Lockheed Vega Maiden Flight

Video from the channel Hunter about Lockheed Vega, linked on its Above Ten Thousand entry. Duration: 23:05. Language: English. Video type: Onboard.

The video follows the first flight of a Lockheed Vega recorded with several cameras mounted on the aircraft itself, along with the radio audio between the pilot, John, the ground crew and the chase plane. It starts with the radio check and the oil temperature and pressure check. It continues with taxiing to runway 12, waiting while other traffic lands, and the takeoff. It ends with the landing and the arrival at the parking area.

Right after takeoff, the pilot notes that the rudder is very sensitive and has a lot of authority. He climbs within the traffic pattern while a plane carrying photographers pulls alongside for the photo session, and from there they confirm the aircraft isn't smoking or leaking anything. In flight he makes a tight turn and a straight-line stall test with the stick fully back. He then declines to fly past the mountains so as not to keep the media present waiting any longer, and lands again. From the chase plane they praise the landing.

On landing, the pilot thanks the audience for their support and asks for applause for Rick, highlighting his work on the aircraft. The onboard cameras are then collected to hand the footage over to a television crew.