Aircraft

Vanden Plas Médiaplan

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The second try at flying by Vanden Plas was the “Médiaplan”, subject of Belgian Patent 237.925 of 22 July 1911. It was built by the Laurent firm at Leuven, which built propellers and other aviation parts. It was shown at Ans on 15 June 1911, flown successfully by Westerlain, although it is reported it ran out of fuel and had to land in field. It was displayed at the XI Salon in Brussels in January 1912 and it was reported that flying would resume in Kiewit, but nothing was heard of it. It was powered by a Vivinus engine, later by a 50 hp Gnôme.

Vanden Plas

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The coach building firm Vanden Plas was founded in 1870 in Belgium and employed a total workforce of 750 before the Great War. Albert Victor Vanden Plas tried his hands in designing aeroplanes, first resulting in a Belgian patent for a “Héli-Orthoptère-Planeur”, which was not proceeded with.

The second try was the “Médiaplan”, subject of Belgian Patent 237.925 of 22 July 1911.

Vance V-S-1 Baby Lark

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The 1929 Vance V-S-1 Baby Lark was a single place, open cockpit biplane powered by a 27hp Kemp-Henderson. All-wood with fabric-covered wings, it was priced at $935, oe $1,180 with a 40hp Szekely engine.

Advertisements appear for a home-builders’ Vance project as either biplane or monoplane, with a complete kit offered for $180 less motor and dope, which is most likely a version of this model. It is unknown is if any were ever built and flown, but ads like these, catering to the flying craze of the late 1920s, were common in periodicals.

Engine: 27hp Kemp-Henderson
Wingspan: (upper) 20’0″ (lower) 21’10”
Length: 14’6″
Useful load: 250 lb
Max speed: 85 mph
Cruise speed: 70 mph
Stall: 24 mph
Range: 350 mi
Seats: 1

Vance M-1 Golden Arrow / V-1 Golden Arrow

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One M-1 Golden Arrow was built in 1929, priced at $895. It was a single place, open cockpit, low wing monoplane of wooden construction with fabric-covered wings.

The V-1 Golden Arrow of 1929 was a single place, open cockpit, biplane, priced at $895. All-wood with fabric-covered wings, those built include N365H c/n 5.

M-1 Golden Arrow
Engine: 27hp Kemp-Henderson
Wingspan: 24’6″
Length: 15’9″
Useful load: 225 lb
Max speed: 80 mph
Cruise speed: 70 mph
Stall: 28 mph
Range: 250 mi
Seats: 1

V-1 Golden Arrow
Engine: 27hp Kemp-Henderson
Wingspan: 20’6″
Length: 14’6″
Seats: 1

Vance Flying Wing / Viking Cargo Plane

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Vance Flying Wing Race NR12700

The 1932 Flying Wing, or Viking Cargo Plane, NR12700 was designed by Charles Rocheville and Clare Vance. A flying wing design with twin booms and twin tails, fuel (1200 USgallons) and cargo were carried in the wing.

Its extent in competition is unclear, but is seen in some photos wearing race numbers. Also unresolved is the name “Mason Meteor” on its cowling in the lower picture—possibly Monty Mason was pilot, which would clear up some of the confusion with Mason Greater Meteor type.

Vance Flying Wing Mason Meteor NR12700

The Flying Wing transport was flown in the 1932 Bendix Air Race by Clare Vance from Union Air Terminal (Burbank CA). Winners were Jimmy Haizlip, Roscoe Turner and Lee Gehlback. Wings Feb 2000 shows the flying wing, but IDs it as Vance Viking (NR12700), stating Clyde Pangborn used this plane to better his 41-hour west-to-east flight (in Miss Veedol) and planned to make a global flight in it. It is possible the Flying Wing Transport was race #61 and later became the Viking. They both have the same tail number.

Vance Viking NR12700

Flying Wing / Viking Cargo Plane
Engine: P&W R-1340 Wasp, 660hp
Wingspan: 55’0″
Length: 30’0″
Useful load: 2000 lb
Max speed: 185 mph
Cruise speed: 165 mph
Range: 7200 mi
Seats: 1
No built: 1 – NR12700