Aviation Pioneer. In 1911 he began designing aircraft and in 1916 Lockheed was co-founder of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation with his brother Malcolm. In 1929 Lockheed developed the Lockheed Vega monoplane, built for the likes of Wiley Post and Amelia Earhart. That same year Lockheed retired from the company and gave full command to his brother and designer Jack Northrop, who would take over Allen’s place in the company. His company was considered a pioneer in the making of molded plywood wings and fuselages.