Has anyone had any success with installing numpy on the NanoPi Neo Air?

Installing via pip install numpy -v it hangs at these same lines every time:

    arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc: numpy/linalg/lapack_litemodule.c
    arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc: numpy/linalg/lapack_lite/python_xerbla.c
    arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc: numpy/linalg/lapack_lite/f2c_z_lapack.c
    arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc: numpy/linalg/lapack_lite/f2c_c_lapack.c
    arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc: numpy/linalg/lapack_lite/f2c_d_lapack.c
    arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc: numpy/linalg/lapack_lite/f2c_s_lapack.c

I am unable to get a response from the serial terminal or ssh into the device whilst it hangs here.

I'm currently using Armbian Ubuntu 18.04. 

hmm pip on Debian was always a mess for me.. every-time I use pip it's inside a virtualenv and if you mess up there something, new virtualenv.