Known formerly as Airover Company, formed at Burbank,
California, as associated company of Lockheed Aircraft
Corporation in 1937. Began research/development
experiments with light aircraft, devising (with Menasco) a
unit called Unitwin; two small engines coupled side-byside
to drive single propeller flight-tested in Lockheed Altair
in 1938. Then designed five/six-seat Starliner twin-tailed
low-wing cabin monoplane using similar powerplant. Small
batch of radio-controlled targets built in 1939. Factory
expanded 1940, and mid-year received contract to build
large numbers of Lockheed Ventura bombers for RAF. Then,
in conjunction with Boeing and Douglas, mass-produced
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers; became
wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed in 1941 as Vega Aircraft
Corporation.
