sedona legend helen frye

Private Executive Planes of

Jack Frye

Longtime President and founder of Transcontinental and Western Air

Sedona Legend Profile Series

Lockheed Vega NC-624-E

Transcontinental and Western Air Lockheed Vega 5-B, NC-624-E, shown in front of Glendale's now historic, Grand Central Terminal in 1931. Plane thought to be painted in Western Air Express colors: cream and red. Image likely used for Transcontinental and Western Air publicity. Photo is from the book "Legacy of Leadership- A Pictorial History of Trans World Airlines." The "gold-standard" of TWA history. Used here in accordance with the Fair-Use Provision of the Copyright Act.

1929 Lockheed Vega, (all wood construction) reconditioned in 1931, when purchased by Transcontinental and Western Air. C/N 53, TWA Fleet Number 251.

This image originated as a photo taken by Ray Talbott. The entire Talbott photographic collection was purchased by aviation historian John Underwood from the Talbott estate. The 8 x 10 negative of the above image was part of the sale. Although the image has been available in other venues such as E-Bay, it is the sole property of Underwood. The image as shown above, also appeared in Underwood's book:
"Madcaps, Millionaires, and Mose".

In the mid-1930's, in regard to Transcontinental and Western Air becoming a major nation-wide operation, the need for an executive transport was apparent. Several planes were utilized for this purpose by Jack Frye, the first, being a Lockheed Vega, in the early 1930's. Interestingly this Vega was somewhat well-known, as were Jack's other planes. It is thought to have been the NC-624-E, TWA fleet number 251, per a former Frye associate. This TWA Lockheed possibly was also used for scheduled passenger service. Two Northrop Gammas followed in 1934. By 1940, two other more suitable executive transports were drafted, the Lockheed, Electra Jr. 12A and Lodestar, in 1944. One of the Gammas and both Lockheeds were designated: "Flight Research Laboratory" planes. These planes were regularly utilized in the program by both Jack Frye and chief TWA research test pilot, Tommy Tomlinson. Both Gammas and the Lockheeds, were designated as the private executive planes of Jack Frye and always reserved for his use. The Electra Junior 12A, and Lodestar 18, were designed specifically by Lockheed as airline feeder transports and executive airliners. These planes were the "Cadillac" of planes, the most advanced and fastest transports of their day. It was no coincidence that Howard Hughes chose the Super Electra 14, and Amelia Earhart the Electra 10E, for their 'round-the-world flights!

Jack Frye was vice-president in charge of operations, for Transcontinental and Western Air from it's inception. By September of 1934, he was appointed to the position of general manager and vice president, then in December of 1934, he was made president of TWA, a title he held until February of 1947. TWA insiders will assure you however, that it was Jack Frye who was the unofficial operating president of TWA from the company's launch. During his TWA years, Jack always had an executive, personal, corporate plane. He preferred the fastest and most sophisticated machines of the day. The above 5-passenger-Vega was one such plane said to be Frye's "personal plane". In my attempts to document Jack's Vega, I contacted the celebrated aviation author John Underwood, of "Madcaps, Millionaires, and Mose". Per John, we are able to derive a few more facts about the TWA Lockheed Vega, NC624E, TWA fleet number #251, as follows:

"This aircraft was not exactly Jack’s private property, being registered to TWA, but it was definitely reserved for his personal use. It had a special paint job and was probably very plush inside. Jack used it for his business and personal needs, but #251 was also used for charters. I believe it was also available for Lindbergh’s use from time to time."

The Vega 5B was the same model used by Amelia Earhart for her record Trans-Atlantic flight. Amelia's Vega was the NR-7952, now secured at the Smithsonian Institution. Please see this link for more information on this famous Earhart 5B. With a cruising speed of 165-180 m.p.h. the Vega was right in line with the speedsters Jack Frye preferred. After April 30, 1934, Jack utilized the much faster, newly purchased, Transcontinental and Western Air Northrop Gammas, for his executive use. It is not known if the V.I.P. service Vega ever served scheduled passenger transport with TWA.

Another image of Jack's Vega appears to the left, courtesy of Legacy of Leadership.

Newspaper article from January 13, 1932 (click on article to read)
Jack Frye, vice president in charge of operations for Transcontinental and Western Air, departs from Albuquerque to Kansas City in his private Lockheed plane, with passengers, S.A. Cisley, Author O. Willoughby, and T. M. Ritienour.

To the left, from the incredibly detailed Lockheed history book, "Revolution in the Sky," by Richard Sanders Allen, we learn more about the NC-624E history.

According to aviation writer Underwood, in the mid-twenties Jack flew a Curtiss JN4D, "Jenny", and later at the end of Jack's life one of his personal planes was thought to be a Helio H-319B Courier, (likely the N-41040). His use of this plane was no doubt due to his association with the Helio Corporation.

Vintage FAA Airplane Registration Codes- NC (National Standard) NR (National Restricted) NL (National Limited) NX (National Experimental) N- meaning United States Registry.

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