Smith, J. 1929 monoplane

Circa 1929 J W Smith of Cicero IL. USA, built a single-place, open cockpit, high-wing monoplane.

The monocoque fuselage was made from red fiber paper rolled into shape and riveted. The wings were steel-tubing framed—the first-ever wing to have metal ribs. The fuselage hung below the wing with a pivoting arrangement somewhat like that which George Spratt would champion much later.

According to William B Stout, “Its one bad habit was changing shape from day to day as the humidity increased or decreased.”

Smith, H. June-Bug Aerial Flivver

The 1922 H J Smith built June-Bug Aerial Flivver was a single-place, open cockpit mid-wing monoplane, described as “a bathtub with a pole sticking out behind it” and wearing a child’s tricycle wheel on its tail. The planned maiden flight in mid-May at the State Fairgrounds (some say Curtiss Northwest Airport) was delayed by a balky 30hp 2-cyl engine and the tailwheel breaking off, and no further account was found.