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1930), a talented engineer from Long Island, New York, who also had a pilot’s certificate and would later become a major player in the US aviation industry. Another involved in the project was Andrew Drew, a well-known pilot of the time. Endorsing the suggestion that development of the Umbrellaplane seems to have been something of a hobby for this group of wealthy young men, the finan- cial backing was provided by William Rocke- feller Jnr. The Umbrellaplane had yet to fly and, in April 1911, a decision was taken to relocate to San Antonio, Texas, where the weather was rather more agreeable. The aircraft was disassembled, shipped across the country and finally prepared for flight, but during a taxying trial it flipped over on some rough ground and was seriously damaged. Then a decision was made to undertake a rebuild at the Aero Club of Illinois’ new airfield at Cicero, Chicago, primarily because there was insufficient engineering support available in the San Antonio area. Working under Vought’s direction, con- Chance Vought, the engineer who assisted struction of what amounted toanew Umbrel- McCormick and Romme with development of the laplane began at Chicago. Additional control Umbrellaplane. Vought would later become a major player in the US aviation industry. surfaces were added and there were some _ yought Aviation modifications to the internal layout that moved the pilot rearward but retained the same centre of gravity. Nevertheless, there After this, the Umbrellaplane was grounded were still some serious problems with the during the winter, with trials resuming in design that were not helped by inadequate March 1913. engine performance, and when trials com- By now, the aircraft had undergone at least menced the aircraft refused to leave the seven major revisions or complete re-builds, ground. with numerous different features being tried. Vought made further modifications to the — This included many alterations to the control wings and, in April 1912, André Ruel managed _ surfaces, changes to the undercarriage and to fly the Umbrellaplane for a very brief dis- _ the use of various engines, with the Umbrella- tance. More short flights followed and Vought plane being configured as a tractor and continued to make changes to the design. pusher design. Although the Umbrellaplane escaped with minor injuries, but the mono- plane was severely damaged. A third aircraft was built with yet more refinements and it performed well. Most of the earlier problems were eliminated and Bell continued to fly the aircraft up to the beginning of World War One. He was then called up to serve in the Royal Flying Corps so Lee took over as the test pilot. Unfortunately, Lee managed to crash this aircraft into the River Adur near Shoreham Aerodrome and it spelt the end of his attempts to create a new type of aircraft with commercial potential. The Umbrellaplane In January 1911, Harold McCormick and William Romme completed a small experi- mental aircraft at Belmont Park, New York. The appearance of this design was quite strik- ing, with a framework supporting fabric-cov- ered ‘reverse parasol’ wings, braced by wires from a central steel pillar. Because of the unusual shape it was called ‘The Umbrella- plane’, although it also earned the name ‘Mustard Plaster’ because of its yellow-pig- mented fabric covering. A small French-built 50hp (37kW) Gnome 7-cylinder rotary engine was located towards the centre of the aircraft and drove a two-bladed wooden pusher pro- peller via a long shaft behind the wings. The pilot sat at the front of the engine, just behind the wing’s leading edge. The wing had a diameter of about 35ft (10.6m). Gross weight of the aircraft is unknown, but it would be regarded as fairly light. Assisting McCormick and Romme was Chauncey ‘Chance’ Milton Vought (1890- Chance Vought, the engineer who assisted McCormick and Romme with development of the Umbrellaplane. Vought would later become a major player in the US aviation industry. Vought Aviation After this, the Umbrellaplane was grounded during the winter, with trials resuming in March 1913. By now, the aircraft had undergone at least seven major revisions or complete re-builds, with numerous different features being tried. This included many alterations to the control surfaces, changes to the undercarriage and the use of various engines, with the Umbrella- plane being configured as a tractor and pusher design. Although the Umbrellaplane Harold F McCormick and William S Romme’s Umbrellaplane, showing its fabric-covered reverse parasol wings and distinctive shape. via Bill Rose 16 Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft