The Thomas-Morse MB-1 of 1918 featured faired lifting struts and parasol wing. Only one was built, and flown only once, as the landing gear proved to be too frail for its weight. It collapsed while taxiing out for another trial flight.
Engine: Liberty 12, 400hp
Wingspan: 37’0″
Length: 22’0″
Seats: 1
Formed January 1917 at Ithaca, New York, from merger and recapitalisation of Thomas Brothers Aeroplane Company and Morse Chain Company. Principal products during and after First World War were S-4 single-seat advanced training biplane and its S-5 seaplane version; MB-3 single-seat fighter; R-2 and Fi-5 Pulitzer Trophy racers of 1921-1922 and their unsuccessful MB-9 and MB-10 pursuit/training derivatives. Last aircraft produced were O-19 two-seat observation biplane and O-19-derived XO-932 sesquiplane of 1932.
Development/production of these two continued after Thomas-Morse had been acquired in 1929 by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation.
In 1934 the Thomas-Morse Division was discontinued.
In 1916 construction was underway on the Thomas Bros BP three-place open cockpit twin engined biplane. It was a folding-wing “battleplane” project but cancelled after the Army expressed no interest.
Engines: 2
Wingspan: 78’6″
Length: 37’6″
Seats: 3
The 1915 D-2 civil trainer was designed by Benjamin D Thomas (no family relation; principal designer for most Thomas and T-Ms) as an improved T-2.
As a two-seat observation biplane, two D-2 were ordered by the US Navy as model HS. Both were involved in crashes before delivery and were rebuilt in 1916 with 48’6″ wing and 135hp Sturtevant for use as trainers as A57 and A58.
The D-5 of 1916 were re-motored D-2 with 135hp Thomas 8 engines. Two, AS114 and AS115 were used for Army observation.
D-2
Engine: Sturtevant, 135hp
Wingspan: 52’9″
Length: 29’9″
Useful load: 1200 lb
Max speed: 86 mph
Stall: 38 mph
Seats: 2
HS
Engine: Thomas Aeromotor, 135hp
Wingspan: 48’6″
Seats: 2
USA
1910: (William T & Oliver W) Thomas Bros Co, Hammondsport NY, USA and Hornell NY, USA.
Founded at Bath, New York, 1912 by William and Oliver Thomas, who built their first aircraft in Winter 1909-1910.
1912-13: Thomas School of Aviation Inc, Cayuga Lake NY. USA.
1915: Thomas Aeromotor Co.
Products included T-2 biplane (similar to Curtiss J) and D-5 two-seat observation biplane, of which two evaluated by US Army.
Merged and re-capitalised in January 1917 with Morse Chain Company to form Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation, Ithaca NY, USA.
Final products of Tellier were the unsuccessful twin-engined T5 flying-boat and tri-motor T7.
Final products of Tellier were the unsuccessful twin-engined T5 flying-boat and tri-motor T7.
The T2 flying-boat soon crashed, but with new funds from Dubonnet Tellier evolved the T3 two-seat bomber flying-boat of 1917 and its cannon-armed derivative, the TC6. Most were built by Nieuport and other manufacturers.
Re-formed upon outbreak of First World War, Tellier’s company flew a prototype of T2 flying-boat in June 1916. This soon crashed, but with new funds from Dubonnet Tellier evolved the T3.
Motorboat builder Alphonse Tellier (one of his craft towed Voisin’s float glider in 1905) built his first aircraft, for Emile Dubonnet, in 1909-1910, but went into liquidation in 1911. Re-formed upon outbreak of First World War, Tellier’s company built floats and hulls for other marine aircraft before flying prototype of T2 flying-boat in June 1916. This soon crashed, but with new funds from Dubonnet Tellier evolved the T3 two-seat bomber flying-boat of 1917 and its cannon-armed derivative, the TC6. Most were built by Nieuport and other manufacturers. Final products were the unsuccessful twin-engined T5 flying-boat and tri-motor T7. In August 1918 the company was absorbed by Nieuport, with Tellier as its marine aircraft designer.
All Aero 