In 1910 Raoul Vendome built a monoplane weighing 100 lb. The folding aeroplane incorporated several features. It could be assembled or dismantled by two people in four minutes. When folded it could be stored in a space of 7 x 10 x 17 feet.
Vendome tried to perfect a simple, cheap aeroplane that anyone could build at home.
France
Designed or built several novel prototypes between 1906-1914, and after outbreak of First World War produced small number of single-seat monoplanes for artillery spotting for French Army. Last known design was 1916 experimental military biplane with two Gnome engines mounted laterally.
Designed by Dan J. Maher, the prototype Velocity first flew in July 1985, as the first four-seat, composite airplane kit, based on the Long-EZ.
The 1988 kit price, less engine, prop, and avionics, was $18,000.
First flying in July 1985, the Standard was available in RG and Elite models for $25,000-32,000.
The introduction of the larger wing 173 in 1992 introduced to the homebuilt category a more docile aircraft offering performance and efficiency. Kits were available in RG (retractable gear) and Elite (gull-wing) models for $26,000-33,000; partial and pre-built sub-assembly components were also offered on all kits.
By 1998 seventy examples were flying.
The Velocity SEs aerodynamic stability is one of its strongest assets. Featuring easy-entry dual gull-wing doors, this model accommodates 160 to 220 HP powerplants, providing a cruise of from 150 to 187 knots, depending on horsepower, propeller pitch and landing gear selected. As with the XL model, this kit is available with fixed or retract gear.
Introduced in 1997, the Velocity XL (extra large), added more width and length to the fuselage and provides room for Lycoming IO-540, and Continental IO-550 series engines. The XL was also available in RG and Elite models for $34,000-38,000.
2003 saw the introduction of the Velocity XL-5 (nicknamed the “Dash 5”), which is an option to the XL kit. In addition to all the “extras” of the Velocity XL model, the “Dash 5” includes an extra seat (it can accommodate 3 children on the rear bench seat), extra baggage space, extra packing versatility, extra passenger comfort, extra useful load, extra engine power, extra braking power, and extra rudder control.
In 2006 Velocity introduced the TXL, a series of modifications to the XL-5 to take full advantage of the Continental TSIO-550-C engine. The Continental C-model engine is a twin-turbo dual-intercooled 310HP power-plant which is turbo-charged to produce 100% of rated horsepower to about FL250. The factory demo aircraft “Turbo-Charlie” boasts true airspeeds at FL250 of 250 knots and with the increased speed comes increased effective range.
Antonio Espinal built his jet powered Velocity, N289AE, with the help of X-Jets. The first flight was successful, but the second flight landed short of the runway (accident), apparently because the pilot got behind the power curve and couldn’t get the engine to come up to power quickly enough. This plane was flying again as of 2009. Espinal was killed in a crash of his Beech 98 in March of 2010.
Velocity
Engine: Lycoming IO-360, 200 hp
Height: 7.9 ft
Length: 16.25 ft
Wing span: 28.63 ft
Wing area: 125 sq.ft
Fuel cap: 65 USG
Weight empty: 1250 lbs
Gross: 2250 lbs
Speed max: 215 mph.
Cruise: 200 mph
Range: 1200 sm
Stall: 75 mph
ROC: 1400 fpm
Take-off dist: 850 ft
Landing dist: 800 ft
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft
Seats: 4
Landing gear: fixed nose wheel
Velocity 173 / Velocity LW
Velocity 173 RG Elite
Empty weight: 567 kg
Wing span: 8.73 m
Wing area: 11.6 sq.m
Fuel capacity: 246 lt
Engine: Lycoming IO-360, 200 hp
MAUW: 1020 kg
Seats: 4
Max speed: 370 kph
Cruise speed: 350 kph
Minimum speed: 112 kph
Climb rate: 7.5 m/s
Fuel consumption: 40 lt/hr
Kit price (1998): $28,000
Velocity 173RG
Engine: Lycoming IO-360, 200 hp
Height: 7.9 ft
Length: 19.2 ft
Wing span: 31 ft
Wing area: 145 sq.ft
Fuel cap: 75 USG
Weight empty: 1300 lbs
Gross: 2400 lbs
Speed max: 210 mph
Cruise: 200 mph
Range: 1500 sm
Stall: 69 mph
ROC: 1700 fpm
Take-off dist: 750 ft
Landing dist: 700 ft
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft
Seats: 4
Landing gear: retractable nose wheel
Velocity Elite RG
Engine: Lycoming IO-360, 200 hp
Height: 7.9 ft
Length: 16.25 ft
Wing span: 28.63 ft
Wing area: 125 sq.ft
Weight empty: 1250 lbs
Gross: 2250 lbs
Fuel cap: 65 USG
Speed max: 230 mph
Cruise: 220 mph
Range: 1320 sm
Stall: 70 mph
ROC: 1500 fpm
Take-off dist: 850 ft
Landing dist: 800 ft
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft
Seats: 4
Landing gear: retractable nose wheel
Velocity XL
Engine: Lycoming IO-540, 260 hp
Length Overall: 20′
Height: 7′ 9″
Wheel Base: 110″
Track Width: 80″
Wingspan: 31′
Canard Span: 188″
Main Wing Area: 122.5 Sq Ft
Canard Wing Area: 22.8 Sq Ft
Total Wing Area: 145 Sq Ft
Empty Weight: 1700 lbs
Gross Wt: 2800 lbs
Useful Load: 1100 lbs
Standard Fuel Qty: 70 USgals (93 opt)
Wing Loading at Gross: 19.31 lb/sq ft
Design Load Factors: +9/-7 G-Load
Tested Airframe Load: +6 G-Load
Cabin W/L/H: 47.5″ x 94″ x 43.5″
Seating: 2+2
Top speed: 239 mph
Cruise: 228 mph
Stall: 75 mph
Range: 1110 sm
Rate of climb: 1200 fpm
Takeoff dist: 1400 ft
Landing dist: 1500 ft
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft
Seats: 2+2
Landing gear: nosewheel
Velocity TXL
Engine: Cont. TSIO-550-C (310hp)
Length Overall: 20′
Height: 7’9″
Wheel Base: 110″
Track Width: 80″
Wingspan: 31′
Canard Span: 188″
Main Wing Area: 122.5 Sq Ft
Canard Wing Area: 22.8 Sq Ft
Total Wing Area: 145 Sq Ft
Empty Weight: 1790 lbs
Gross Wt: 2900 lbs
Useful Load: 1110 lbs
Standard Fuel Qty: 70 USgals (93 opt)
Wing Loading at Gross: 20.0 lb/sq ft
Design Load Factors: +9/-7
Tested Airframe Load: +6 G-Load
Cabin W/L/H: 47.5″ x 94″ x 43.5″
Seating: 2+3
Takeoff Distance: 1300 ft
Rate of Climb @ SL: 1600 fpm
Landing Distance: 1500 ft
Cruise Speed @ 75% Pwr: 250 ktas @FL250
Vne: 200 kias
Ceiling: 25,000ft+
Range at 65% Power: 1250 nm
Minimum Speed: 65 kts
Landing Speed: 75 kts
Velocity XL-RG
Engine: Lyc IO-540 300HP
Takeoff Distance: 1300 ft
Rate of Climb @ SL: 1500 fpm
Landing Distance: 1500 ft
Cruise Speed @ 75% Pwr: 205 ktas
Vne: 200 kias
Ceiling: 20,000ft+
Range at 65% Power: 1000 nm
Minimum Speed: 65 kts
Landing Speed: 75 kts
Velocity XL-FG
Engine: Cont IO-550 310HP
HP range: 260-310
Length: 20 ft
Wing span: 31 ft
Wing area: 145 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1700 lb
Gross weight: 2700 lb
Fuel capacity: 70 USG
Takeoff Distance: 1300 ft
Rate of Climb @ SL: 1300 fpm
Landing Distance: 1500 ft
Cruise Speed @ 75% Pwr: 185 ktas
Vne: 200 kias
Stall: 75 mph
Ceiling: 20,000ft+
Range at 65% Power: 816 nm
Minimum Speed: 65 kts
Landing Speed: 75 kts
Seats: 4
Cockpit width: 49.5 in
Landing gear: nosewheel
Velocity XL-RG
Engine: Lyc IO-540 260HP
Takeoff Distance: 1400 ft
Rate of Climb @ SL: 1350 fpm
Landing Distance: 1500 ft
Cruise Speed @ 75% Pwr: 190 ktas
Vne: 200 kias
Ceiling: 20,000ft+
Range at 65% Power: 950 nm
Minimum Speed: 65 kts
Landing Speed: 75 kts
Velocity XL RG
Engine: Continental IO-550, 310 hp
HP range: 260-310
Length: 20 ft
Wing span: 31 ft
Wing area: 145 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1700 lb
Gross weight: 2700 lb
Fuel capacity: 70 USG
Cruise: 230 mph
Stall: 75 mph
Range: 1280 sm
Rate of climb: 2000 fpm
Takeoff dist: 1500 ft
Landing dist: 1500 ft
Seats: 4
Cockpit width: 49.5 in
Landing gear: nosewheel
Velocity XL-FG
Engine: Lyc IO-540 260HP
Takeoff Distance: 1400 ft
Rate of Climb @ SL: 1200 fpm
Landing Distance: 1500 ft
Cruise Speed @ 75% Pwr: 175 ktas
Vne: 200 kias
Ceiling: 20,000ft+
Range at 65% Power: 875 nm
Minimum Speed: 65 kts
Landing Speed: 75 kts
Velocity XL-5
Length Overall: 20′
Height: 7′ 9″
Wheel Base: 110″
Track Width: 80″
Wingspan: 31′
Canard Span: 188″
Main Wing Area: 122.5 Sq Ft
Canard Wing Area: 22.8 Sq Ft
Total Wing Area: 145 Sq Ft
Empty Weight: 1800 lbs
Gross Wt: 2900 lbs
Useful Load: 1100 lbs
Standard Fuel Qty: 70 USgals (93 opt)
Wing Loading at Gross: 20.0 lb/sq ft
Design Load Factors: +9/-7 G-Load
Tested Airframe Load: +6 G-Load
Cabin W/L/H: 47.5″ x 94″ x 43.5″
Seating: 2+3
Velocity XL FG-5
Engine: Continental IO-550, 310 hp
HP range: 260-310
Length: 20 ft
Wing span: 31 ft
Wing area: 145 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1750 lb
Gross weight: 2900 lb
Fuel capacity: 70 USG
Cruise: 200 mph
Stall: 75 mph
Range: 1150 sm
Rate of climb: 1400 fpm
Takeoff dist: 1500 ft
Landing dist: 1500 ft
Seats: 5
Cockpit width: 49.5 in
Landing gear: nosewheel
Velocity SE
Length Overall: 19′
Height: 7′ 9″
Wheel Base: 100″
Track Width: 80″
Wingspan: 29′ 4″
Canard Span: 164″
Main Wing Area: 102 Sq Ft
Canard Wing Area: 19.8 Sq Ft
Total Wing Area: 121.8 Sq Ft
Empty Weight: 1300 lbs
Gross Wt: 2300 lbs
Useful Load: 1000 lbs
Standard Fuel Qty: 60 USgals.
Wing Loading at Gross: 18.88 lb/sq ft
Design Load Factors: +12/-7 G-Load
Tested Airframe Load: +6 G-Load
Cabin W/L/H: 42″ x 84″ x 42.5″
Seating: 2+2
Velocity SE-FG
Engine: Lycoming IO-360, 200 hp
HP range: 160-260
Length: 19 ft
Wing span: 29.4 ft
Wing area: 122 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1300 lb
Gross weight: 2300 lb
Fuel capacity: 60 USG
Cruise: 184 mph
Stall: 63 mph
Range: 1320 sm
Rate of climb: 1500 fpm
Takeoff dist: 1500 ft
Landing dist: 1500 ft
Seats: 4
Cockpit width: 44 in
Landing gear: nosewheel
Velocity SE RG
Engine: Lycoming IO-360, 200 hp
HP range: 160-260
Length: 19 ft
Wing span: 29.4 ft
Wing area: 122 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1300 lb
Gross weight: 2300 lb
Fuel capacity: 60 USG
Cruise: 200 mph
Stall: 63 mph
Range: 1440 sm
Rate of climb: 1500 fpm
Takeoff dist: 1500 ft
Landing dist: 1500 ft
Seats: 4
Cockpit width: 44 in
Landing gear: nosewheel
Velocity XL RG 5
Engine: Lycoming IO-540, 260 hp
HP range: 260-310
Length: 20 ft
Wing span: 31 ft
Wing area: 145 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1750 lb
Gross weight: 2900 lb
Fuel capacity: 70 USG
Cruise: 230 mph
Stall: 75 mph
Range: 1270 sm
Rate of climb: 1800 fpm
Takeoff dist: 1500 ft
Landing dist: 1500 ft
Seats: 5
Cockpit width: 49.5 in
Landing gear: nosewheel
Velocity TXL 5
Engine: Continental IO-550, 310 hp
HP range: 260-310
Length: 20 ft
Wing span: 31 ft
Wing area: 145 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1700 lb
Gross weight: 2900 lb
Fuel capacity: 70 USG
Cruise: 290 mph
Stall: 70 mph
Range: 1320 sm
Rate of climb: 2000 fpm
Takeoff dist: 1300 ft
Landing dist: 1600 ft
Seats: 4
Cockpit width: 49.5 in
Landing gear: retract nose wheel
SUV
Engine: Lycoming O-320, 160 hp
Length: 19 ft
Height: 7 ft 9 in
Wheelbase: 100 in
Track width: 80 in
Wingspan: 29 ft 4 in
Canard span: 164 in
Total wing area: 121.8 sq.ft
Empty weight; 1235 lb
Gross weight; 2250 lb
Useful load; 1015 lb
Usable fuel: 50+ US gal
Wing loading: 18.37 lb/sq.ft
Design load factor; +12 / -9 G
Tested load factor: +6 G
Cabin (LxWxH): 42 x 84 x 42.5 in
Takeoff dist: 1600 ft
Rate of Climb: 900 fpm
Landing dist: 1500 ft
Cruise 8500 ft: 160 kt
Max speed SL: 168 kt
Ceiling; 16,000 ft
Range 75% pwr: 1000 nm
Min speed: 55 kt
Landing speed: 65 kt
Velocity Aircraft Inc., was formed in 1984 by Danny Maher in Sebastian, Florida, to develop and market a new 4-seat canard aircraft, based upon the successful Long-EZ design. After the prototype flew in July 1985, several kits were sold and close contact was maintained with initial builders to get valuable feedback in areas where the design could be (and subsequently was) improved. The Velocity received rave reviews by all of the flying press, and the 173 “LW” (long wing) model went on to further enhance the Velocity design.
1988:
Velocity Aircraft
200 W. Airport Dr
Sebastian
Florida 32958
USA
One of Danny Maher’s first kits was purchased by Duane Swing and his son Scott Swing, of Dayton, Ohio. After building their first Velocity, the Swings decided to make a retractable gear option available for the kit. In doing so, the Swings had developed a close relationship with Dan Maher. Thus, when Dan decided to sell the business, he first called the Swings. The Swings liked the proven and stable Velocity design so much that they bought the company assets from Dan in 1992 and moved their families to Sebastian.
The Swings immediately established a marketing program to promote the original standard Velocity, while taking the business much further. New avenues were explored to enhance the existing Velocity designs, ranging from the addition of pre-molded kit parts to the gull-wing door, introduced in 1995.
1996-8: 200 W. Airport Dr, Sebastian, FL 32958, USA.
In 2008 Velocity Aircraft announced it had been purchased and would become a subsidiary of the Rocket Racing Group. Duane Swing simply wanted to retire.
1902: (Willard L) Velie Carriage Co.
1908: Velie Motor Co.
More known for his carriages, automobiles and racers, and motors, Velie (grandson of John Deere) also capitalized and manufactured the initial 55-65hp Monocoupe aircraft upon acquisition of controlling interest in Central States Aircraft Co in 1927, hence early popular reference to “Velie Monocoupes” signifying not only the powerplant but the constructor.
When Velie died of an embolism in Oct 1928, his son took the reins but he, too, suffered a heart attack in Mar 1929 and Don Luscombe took over.
1928: Mono-Aircraft Corp (pres: W L Velie),
1616 McGee St,
Moline IL.
USA
The machine was designed and built by the four (!) brothers Escofet and Enrique Martinez Velazco together with the Frenchman Henri de Rosiers. It was built as a glider then fitted with an Anzani engine but flight could not be achieved. Parts of the Escofet I were used in the second model. The Escofet II was momentous as it was the first machine in Uruguay to have actually flown on August 26, 1910. This first flight was also the last for the machine as on landing after about 200 meter it crashed severely, wounding the pilot.
Parts of the Escofet I were used in the second model.
Victor Vejraska built the Arrow in 1936. A two place open cockpit biplane, powered by a 65hp Velie M-5.
Friend NB.
USA
Victor Vejraska built the Vejraska Arrow in 1936.
The 1938 Vega Flying Test Stand (ATC 2-423) was designed by Jack Wassall and W N “Wally” Wallace, and assembled from various Lockheed components. First designated Lockheed Altair 8-G and registered NX18149, it was used to test experimental 520hp Menasco U-520 Unitwin (twin 260hp Super B with single propeller) for use in a planned Starliner.
Sold to Lockheed dealer Howard Batt when it was no longer needed, repowered with 450hp P&W Wasp SC under (2-423) in 1939 and reregistered as Lockheed Altair 8-D in 1940.
Engine: 520hp Menasco U-520 Unitwin
Wingspan: 42’9″
Length: 28’11”
Seats: 2
Vega Airplane Company
USA
Vega Airplane Co was known formerly as Airover Company, Victory Blvd and Empire Ave, Burbank, California, formed at 923 E San Fernando Rd, 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 (pres: Courtland S Gross).
From 1941 Vega Aircraft Corp became Vega Airplane Company; continued production of Lockheed-Vega B-34 Ventura twin-engined medium bomber for USAAF/USN/RAF and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress for USAAF between 1941 and 1944. Absorbed into Lockheed Aircraft Corporation 30 November 1943; name Vega abandoned; Vega plant became Lockheed’s Factory A. Ventura B-34 production ended 1943; PV-1 naval version and Boeing B-17 manufacture continued until 1944 under responsibility of Lockheed.
All Aero 