Victor Roos
Encyclopedia
Victor H. Roos was an American
founder of several aircraft companies, including Cessna
aircraft.
becoming one of the largest distributors in the Midwest.
.
In 1922 Roos, and partner A.H.Fetters bought the aviation assets of the Maryland Pressed Steel Company
and formed the Roos-Bellanca
company (Also known as the Omaha Aircraft Company) to build rising designer, Giuseppe Mario Bellanca
's monoplane design, the Bellanca CF. Only one example was built, but it became famous from its modern design, and publicity stunts such as holding in-flight weddings. The company dissolved in 1924.
In September 1927, Travel Air
founder Clyde Cessna split from Walter Beech forming Cessna-Roos aircraft
. Roos became the second largest shareholder in the start-up venture that went on to produce the most popular general aviation aircraft in the world. Roos resigned just one month into the partnership selling back his interest to Cessna, and the company changed it's name to Cessna aircraft in December 1927.
In November 1927 the owner of the Swallow Airplane Company
, Moellendick became insolvent after sidelining Swallow production to make the "Dallas Spirit
" on credit to enter the Dole Air Derby
Roos took control of the company, becoming the general manager, then left in 1928.
In 1928 Roos joined, the American Eagle aircraft company, which produced more Bellanca designed aircraft. Roos and partners agreed to merge with Lincoln-Page aircraft company becoming the American Eagle-Lincoln Aircraft
based at Fairfax Airport
in Kansas City Mo. where he became president. When the company dissolved during the depression, Roos founded the short lived Victor H Roos Aircraft Company to continue to sell the American Eaglet design. With Roos's permission, Ben Howard built his famous air racer, Mr. Mulligan at the factory site after production of the Eaglet had ceased.
After World War II
Roos founded the Automatic Coin Machine Company in Kansas City to distribute Juke Box Machines.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
founder of several aircraft companies, including Cessna
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
aircraft.
Early life
In 1917 Roos was a distributor of Harley Davidson pedal cycles in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
becoming one of the largest distributors in the Midwest.
.
In 1922 Roos, and partner A.H.Fetters bought the aviation assets of the Maryland Pressed Steel Company
Maryland Pressed Steel Company
Maryland Pressed Steel Company was an American aircraft manufacturer of the Bellanca CD, and CE aircraft.The New York & Hagerstown Metal Stamping Co manufactured arms for the British and was reorganized into the Maryland Pressed Steel Company in 1914. In 1916, the Poole Engineering and Machine Co...
and formed the Roos-Bellanca
AviaBellanca Aircraft
AviaBellanca Aircraft Corporation is an American aircraft design and manufacturing company. Prior to 1983 it was known as the Bellanca Aircraft Company...
company (Also known as the Omaha Aircraft Company) to build rising designer, Giuseppe Mario Bellanca
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca was an Italian-American airplane designer and builder who created the first enclosed cabin monoplane in the United States in 1922. This aircraft is now on display at the National Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.-Biography:He was born on March 19, 1886 in...
's monoplane design, the Bellanca CF. Only one example was built, but it became famous from its modern design, and publicity stunts such as holding in-flight weddings. The company dissolved in 1924.
In September 1927, Travel Air
Travel Air
The Travel Air Manufacturing Company was an aircraft manufacturer established in Wichita, Kansas in the United States in January 1925 by Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman.-Company history:...
founder Clyde Cessna split from Walter Beech forming Cessna-Roos aircraft
Cessna
The Cessna Aircraft Company is an airplane manufacturing corporation headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Their main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. The company is a subsidiary...
. Roos became the second largest shareholder in the start-up venture that went on to produce the most popular general aviation aircraft in the world. Roos resigned just one month into the partnership selling back his interest to Cessna, and the company changed it's name to Cessna aircraft in December 1927.
In November 1927 the owner of the Swallow Airplane Company
Swallow Airplane Company
In January 1920, the E.M. Laird Aviation Co. Ltd. was started with the purchase of the six month old Witchita Aircraft Company, it's aircraft and the factory of the Watkins Manafacturing Company. Oilman Jacob Mollendick and Buick-Franklin salesman W.A. Burke each contributed $15,000.The first...
, Moellendick became insolvent after sidelining Swallow production to make the "Dallas Spirit
Dallas Spirit
Dallas Spirit, , was a custom built aircraft designed to compete in the ill-fated Dole Air Derby between California and Hawaii.-Development:...
" on credit to enter the Dole Air Derby
Dole Air Race
The Dole Air Race, also known as the Dole Derby, was a tragic air race to cross the Pacific Ocean from northern California to the Territory of Hawaii in August 1927. Of the 15-18 entrant airplanes, 11 were certified to compete but three crashed before the race, resulting in three deaths...
Roos took control of the company, becoming the general manager, then left in 1928.
American Eagle Aircraft Corporation
The American Eagle Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft design and manufacturing company which existed briefly in Kansas, but which was a victim of the Great Depression, after building some 500 light airplanes, many of which were the Model A-129, a design attributed to noted aviation...
based at Fairfax Airport
Fairfax Airport
Fairfax Airport was an airport in Kansas City, Kansas from 1921 until it closed in 1985. It is most famously associated with the construction of most of the B-25 Mitchell bombers....
in Kansas City Mo. where he became president. When the company dissolved during the depression, Roos founded the short lived Victor H Roos Aircraft Company to continue to sell the American Eaglet design. With Roos's permission, Ben Howard built his famous air racer, Mr. Mulligan at the factory site after production of the Eaglet had ceased.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Roos founded the Automatic Coin Machine Company in Kansas City to distribute Juke Box Machines.