Curtiss Robin J NX9243 (Douglas Corrigan); Lockheed 10-E NR-16020 (Amelia Earhart); Travel Air Monoplane NX-869 (Woollaroc of Art Goebel); Hughes Flying Boat (HK-1) NX37602; Ryan NYP NX-211 (Charles Lindbergh); Lockheed 10-E NR-16059 (Dick Merrill); Cessna 180 N1538C (Jerry Mock); Lockheed Vega 5-C NR-105W (Wiley Post); Standard J-1 #249 (E. A. Ocklander); Laird LTR-14 NX263Y (Roscoe Turner); Wedell Williams 109 NR-61Y (Roscoe Turner). These files contain registration and license applications, modification documents, and correspondence relating to the aircraft. There are also pilot files on the following: James Doolittle, Douglas Corrigan and Charles Lindbergh.
General:
NASMrev
Provenance:
Aeronautics Department, Transfer, 1990, 1990-0043, Public Domain
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests
Amelia Earhart poses standing on the right wheel pant of her Lockheed Model 5C Vega Special (r/n NR-965Y) at Floyd Bennett Field, New York, June 30, 1933. One-half right front view of the Vega parked on the apron; three unidentified men stand near the handling dolly placed under the tailwheel. [Cracked glass plate negative.]
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
Rudy Arnold Photo Collection, Acc. NASM.XXXX.0356, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Pilot Elinor Smith posed sitting on the top of the wing of her Lockheed Vega 5C Special "Mrs. Question Mark" (r/n NR-965-Y), Floyd Bennett Field, New York; circa 1930s.
Collection Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Collection Rights:
Permissions Requests
Collection Citation:
Rudy Arnold Photo Collection, Acc. NASM.XXXX.0356, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
