Vultee V-1A

Vultee V-1A

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I am grateful to Alaska Airlines for assistance in identifying this aircraft. The following remarks were made by employees of Alaska Airlines in response to a contest the company held to determine the identification of this photo which I submitted to them.

This airplane is a 1933 Vultee Model V-1. Designed by Gerard Vultee in 1932 or 1933 and built by the Airplane Development Corporation in 1934.

The V-1 was an all metal low-wing cantilever monoplane with a two-spar wing, stressed skin and retractable landing gear. Powered by a 700 hp Wright Cyclone F-2 radial engine. Seats for 1 crew and 8 passengers. The last of the high performance single engine commercial airplanes and probably the fastest.

Since only Model V-1 was ever built, the airplane in the attachment photo is in all probability a Model V-1A, which was generally similar to the V-1 but slightly bigger and heavier, with an 850 hp Wright Cyclone R-1820 radial engine and trailing edge wing flaps. Seats for 2 crew and 8 passengers.

American Airlines bought 20 V-1A airplanes and put them into service in September 1934. Bowen Airlines also operated the V-1A and at least 1 airplane was sold to Canadian Colonial Airways. There were a number of V-1A variants and one (believed to be a V-1A-8) was flown across the US in 1935 from Burbank, California to Floyd Bennet Field in New York by Jimmy Doolittle in 11 hours and 59 minutes. Another of the same type, with long range tanks was flown across the North Atlantic by Merrill and Richman in 1936.

There was also a twin-float example known as the V-1AS. Others were exported to Brazil, China, Turkey and the USSR.

The V-1As did not remain very long in airline service and at least 7 of the American Airlines airplanes went to Spain during the Spanish Civil War.

V-1A specifications:

Type: High speed passenger transport
Maker: Airplane Development Corp.
Wing Span: 50 ft (15.24 m)
Length: 37 ft (11.28 m)
Height: 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m)
Wing Area: 384 sq.ft (35,67 sq.m)
Weight: Empty 5,307 lb (2,407 kg); Max 8,500 lb (3,856 kg)
Powerplant: One 850 hp Wright Cyclone R-1820-G2 aircooled 9 cylinder radial engine.
Performance: Cruise speed 211 mph (240 kmh); Range 1000 mile (1,609 km)
Payload: Seats for 8 passengers
Crew: 1 or 2"


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I am grateful to Alaska Airlines for assistance in identifying this aircraft. The following remarks were made by employees of Alaska Airlines in response to a contest the company held to determine the identification of this photo which I submitted to them. This airplane is a 1933 Vultee Model V-1. Designed by Gerard Vultee in 1932 or 1933 and built by the Airplane Development Corporation in 1934. The V-1 was an all metal low-wing cantilever monoplane with a two-spar wing, stressed skin and retractable landing gear. Powered by a 700 hp Wright Cyclone F-2 radial engine. Seats for 1 crew and 8 passengers. The last of the high performance single engine commercial airplanes and probably the fastest. Since only Model V-1 was ever built, the airplane in the attachment photo is in all probability a Model V-1A, which was generally similar to the V-1 but slightly bigger and heavier, with an 850 hp Wright Cyclone R-1820 radial engine and trailing edge wing flaps. Seats for 2 crew and 8 passengers. American Airlines bought 20 V-1A airplanes and put them into service in September 1934. Bowen Airlines also operated the V-1A and at least 1 airplane was sold to Canadian Colonial Airways. There were a number of V-1A variants and one (believed to be a V-1A-8) was flown across the US in 1935 from Burbank, California to Floyd Bennet Field in New York by Jimmy Doolittle in 11 hours and 59 minutes. Another of the same type, with long range tanks was flown across the North Atlantic by Merrill and Richman in 1936. There was also a twin-float example known as the V-1AS. Others were exported to Brazil, China, Turkey and the USSR. The V-1As did not remain very long in airline service and at least 7 of the American Airlines airplanes went to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. V-1A specifications: Type: High speed passenger transport Maker: Airplane Development Corp. Wing Span: 50 ft (15.24 m) Length: 37 ft (11.28 m) Height: 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) Wing Area: 384 sq.ft (35,67 sq.m) Weight: Empty 5,307 lb (2,407 kg); Max 8,500 lb (3,856 kg) Powerplant: One 850 hp Wright Cyclone R-1820-G2 aircooled 9 cylinder radial engine. Performance: Cruise speed 211 mph (240 kmh); Range 1000 mile (1,609 km) Payload: Seats for 8 passengers Crew: 1 or 2"