Claire K. Vance founded the Vance Aircraft Corporation to build the "Flying Wing" design.[3] The aircraft was designed though a series of hand-carved wooden models before drawings were made, with the intention of it being a high speed, high altitude air-freighter with storage in thick wing lockers. Its short air racing history was interrupted by the 1932 death of its designer Claire Vance[4] who struck a fog-covered mountain at Rocky Ridge.[5]
The "Flying Wing" was a conventional long-range aircraft for the period with the exception of the two large booms aft of the cockpit supporting the twin tail surfaces and twin rudders, rather than a conventional fuselage. The tandem seat aircraft was converted to a single pilot aircraft that featured a radial engine and conventional landing gear (one tailwheel for each boom). Fourteen fuel tanks totaling 1,200 U.S. gallons (4,500 L; 1,000 imp gal) were interconnected inside the cantilevered mid-wing. The aircraft was of mixed construction, with an aluminum-covered welded steel tube fuselage. The wing used wooden wing spars with plywood covering. A forced air induction system was built into the wing roots with exhausts mounted near the trailing edges.[6]
Operational historyedit
In 1932 the Viking dropped out of the Bendix Trophy race following fuel system issues.[7] In 1933 it was entered, but did not compete in the Bendix Trophy race.[8]
In 1934 Lt. Murray B. Dilley purchased the aircraft and production rights from Claire Vance's estate for $10,000 with the intention of racing the aircraft in the 1934 England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race.[9] Dilley only paid $2500 of the amount owed, and abandoned the aircraft in the desert near Palm Springs, California. The Flying Wing was bought at auction in 1936 for $2500 by the Mason Aircraft Corporation. Clyde Pangborn planned on using the aircraft for a Dallas, Texas to Moscow Flight.[10] Later the aircraft was returned to tandem configuration, a radio compass was installed, it was re-painted red and white and christened "The Texas Sky Ranger". Roland W. Richards sponsored the aircraft as part of a publicity campaign for the Texas Centennial Exposition to fly to New York, Paris, visit London, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Brussels and then return on a non-stop Paris to Dallas flight with Pangborn and Mony Mason as pilots.[11] Mason backed out by not meeting a commitment, but the flight was planned to continue independently with Pangborn with newspaper sponsorship.[12]
Specifications (Vance Viking)edit
Data from Flight
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 60 ft (18 m)
Fuel capacity: 1,200 U.S. gallons (4,500 L; 1,000 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Wasp Radial, 660 hp (490 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed Hamilton Standard
Performance
Maximum speed: 170 kn (200 mph, 320 km/h)
Cruise speed: 140 kn (160 mph, 260 km/h)
Range: 6,500 nmi (7,500 mi, 12,100 km)
Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
Avionics
Automatic Pilot
See alsoedit
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
^Jay Wells (17 July 1936). "Pangborn Plans Paris to Dallas non-stop flight". Berkley Daily Gazette.
^"Drop Sponsorship of Atlantic Flight". Berkley Daily Gazette. 20 July 1936.
External linksedit
Image of the Vance Flying Wing
Image of the Vance Flying Wing
Image of the Vance Flying Wing
Image of the Vance Flying Wing
Image of the Vance Flying Wing
Image of the Vance Flying Wing
December 20, 2023
vance, viking, also, called, vance, flying, wing, express, texas, ranger, single, seat, cargo, racing, aircraft, viking, view, drawing, from, aerophile, february, 1933role, racing, aircraftnational, origin, united, states, americamanufacturer, vance, aircraft,. The Vance Viking also called the Vance Flying Wing Express and the Texas Sky Ranger was a single seat cargo and racing aircraft 2 VikingVance Viking 3 view drawing from L Aerophile February 1933Role Racing aircraftNational origin United States of AmericaManufacturer Vance Aircraft CompanyDesigner Claire K VanceFirst flight July 1932 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications Vance Viking 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editClaire K Vance founded the Vance Aircraft Corporation to build the Flying Wing design 3 The aircraft was designed though a series of hand carved wooden models before drawings were made with the intention of it being a high speed high altitude air freighter with storage in thick wing lockers Its short air racing history was interrupted by the 1932 death of its designer Claire Vance 4 who struck a fog covered mountain at Rocky Ridge 5 The Flying Wing was a conventional long range aircraft for the period with the exception of the two large booms aft of the cockpit supporting the twin tail surfaces and twin rudders rather than a conventional fuselage The tandem seat aircraft was converted to a single pilot aircraft that featured a radial engine and conventional landing gear one tailwheel for each boom Fourteen fuel tanks totaling 1 200 U S gallons 4 500 L 1 000 imp gal were interconnected inside the cantilevered mid wing The aircraft was of mixed construction with an aluminum covered welded steel tube fuselage The wing used wooden wing spars with plywood covering A forced air induction system was built into the wing roots with exhausts mounted near the trailing edges 6 Operational history editIn 1932 the Viking dropped out of the Bendix Trophy race following fuel system issues 7 In 1933 it was entered but did not compete in the Bendix Trophy race 8 In 1934 Lt Murray B Dilley purchased the aircraft and production rights from Claire Vance s estate for 10 000 with the intention of racing the aircraft in the 1934 England Australia MacRobertson Air Race 9 Dilley only paid 2500 of the amount owed and abandoned the aircraft in the desert near Palm Springs California The Flying Wing was bought at auction in 1936 for 2500 by the Mason Aircraft Corporation Clyde Pangborn planned on using the aircraft for a Dallas Texas to Moscow Flight 10 Later the aircraft was returned to tandem configuration a radio compass was installed it was re painted red and white and christened The Texas Sky Ranger Roland W Richards sponsored the aircraft as part of a publicity campaign for the Texas Centennial Exposition to fly to New York Paris visit London Amsterdam Madrid and Brussels and then return on a non stop Paris to Dallas flight with Pangborn and Mony Mason as pilots 11 Mason backed out by not meeting a commitment but the flight was planned to continue independently with Pangborn with newspaper sponsorship 12 Specifications Vance Viking editData from FlightGeneral characteristicsCrew 1 Wingspan 60 ft 18 m Fuel capacity 1 200 U S gallons 4 500 L 1 000 imp gal Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney Wasp Radial 660 hp 490 kW Propellers 2 bladed Hamilton StandardPerformance Maximum speed 170 kn 200 mph 320 km h Cruise speed 140 kn 160 mph 260 km h Range 6 500 nmi 7 500 mi 12 100 km Service ceiling 35 000 ft 11 000 m Avionics Automatic PilotSee also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Emsco B 8 Flying WingReferences edit Air pictorial journal of the Air League Volume 36 p 64 Flying Magazine 44 May 1948 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Missing or empty title help Claire Vance Retrieved 6 February 2018 William T Larkins Ronald T Reuther San Francisco Bay Area Aviation p 41 Tailless aircraft in the USA Retrieved January 30 2011 tailless aircraft in the USA Retrieved January 30 2011 Don Vorderman The great air races p 187 1933 National Air Races Retrieved 30 December 2011 The England Australia Race Flight 23 August 1934 Vance Flying Wing Plane Brings 2500 Berkley Daily Gazette 2 June 1936 Jay Wells 17 July 1936 Pangborn Plans Paris to Dallas non stop flight Berkley Daily Gazette Drop Sponsorship of Atlantic Flight Berkley Daily Gazette 20 July 1936 External links editImage of the Vance Flying Wing Image of the Vance Flying Wing Image of the Vance Flying Wing Image of the Vance Flying Wing Image of the Vance Flying Wing Image of the Vance Flying Wing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vance Viking amp oldid 1146626582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
