Lockheed Vega Starliner

K

killworks

Members +
Here is a new one from Rarewings.com for you to download and "beta" test before it gets released to everyone else.
1936 Lockheed Vega Starliner
star8.jpg

star2.jpg

star6.jpg

It is ready for download in FS9/2004 and FSX
Just head over to http://www.rarewings.com

PLEASE let us know what you think and if we need to fix anything
 
I have the plane downloaded and will give it a good crash testing for you. I had not heard of this aircraft before. Very interesting. Here's a bit of info copied from Virtual Aircraft Museum:

[FONT=Verdana, Arial][SIZE=-1]Designed by Lockheed's subsidiary AiRover Company, which by 1938 became the Vega Airplane Company, the Vega Starliner was a five/six-seat low-wing cabin monoplane with retractable landing gear and an unusual powerplant. This comprised two 194kW Menasco C6S-4 inline engines, mounted side-by-side, and coupled to drive together, or independently in emergency, a single propeller. First flown on 22 April 1939, the Starliner was abandoned after some 85 flight test hours as there was no demand for an aircraft in this category.
[/SIZE][/FONT]




[FONT=Verdana, Arial][SIZE=-1]Two Menasco engines, side by side.....now that is an odd power planet arrangement. The Vega Starliner flew 70 years to the day before I was born.[/SIZE][/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, Arial][SIZE=-1]OBIO
[/SIZE][/FONT]
 
Hmmmm....has Old and Lockheed in it.
Yep I am soooo there.:jump:
I had heard of the Starliner but only as a passing reference to the AiRover 'UniTwin' engine that was used in the last Altair built, known as the 'Flying Test Stand' which was incidentally to my knowledge the last wooden single engine Lockheed built (c/n 214). For some reason I was thinking it was a twin engine job, but I might've got it confused with the stillborn Lockheed Saturn project...:isadizzy:
This Starliner is from the mid-to-late 30s but looks a good 10-15 years ahead of its time. The mind boggles as to what could have been if Lockheed had stuck with the general aviation market.:kilroy:
Well just downloaded it; off to test it out.:running:
 
Took the Starliner for a short hop. Reminds me very much of a Bonanza or Baron. Only things I would change (and mind you this is only due to personal taste) would be a BananaBob prop and lighter more transparent glass in the VC (many planes I have need to have lighter glass; I think this is only a matter of changing the alpha channel)
It is amazing that Lockheed felt that this plane had no niche; according to them it was too big for the GA set and too small for airlines (I agree with the latter but physically this plane isn't much bigger than a Cessna 195; maybe if they marketed it to the executive market like they did with the Vega....mind's still boggling...:isadizzy:
All in all she's definitely a keeper. Thank you Killworks for sharing and putting this unknown-to-me-before-today jewel in the virtual skies. :ernae:
 
Just did some digging around for this bird and found that two were built. The first one was the twin-tailed version and apparently the other one had a single tail with a smooth 'razorback' profile. According to Aerofiles it was sold to a film studio and the 'track faded...'
Man wouldn't it be great if we could virtually dig up the single tailed version? (wink wink nudge nudge):kilroy:
(dang, can't attach pictures or even drag and drop:banghead:)
edit: whoa turns out I can attach pics :)
 
I have the single tail version built. It was the first 3-view plan I had of the aircraft. I was thinking of releasing it with both models, twin tail and single tail.


but that would come later. I Would have to re-do some textures and model files to release it.
 
killworks said:
I have the single tail version built. It was the first 3-view plan I had of the aircraft. I was thinking of releasing it with both models, twin tail and single tail.


but that would come later. I Would have to re-do some textures and model files to release it.
Click to expand...

We'll be patient!







OK.. enough.. time's up!:jump:

Seriously, if and when you can we'll be happy to see it
 
Y'know the single-tailed Starliner looks kind of like a Piper Comanche 400 on steroids. Can't wait to see 'er gracing our virtual skies. Take all the time you need on 'er Killworks.:ernae:
 
Found a couple of things with the Starliner on an extended flight. Not big things but you did mention anything...
1) The autopilot doesn't work. I replaced the autopilot section in the aircraft.cfg file with the autopilot section from the default DC-3 (although looking back the Vega's autopilot section would've worked fine too). After that it worked fine.
2) In the 2d overhead panel the left ammeter has no needle. This is not a big deal to me at least because the VC ammeters both work fine and I almost always fly from the VC.

Other from that (and the autopilot was an easy fix) she flies like a dream. In high cruise it's about 170 KIAS (IIRC about 25" MP, about 2100rpm, leaned just before peak), which is about normal for a plane this size and power (ie early edition Orion). :mixedsmi:
 
thanks for the bug check.
I found the "problem" in with the auto pilot also, used the vega cfg to fix it.


thanks guys
 
Looking good Killworks, looking good.:ernae:
I had just taken the twin-tailed Starliner to Mackinac Island, my first long distance flight (nearly 200 nm). Went like clockwork although there was some turbulence around Traverse City and all. My calculations show a fuel burn around 26.6 gph at 150 kias-not bad when you consider this is techncally a twin-engined plane running the equivalant of two O-540's; even so the fuel burn in total is pretty close to an R-985 Wasp Junior (the Unitwin displaces 1088 cubes for those keeping track)
I think one of the most redeeming features of this bird is the sound file...sounds like a VW bus combined with a washing machine on the verge of something important about to break down. Now if those kinds of sound was going on in real life I probably wouldn't be flying it. However in FS this gives the Starliner some personality and I really enjoy it; helps with the immersion factor.
 
Thanks everyone for all the help and testing with this one!!!

They are ready The Lockheed Vega Starliner and Vega Starliner S
Twin tail and Single tail version are ready for download.
Alot of bugs fixed, textures updated, flight dynamics worked on.
Fs9 and FSX
come and get them at
http://www.rarewings.com


here the final picture

star10.jpg
 
YES YES YES YES!!!!
I need a cigarette...

Too late tonite to fly it but will give it a thorough wringing tomorrow.
Thanks!:ernae:
 
Took the single tailed Starliner from Mackinac Island to Whitefish point and back in less-than-ideal flying conditions and it flew great. I didn't realize until after I parked it (and then subsequently getting rammed by an AI Skylane who apparently couldn't see that the parking space was occupied--stupid AI...) that the Starliner is a pretty big plane; I could easily see over the wing of that &*#@ Skylane. I don't have any screenies--I was too shocked as that AI plane slowly taxied straight into my ride.:isadizzy:
 
I am glad you liked it.

Yes she is a BIG Gal..... 45foot span 32.5 foot length. almost 9 feet tall at the cabin roof



The Alcor Junior Transports C.6.1 is being test flown almost ready for it beta release.
alcortest.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top