L.C.7 (Light Commercial)
Shortly after the end of the First World War, Vearne C.
Babcock began working with the U.S. Airplane & Motor Engineering Company in
Upper Sandusky, Ohio. While there he helped design and build a light two seat
biplane, designated Light Commercial 7, or L.C.7. [4]
Like many of the two seat aircraft Babcock designed, this
was designed to be a simple affordable model. Powered by a Kemp I-4 engine,
rated for 60 HP, the biplane was capable of an 85 MPH top speed and could stay
aloft for 2.5 hours on a full tank of fuel. [1]
Empty, the little biplane weighed only 520 pounds, with a
wingspan of 26 feet. Nose to tail it measured 20 feet, 1 inch and stood 6 feet,
8 inches high with a wing surface area of 165 square feet. [1]
Other innovations included a forward passenger compartment
that could be used for cargo with a cover placed over the opening to protect
the packages from the elements of flying. For passenger service, the cover
could be removed and a portable seat installed on seat rails in the forward
cockpit. The plane also used rods, instead of cables, for the controls which
gave it greater durability. [1]
Built in 1919, only one known example of this
biplane was produced. Very little information has come to light concerning the
U.S. Airplane & Motor Engineering Company. Babcock worked with the company,
starting in March of 1919 before moving on to the National Airways Service
Akron, Ohio in 1920. [2][3]
“Vintage Aircraft” magazine published several good pictures
of the LC-7 in their Apr-2000 issue. Click below to view them, pages 23-24
References:
1.
“Flight:
The Aircraft Engineer & Airships; The official Organ of the Royal Aero Club
of the United Kingdom” – Volume XIL, No. 45 – 4-Nov-1920 – Pg 1156
2.
“Vintage
Airplane” – The Magazine of the EAA Vintage Aircraft Association – April
2000 – Pg 26-27
3.
“Who’s who in American Aeronautics” – Aviation
Publishing Corporation 1928 – Pg 4
4.
“My Dad: Vearne C. Babcock” – Article by Mrs.
Fred (Della) Hollendorfer – American Airman, Feb 1961 – Pg 15
I've just recently discovered that Vearne is in my family tree. I'm wondering if you'd be willing to share the article "My Dad: Vearne C. Babcock" that you reference? I'm interested in learning more about him!
ReplyDeleteSorry for the delay, got called into work yesterday, here's the link for the scanned article,
Deletehttp://babcockairplanes.blogspot.com/2016/12/babcock-reference-page-1.html
It's from the American Airman magazine, Volume IV, Number 2, Pages 15-17. I have several other articles and clippings, many digital that I can also post.
Greetings Chris, absolutely, it's hard copy so I'll see if I can scan it for you as it has over a half dozen photos in it. Hopefully I can get some good images ready by tomorrow evening.
ReplyDeleteTim