Piston

Vanguard 2 Omniplane

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The Vanguard Omniplane was an American approach to vertical operation and high cruise speed. The ducts contained vertical thrust propellers that could be closed by venetian blind shutters to form small wings in forward flight. In forward flight, covers above the rotors and louvers below sealed the wing for aerodynamic lift.

The design, apparently not registered, used a 25-ft long Ercoupe light plane fuselage and weighed 2,600 lb. The round wings each housed a 6 ft diameter three-bladed propeller that was mechanically driven for vertical flight by a 265 hp Lycoming O-540-A1A six cylinder piston engine.

Thrust was produced by a 5′ shrouded prop in the tail, elevator and rudder behind the rear fan-controlled pitch and yaw, while differential propeller blade pitch affected roll in hover.

Ground tests, starting in Aug 1959 and including tethered hover trials, were followed by NASA full-scale wind tunnel testing.

Modifications in 1961, including a 860hp Lycoming YT53-L-1 turboshaft, improved control system, and 5′ nose extension to house a third lifting prop, led to the redesignation 2D. The nose prop improved control in pitch, as well as in yaw through the use of movable exit vanes. 2D completed tethered hover tests, but was damaged by a mechanical failure and discontinued in early 1962.

Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A, 265hp
Wingspan: 22’0″
Length: 25’6″
Useful load: 500 lb
Max speed: 190 mph
Range: 150 mi
Seats: 2

Vanderford 1923 Experimental

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In 1923 William Vanderford of Gladbrook IA. Built a single place, open cockpit, high wing monoplane, powered by a 2-cyl Harley-Davidson engine, which was not the only motorcycle part used. Open frame fuselage.

On the first run of the engine the airplane spun around, ran over a small tree, and almost made it to the neighbor’s porch. Taxiing trials were made, but the airplane would not rise, so it ended up instead as a powered sled.

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.

Vancraft 2 Place

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A two seat tandem partially enclosed autogyro. A high-low tandem with pilot only controls. Engine: 2180cc VW or similiar. Prop: St.Croix 56” x 60” wood or 66” Warp Drive. Rotor blades: 29’ x 9” Vancraft wood core, steel spar, aluminium skins.

Min speed: 5-10 mph
Cruise: 65-85 mph
Top speed: 120 mph
Empty wt: 500 lbs
Useful load: 400 lbs
Gross wt: 900 lbs
Width: 5’4”
Length: 13’

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