Adam Savage Inspects Amelia Earhart's Record-Breaking Aircraft!

NOTE: At the time of filming, there was a mask mandate in effect at Smithsonian Institution.
In the early 1930s Amelia Earhart flew this Lockheed Vega 5B alone across the Atlantic Ocean, then flew it nonstop across the United States: both firsts for a woman! Nelson Blankenship, Preservation & Restoration Unit Chief at the National Air and Space Museum, takes Adam through the history of this record-breaking aircraft, as well as the work his team is doing to prepare it for display at Smithsonian.
Lockheed Vega 5B: airandspace.si.edu/collection...
Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar: airandspace.si.edu/visit/udva...
Shot and edited by Joey Fameli
Produced by Kristen Lomasney
Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks:
/ @tested
Tested Ts, stickers, mugs and more: tested-store.com
Subscribe for more videos (and click the bell for notifications): kzbin.info_c...
Twitter: / testedcom
Facebook: / testedcom
Instagram: / testedcom
Discord: / discord
Amazon Storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/adamsavage...
Savage Industries T-shirts: cottonbureau.com/stores/savag...
Tested is:
Adam Savage / donttrythis
Norman Chan / nchan
Joey Fameli www.joeyfameli.com
Ryan Kiser / ryan.kiser
Jen Schachter www.jenschachter.com
Kishore Hari / sciencequiche
Sean Charlesworth / cworthdynamics
Jeremy Williams / jerware
Kayte Sabicer / kaytesabicer
Bill Doran / chinbeard
Ariel Waldman / arielwaldman
Darrell Maloney / brokennerd
Kristen Lomasney / krystynlo
Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching!
#AdamSavage #Smithsonian #AmeliaEarhart

[@Goldsteinphoto]

This is special to me. My late brother, Norman Goldstein, worked on the restoration of this plane back in the 70s I have a photo of him proudly standing in front of it at the Air and Space Museum. .

[@B-in-Norva]

Imagine being at the Udvar-Hazy, overlooking the restoration hangar..."say, there's an Apollo Capsule, a Wright Flyer, and some big red airplane too.....BUT LOOK! I THINK THAT IS ADAM SAVAGE!"

[@silmarian]

He has dressed as Indiana Jones, so.... "That man belongs in a museum!"

[@thefriar8883]

As much as I love Adam Savage, he isn't nearly as important as the people that flew in those craft.

[@fishsquishguy1833]

@@thefriar8883 totally agree but do appreciate the fact he honors them by bringing attention to their great achievements

[@the_minimalistic_adventure]

@@thefriar8883It’s not that literal, man..

[@lordtachanka903]

This is why I love Adams channel, literally no one asked for this but it’s still awesome

[@peterkelley6344]

One of Amelia Earhart's aircraft. What a surprise to see. I knew one had to be around somewhere, but just was not expecting to see it. Thanks for sharing Adam.

[@ianc4901]

I appreciate the close ups and detailed camera work here, wish I could see more !

[@zepplinc20]

I dunno why, but I feel like these guys got a good buzz going on before turning on the camera.

[@tested]

Have you been to the Udvar-Hazy Center? What was your favorite relic there? Watch more videos of Adam's time at the National Air and Space Museum here: kzbin.info/aero/PLJtitKU0CAeiJ7tjkIqcrRPfIYZHPW643

[@Randomperson0467]

Onewheel is awesome

[@cam4894]

Thank you! Now I'm adding this museum to my list! Have you checked out the Military Aviation Museum near Virginia Beach? They have THE plane that was in Flyboys and the volunteers are phenomenal! They lend out planes, so I got to see a p51 Mustang land, it was AMAZING!

[@MaxCruise73]

YES, I have visited the Udvar-Hazy Center. Fantastic museum. Home of the ONLY Dornier Do 335 in existence. Really like this aircraft. Very large in person.

[@randalscott7224]

I haven't been to the museum but I hope to fix that this October.

[@larrysteele6199]

Always like seeing the progress on the Horton Ho 229! Additionally love making stops at the P-61 Black Widow and the case that has the “Mothership” from CEoTK

[@Advil1024]

As the camera pans around I'm seeing a lot of other things I also want to know about. I hope you have video coverage of all of them lol

[@troy4340]

The command module and wright brothers plane were already covered. Fantastic stuff!

[@MrChief101]

Indeed! A simple walk around tour would suffice-- if shot of course... OR something for next time.

[@Advil1024]

@@troy4340 Oh yeah, I need to find the command module video because I haven't watched that one yet.

[@Advil1024]

@@MrChief101 I want to walk around in that shop, but it would be difficult to resist touching everything in there lol

[@MrChief101]

@@Advil1024 You've got that right! Or simply falling to one's knees!

[@brianmcmonagle8640]

I think this plane landed in my home town of Derry, Ireland in 1932. Amelia was on her way to Paris but due to bad weather landed on Farmland in the Ballyarnet area of Derry. The Plane was a Lockheed Vega 5B. Vey cool to see it.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

What an aviator What a beautiful aircraft! Love this mini series.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing!

[@n2dadarknight]

I’m waiting for the video on Flak Bait. I love these series of videos, please keep them coming. 👍🏻

[@3BricksHigher]

All of that and not one shot of the cockpit where Amelia sat. She is an American Hero no doubt. Would've been cool to see the entire plane.

[@theejectionsite1038]

As I recall Kelly Johnson of Lockheed fame worked with Earhart on optimizing some of her aircraft, especially the Electra. I wouldn't be surprised if he had touched this one as well albeit I think it was used before he was with Lockheed.

[@nicholasresar]

I have to say, I stopped by the Smithsonian, around the time that Adam did his trip and took a couple pictures of the restoration hanger. I saw, but did not notice or realize what they were, both this and Wright flyer from the previous videos.

[@ImpendingJoker]

How could you not know the Wright Military Flyer? I mean aside from looking almost identical to the 1903 Flyer, you'd have been technically right if you said, it was a Wright Flyer. Biggest differences were that the pilot sat upright instead of laying flat in a cradle with an observer seated next to him. Other than that, they almost the exact same save for the engines being different as well. What a lot of people didn't know, including the curator it would seem, is that the 1903's engine was actually built by Glenn Curtis because of his motorcycle racing. He built a lot of engines for them until he realized he should be building them for himself, and built the Curtiss June Bug a couple years later.

[@nicholasresar]

@@ImpendingJoker More so that it was in the far back of the hanger from where I was standing. So I only noticed it by looking back in my photos and zooming in. I blame the X-wing for distracting me.

[@wayneblais8368]

Can't wait to go to the Smithsonian.

[@SyntheticFuture]

It's a bit of a shame that the extra tanks etc are no longer in it. Would have been interesting to see it in the original flight mode. Still a very interesting plane that I didn't know about before this video. Going across the ocean must have been terrifying back then.

[@donaldparlett5789]

my past friend worked down at the Silver Hill Restoration before the new location. Iwent there probably every 2 weeks for years. The gang knew me and they let me crawl around everywhere. they let get into a ton of airplanes including the Enola Gay before anything was done in restoration. on rollout of restorations I was called to come as the piace was not open during that time and I met some incredible people. Paul Garber was like another grandfather to me. the talent of the restoration team was insane and the attention to details was mind boggling. Mary Fiek RIP my fellow pilot.

[@Goldsteinphoto]

Did you know my brother... Norman Goldstein? He was a resyorer. Carl Heinsel was a friend of his and worked there for decades.

[@PostalTwinkie]

The best video series!

[@TheDewayne69er]

Thanks for the content thank you it's awesome

[@huntermatherne5485]

Went and saw it today, SO COOL!!

[@x1984x]

All of these recent videos reminds me how much I'd love to visit the Smithsonian.

[@jordaneimer2873]

there is nothing like it. also see the newseam in DC. its more privately owned from my understanding. but full of amazing artifacts from key points in modern history.

[@kirk8985]

Thank you 🌱

[@scottrogers8100]

Amazing part of history!

[@timlorakatryan]

Has Adam done a video from the Raiders of the Lost Ark plane at the air museum in Oakland? Seems like that would be right up his alley.

[@scottharris6423]

That was quite interesting, WOW!!!!!

[@DetroitMicroSound]

If you wanted to illustrate what high speed travel looked like in the early 30's, this is one of the vehicles you would draw.

[@johndaltrocanto]

Well honestly if I think speed in the ‘30s I think about the monstrously overpowered and ridiculously fast seaplane racers, like the Macchi MC72 which set a speed record of 383 knots, which is faster than today’s fastest single engine turboprop of comparable weight. In comparison the maximum speed of the vega was 160 knots, less than half.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@johndaltrocanto There is another! They are both great aircraft. Very different aircraft.

[@nagualdesign]

I'd probably show someone some photographs of trains, and maybe a passenger aircraft.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@nagualdesign Vega's were mostly passenger craft.

[@nagualdesign]

@@DetroitMicroSound I was thinking more of a DC-2 or DC-3. Something with a metal fuselage.

[@popviz3316]

Please, next time include a shot of the cockpit.

[@grantwagner684]

When I was younger I snuck into an exhibit that was closed at the Smithsonian Air&Space, I saw her when she was still put together.

[@MaxCruise73]

One thing you will see in aviation museums is the use of gloss paint on warbirds. While gloss paint was NOT used during the war years, flat matte paint is much harder to clean. For that reason, gloss paint is used.

[@SkyhawkSteve]

you might have to be specific on what wars you are referring to. When I worked on A-4 Skyhawks in the late 70's and early 80's, they used gloss paint. They did transition to low visibility paint schemes in the early 80's, which was not gloss, IIRC.

[@MaxCruise73]

@@SkyhawkSteve Thank you for your comment. Most of the aircraft that I refer to would be WWII warbirds.

[@MaxCruise73]

@@SkyhawkSteve On a side note, I liked the A-4 Skyhawk. Used by the US Navy Blue Angels and by the Argentine Air Force and Argentine Navy during the Falklands war. Hard to believe the Falklands war took place 40 years ago. Also used by the Israel Air Force.

[@SkyhawkSteve]

@@MaxCruise73 I believe Argentina is still using Skyhawks; mostly updated A-4M's and OA-4Ms. More than a few are used by private aggressor services for training military pilots too. Nice to have such an old design still provide good service.

[@ImpendingJoker]

That is only correct to a point. About 1943, they figured out that they could save money and weight by not painting them at all. This not only improved fuel economy but airspeed as well. The only areas that were matte painted were the engine cowlings at the point2 where they would reflect light into the pilot's eyes. After that, they went gloss because of the better airflow and never looked back. About the only aircraft that are now painted matte are military helicopters because they don't really need to be that fast where as the Osprey is gloss because it is fast. Some VIP aircraft are also gloss because they are not combat aircraft, like Marine One, the UH-1N and VH-60 "cotton tops" that the high brass use.

[@chrismerkel9604]

Working for the Smithsonian would be a dream job. Tried years ago but could never break the ice!

[@williamr3840]

What a great looking plane! :0)

[@grim-upnorth]

Don't let Trevor Jacob get his hands on this beauty

[@adorimable9690]

the vega is one of the reasons i want to go to the Smithsonian

[@joegilly1523]

Cool …ok VERY COOL PLANE . History dripping off of it .

[@mayamanign]

Wow!

[@11cramm11]

Even without the history it's just such a beautiful plans love the gold accents

[@Capt.Marco-Hawk-L.L.A.P]

Adam you are so very lucky, and thank you so much for showing us all

[@seldoon_nemar]

Hearing him talking about the components of museum dust just remind me of the concrete at major theme parks being embedded with shoe rubber like a drag strip in front of all the old rides

[@bsm327]

Do they oil the engines so they stay moveable?

[@dfsdh432v9]

Quite achievement! 🙂

[@rabbit1k973]

Why did Amelia hate records so much? I love them all... from singles to LPs

[@Merennulli]

She was a great pilot but a terrible music critic.

[@Willnewman-Jugheadjones]

@@Merennulli 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Willnewman-Jugheadjones]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@vitsirosh3722]

I have a plastic model kit of this plane and now I'm more excited to build and airbrush it

[@lorenmars5244]

Just the titles of these videos make you go, WHAT? The actual airplane? ...click... It's great to see these old birds up close in HD. Haven't even watched this video yet but, I know it will be cool.

[@vaughngaminghd]

4:09 composition of museum dust

[@wild_lee_coyote]

I wish more people would look into what Jackie Cochran did. Not only was she Amelia Earhart’s best friend, she holds more records than any pilot, man or woman. She helped establish the WASPs so women can fly military aircraft in WWII, numerous race records, was the first woman who broke the sound barrier, saved a Presidents life, and started her own makeup line. All this from a woman who was born into an indentured home, and never went past 6th grade. Amelia was good, but Jackie was better.

[@IbakonFerba]

You probably know it already, but there is a book about Jackie (and also Jerrie Cobb) called Fighting for Space, it is a great read!

[@lukewarmwater6412]

did not know that.. thanks! now I have something to do today! love to study aviation history.

[@81steliteairsoft]

She held more records than any other pilot at the time of her death.

[@olsurferguy1]

I have a large photograph (copy) of Jacqueline Cochran standing in front of a Northrop Gamma, taken in 1939, hanging in my home. She was an incredible person.

[@KaoruGoyle]

why doesnt she have a movie? all this hollywood pandering and preaching about women power and they cant do a move about an awesome real woman?

[@hurz291]

Does anyone know which brand the olive shirt Adam's wearing is?

[@martyparsons8395]

I wonder if there's any original markings or writing on the plane done by its pilot?

[@AsbestosMuffins]

the big army air corps balloon gondala ball has quite a story too

[@stephenpahl7538]

I wonder if they collect and catalog the dust for future research and comparison

[@jordaneimer2873]

sounds like it. i bet they test everything that has a long term contact with the artifacts. that way they can document the effects.

[@haldyordan2316]

Hello, what's that sphere shaped object in the background?🤔.....

[@boruff68]

I am in AWE as to how many historic pieces are just within a few feet of each other here ! (I know ,It's the Smithsonian !!!! lol )

[@jordaneimer2873]

this restoration warehouse is the holy grail of museums. i would sell a kidney to work in an environment like this everyday.

[@Erilis000]

the end was a little weird but good showing overall. still, i would have liked to have heard more about the craft or history,

[@offpherj7884]

Interesting...

[@Aaron25thinfantry]

Id rather it not be restored but it's amazing regardless

[@MB-qx4ie]

That plane needs to fly!

[@robertlinke2666]

since the museum wants to keep it as good as possible, that wont happen. but yes, having the honor to fly something with so much history, i would want that

[@luckymouse1988]

Meanwhile, Earhart is chilling in a Briori freezer.

[@merickful]

Best comment! Delta quadrant life for the win!

[@5695q]

When I saw it at the mall 15 years ago, it smelled moldy like damp wood decaying. I hope they addressed it before it goes back on display.

[@troywalker8078]

What is the make and model?

[@robertlinke2666]

Lockheed Vega 5B, says so in the description

[@mittensfastpaw]

Nifty

[@lostcelts1536]

Amelia E’s plane??? GEEKED!! 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓

[@nathandieck6962]

Hey Adam! I just wanted to thank you for inspiring me as a creator and an artist. My parents and I love your shows! I really hope you can see this... I can dream...

[@diegoramos2701]

Why so old red

[@arturk3810]

Thank god you're lowering the risks of spreading this deadly virus.

[@draven86]

It's still a big mystery what exactly happend to her

[@basebilljr07]

It's such a beautiful aircraft it's a shame to see it sitting in a museum. it should be restored back to working order and make it a flying museum piece. I know it's a historical aircraft but it would still be amazing to see it in the air where it belongs flying like once or twice a year at some of the big Aviation shows like Oshkosh or Sun n fun.

[@BeelzeJon]

Absolutely. Coming from a car guy, seeing a piece in a museum just doesn't compare to seeing it breathing life into everyone

[@jordaneimer2873]

bahahaha you could not bring this plane of to modern flying standards. no way no how. its just fine as it is. there are plenty of other vintage planes that people keep serviced. but this one is Emelia Earhart's and putting it anywhere near the skies would be downright foolish. did you hear them say it was made of wood???? Some people just can never be happy with the way life is. they need it to be their version of how they should be. What is next do you want them to stick the apollo 11 CM back on top of a spaceX falcon9 rocket and send her to space?? just so its not "sitting in a museum." give us a break

[@Barstool_cub_driver]

As mentioned, the fabric is not original. I own some of the original fabric - confirmed by the museum. Back in the 70’s this airplane along with others had their fabric restored. I also have original fabric from the Wright Flyer V- also confirmed by the museum. The fabric was sold for $10 a square.

[@mattalford3932]

Then coconut crab food.

[@shanek6582]

Did she just have tons of money and paid mechanics and designers to build her souped up planes or did she design the equipment? Haven’t read anything about her.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

I do not know but I guess that she looked for financing among wealthy people and corporation that wanted a cut of the honor. This is like someone that want to climb Mount Everest and sign up for sponsorship and as such ends up being use in advertisement.

[@jordaneimer2873]

same as today really. she was sponsored. she worked closely with lockeheed martin, who built her custom planes, essentially. the rest came with a good ol' fashion media frenzy. same way people get rich doing interesting or one off stuff these days. like remember red bull 5ish years ago sponsored that space jump guy from europe. he jumped off weather ballons at like 130000feet high in the air? same sort of thing.

[@martinramirez6050]

Doooope

[@righty-o3585]

40% of household dust is dead human skin

[@b.chuchlucious5471]

Time to test the myth of the similarities with a chain link fence and a piece of cloth.

[@shanek6582]

Can they get individual human dna from the museum dust?

[@robertlinke2666]

given how mixed that would be, probably not. too contaminated

[@MorrisonManor]

What if NASM is actually a lesser quality than a particular contractor? I'm sure it's not an uncommon situation.

[@PartisanGamerDE]

Ah yes the capitalistic myth that EVERYTHING can be done better by a private company.

[@simon_far]

I doubt often, as contractors are trying to make money by working faster while NASM are salaried so can take their time.

[@MorrisonManor]

Not everything. Just those where someone has poured their whole life into a discipline vs someone who got assigned one to learn on an important item.

[@MorrisonManor]

Time is only one factor. Experience is the better metric.

[@MorrisonManor]

Y’all do know much of what was originally done on these planes was done by experienced artisans. Right?

[@hughoxford8735]

I find it hard to understand what he's saying

[@AYEitsVIC822]

The thumbnail looks like an artist's card board depiction of a woman on a period

[@KJ4RMZ]

Would have enjoyed this more if there weren't muzzles being worn.

[@rileyk99]

Cry me a river

[@James-yp5dn]

I love the show but the audio is terrible with masks

[@iplaymytele]

What is up with a mask...??? You are in a airplane hanger for God sake......🙄

[@bb5242]

disliking all mask vids from here on out

[@razzati420]

haha youtube doesn't count dislikes anymore jokes on you !!

[@bird.9346]

@@razzati420 The video uploader can still see them and they still affect the algorithm

[@ChuckMahon]

Please ditch the masks, completely unnecessary in February 2022. Sets a bad tone.

[@deen1843]

All this amazing history shown/discussed and you've got your panties in a bunch about small piece of fabric that has zero impact on what's being shared in the video? You must be fun at parties.

[@jonasthemovie]

This is probably not recorded in February 2022.... buy yeah.

[@luckymouse1988]

Not as bad a tone as your comment.

[@jonasthemovie]

@@deen1843 Well, not as much as the german men and women who beat a girl in a german public transport because she was not wearing a mask...those people got their panties in a bunch for sure.

[@mikeuk666]

Attention seeking antivax flat earther alert right here folks

[@mrmatt2525able]

No one wants you to wear masks eh, don’t do it for the people you may offend

[@CmdrMic]

What, this was done in the fall of 2022 and they felt they still h;ad to wear masks? They couldn't at least take them off for 10 minutes to make the video... This type of political correctness is just so cringe.

[@rstorm21]

She didnt do a fucking thing, the plane did

[@Wicaeed1]

Yep the plane took off by itself and autopilot flew across the country with nobody at the controls

[@miro2424]

Cannot stand those masks.

[@tylerwhales]

Hahahahahahaha... masks.

[@mikeuk666]

Attention seeking antivax flat earther alert

[@wereallgonnadie3355]

Nice non-N95 masks in this video. Virtue-Signaling 101.

[@merickful]

Blinded by the light of your own signal! 🤣

[@jonasthemovie]

In this museum enviroment spit collecting masks makes sense. But no, it’s virtue signalling.

[@mikeuk666]

Attention seeking antivax flat earther alert

[@starfish304]

Only one mask? You are going to kill my grandma 😭😭😭😭😭😭