Verville Racer Aircraft
Encyclopedia
The Verville-Packard R-1 Racer was a military racing aircraft that was based on Alfred Verville's previous VCP-1
design. The R-1 is sometimes known also as the VCP-R or the Verville-Packard 600. The R-1 was the first racing aircraft built for the United States Army Air Corps
. The first R-1 was created from a VCP-1 in 1919, by installing the Packard V-12 engine.
On November 27, 1920, Capt. Corliss Moseley, flying an R-1 racer, out of 24 track finishers, won the Pulitzer Trophy Race at Mitchel Air Force Base
. The top speed was 156.54 mph.
The Verville-Sperry R-3 Racer was a cantilever wing monoplane with a streamlined fuselage and the second aircraft with fully retractable landing gear, the first being the Dayton-Wright Racer
. The R-3 was designed by Alfred Verville. Its first production was in 1922. The R-3 was developed by the McCook Field Engineering Division
and manufactured by the Lawrence Sperry
Aircraft Company of Farmingdale, New York
. Three aircraft were purchased. The airplanes used Lamblin radiators and a 300-horsepower Wright H-3 engine. The R-3s bore Air Service serial numbers 22-326 to 22-328.
race, all three R-3's started in the race, but only two finished. Lieutenant Eugene Barksdale finished fifth at around 181 mph. Lieutenant Fonda B. Johnson finished seventh, his engine freezing after landing. And Lieutenant St. Clair Streett
broke an oil line and had a forced landing, damaging the airplane.
For the 1923 Pulitzer, a Curtiss D-12
engine was installed in the plane which eliminated some vibration problems that the H-3 engine had. With the new engine the top speed now was approaching 233 mph. That year a Curtiss biplane was the winner. With Orville Wright officially observing from the ground, Lieutenant Alexander Pearson, Jr.
set a World Speed Record of 167.74 mph over a 10-lap course on March 31, 1923 at Wilbur Wright Field.
For the 1924 Pulitzer, the R-3, piloted by Lieutenant Harry H. Mills, won the race at a slow 215 mph. The ranked entry–a Curtiss biplane–crashed along the course.
After this race, the R-3 racers were sent to the McCook Field Museum.
Verville VCP Fighter
|-References:*Angelucci, Enzo and Peter M. Bowers. The American Fighter. Sparkford, UK:Haynes Publishing Group, 1987. ISBN 0-85429-635-2.*Boyne, Walter J. "The Treasures of McCook Field: America's First Aero Engineering and Testing Centre, Part 1". The Best of Wings Magazine. Washington...
design. The R-1 is sometimes known also as the VCP-R or the Verville-Packard 600. The R-1 was the first racing aircraft built for the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. The first R-1 was created from a VCP-1 in 1919, by installing the Packard V-12 engine.
On November 27, 1920, Capt. Corliss Moseley, flying an R-1 racer, out of 24 track finishers, won the Pulitzer Trophy Race at Mitchel Air Force Base
Mitchel Air Force Base
Decommissioned in 1961, Mitchel Field became a multi-use complex currently home to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.-Origins:...
. The top speed was 156.54 mph.
R-3 Racer
The Verville-Sperry R-3 Racer was a cantilever wing monoplane with a streamlined fuselage and the second aircraft with fully retractable landing gear, the first being the Dayton-Wright Racer
Dayton-Wright Racer
-References:NotesBibliography*...
. The R-3 was designed by Alfred Verville. Its first production was in 1922. The R-3 was developed by the McCook Field Engineering Division
Engineering Division
The Engineering Division was a division of the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps in the United States Department of War. It was formed on 31 August 1918, under the direction of Lt Col Jesse G. Vincent, to study and design American versions of foreign aircraft. It was later renamed Engineering...
and manufactured by the Lawrence Sperry
Lawrence Sperry
Lawrence Burst Sperry was an aviation pioneer. He was the third son of gyrocompass co-inventor Elmer Ambrose Sperry and his wife Zula. Sperry is noted for having invented the first autopilot, which he demonstrated with startling success in France in 1914...
Aircraft Company of Farmingdale, New York
Farmingdale, New York
The Village of Farmingdale is an incorporated village on Long Island within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York in the United States...
. Three aircraft were purchased. The airplanes used Lamblin radiators and a 300-horsepower Wright H-3 engine. The R-3s bore Air Service serial numbers 22-326 to 22-328.
Pulitzer Trophy Races
At the 1922 Pulitzer TrophyNational Air Races
The National Air Races were a series of pylon and cross-country races that took place in the United States from 1920 to 1949. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew rapidly during this period; the National Air Races were both a proving ground and...
race, all three R-3's started in the race, but only two finished. Lieutenant Eugene Barksdale finished fifth at around 181 mph. Lieutenant Fonda B. Johnson finished seventh, his engine freezing after landing. And Lieutenant St. Clair Streett
St. Clair Streett
St. Clair Streett , known as "Bill", was a United States Air Force major general and writer who first organized and led the Strategic Air Command . Streett served as aide to air power advocate General Billy Mitchell, and was viewed by General of the Air Force Henry H...
broke an oil line and had a forced landing, damaging the airplane.
For the 1923 Pulitzer, a Curtiss D-12
Curtiss D-12
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.-External links:*...
engine was installed in the plane which eliminated some vibration problems that the H-3 engine had. With the new engine the top speed now was approaching 233 mph. That year a Curtiss biplane was the winner. With Orville Wright officially observing from the ground, Lieutenant Alexander Pearson, Jr.
Alexander Pearson, Jr.
Lieutenant Alexander Pearson, Jr. was a prominent aviation figure in the Army Air Service from 1919 until his death in 1924. He is credited with setting the world speed record in March 1923. Pearson Field in Vancouver, Washington was dedicated in his honor on by order of the Secretary of War Major...
set a World Speed Record of 167.74 mph over a 10-lap course on March 31, 1923 at Wilbur Wright Field.
For the 1924 Pulitzer, the R-3, piloted by Lieutenant Harry H. Mills, won the race at a slow 215 mph. The ranked entry–a Curtiss biplane–crashed along the course.
After this race, the R-3 racers were sent to the McCook Field Museum.
See also
- History of the United States Army Air Service