Historical context

The 1938 film tells the story of American aviation pioneers and their connection to Lockheed, Howard Hughes’ company.

American aviation pioneers

Charles Lindbergh:
Known for his historic solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic in 1927 in the “Spirit of St. Louis”, an aircraft he built himself (not a Lockheed). He flew various aircraft throughout his career, including Lockheed models.

Amelia Earhart:
She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in 1932 and flew several Lockheed aircraft, most famously the Lockheed Electra 10E, in which she attempted to fly around the world in 1937.

Wiley Post:
Known as the first pilot to fly solo around the world in 1933, he flew the Lockheed Vega “Winnie Mae” during his record-breaking flights.

Howard Hughes:
The aviator, inventor and film producer Hughes set several speed records in the 1930s. In 1937, he flew a modified version of the Lockheed 14 Super Electra and set a new transcontinental speed record.

Remarkable Lockheed aeroplanes

Lockheed Vega:
Introduced in 1927, the aircraft became famous for its high performance and was used by several record-breaking aviators, including Amelia Earhart and Wiley Post. The Vega was known for its speed and range, making it ideal for long-haul flights.

Lockheed Sirius:
Developed in 1929, it was used by Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh for their pioneering survey flights over the North Atlantic to explore new flight routes.

Lockheed Orion:
Introduced in 1931, it was the first commercial transport aircraft with retractable landing gear. It was used for passenger flights as well as by various aviators for speed records.

Lockheed Electra 10E:
Introduced in 1934, it is perhaps best known for Amelia Earhart. The Electra was a twin-engine, all-metal monoplane that was characterised by outstanding performance and reliability and was popular in both commercial and private aviation.

Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra:
It first flew in 1937 and was a larger and more powerful version of the Electra. Howard Hughes used a modified Model 14 for his record-breaking transcontinental flight.

These planes and aeroplanes contributed significantly to advances in aviation technology, setting numerous records and shaping the early years of American aviation history.