Aviation Pioneer. In 1910, he left his engineering studies at the University of Pennsylvania to work for Harold McCormick. The first aircraft that he was associated with was the McCormick-Romme "Umbrella" plane (1910). He learned to fly in 1912, and received FAI pilots certificate number 156. He became an aeronautical engineer and instructor pilot for the Max Lillie School of Aviation in 1913 and was involved in the design of the Lillie-Vought tractor biplane. He went to work at the Mayo Radiator Work, designing the Mayo-Vought Simplex in 1914, was used by the British as a WW I pilot trainer. He worked for Curtiss briefly in 1915 as a consulting engineer for flying boats, and in 1916 he became chief engineer at the Wright Company of Dayton, Ohio. When the US entered World War I in April of 1917, the country was basically unprepared for war, especially so in military aviation. He joined with Birdseye Lewis to form a company to manufacture trainer aircraft. The company was formed as the Lewis and Vought Corporation on June 18, 1917. He died in 1930 from septicemia at the age of 40, and was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in 1989.
Aviation Pioneer. In 1910, he left his engineering studies at the University of Pennsylvania to work for Harold McCormick. The first aircraft that he was associated with was the McCormick-Romme "Umbrella" plane (1910). He learned to fly in 1912, and received FAI pilots certificate number 156. He became an aeronautical engineer and instructor pilot for the Max Lillie School of Aviation in 1913 and was involved in the design of the Lillie-Vought tractor biplane. He went to work at the Mayo Radiator Work, designing the Mayo-Vought Simplex in 1914, was used by the British as a WW I pilot trainer. He worked for Curtiss briefly in 1915 as a consulting engineer for flying boats, and in 1916 he became chief engineer at the Wright Company of Dayton, Ohio. When the US entered World War I in April of 1917, the country was basically unprepared for war, especially so in military aviation. He joined with Birdseye Lewis to form a company to manufacture trainer aircraft. The company was formed as the Lewis and Vought Corporation on June 18, 1917. He died in 1930 from septicemia at the age of 40, and was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in 1989.
Bio by: Ginny M
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