Vanguard Omniplane
Vanguard Air and Marine Corporation (Radnor, PA)
Model 2C Prototype

At the time the following designs were conceived, Vanguard Air & Marine Corporation was still a fledgling company. Nevertheless, Edward G. Vanderlip and John L. Schneider (who were, at the time, President and Vice-President, respectively) were able to guide the fan-in-wing concept with some success. Such early accomplishments should not be a surprise, however, given the experience behind these two men. Vanderlip is credited with building the first roll stabilization system for guided missiles while doing R&D work for the U.S. Government (1942-1946), and he also worked for Piasecki Helicopter as Project Engineer of the first helicopter automatic pilot. Schneider has been associated with Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Bell Aircraft, Goodyear Aircraft, Piasecki Helicopter and Piasecki Aircraft.


Model 2
Touted as easier to fly than a helicopter. Uses a wing with a circular form due to location of aerodynamic center near 50% chord, which allows use of larger rotors and requiring less power.
Model 2 Internal Arrangement
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Model 2C Omniplane
Designed to use as many standard or readily available components as possible to reduce time and costs. This particular design was built.
  • Power: A 265 hp Lycoming 0-540-A1A
  • Rudder: 8 ft.² area
  • Airfoil: NACA 0009, 3.75-inch chord, 6.5-ft. diameter
  • Wing: Low aspect ratio; airfoil of modified NACA 4421; later models planned to use the thinner NACA 4415
  • Recycled the rotors, transmissions, clutch and shafting from Jacobs 104 convertiplane
  • Recycled major portion of airframe from Ercoupe airplane
  • Lower duct closure is a "Venetian blind" type
Model of Model 2C powered by miniature gasoline engine
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Model 2D Omniplane
Features a nose-position ducted fan for more hover control. Circa 1962.

Click here to see internal arrangement of Model 2D.
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Model 6
High performance observation aircraft
  • Power: Two General Electric T-58 shaft turbines
  • Gross Weight: 9,100 lbs.
  • Maximum speed: 350 mph @ 2,000 ft.
  • Designed to meet High Performance STOL mission requirement as defined by military specification TS-145 (circa 1960)
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Model 7
Military configuration
  • Power: Two Allison T-61 turbines
  • Capability: 32 troops or 8,000 lbs. cargo over range of 575 miles @ 288 mph cruise (as required for VTOL Troop/Transport Cargo mission - circa 1960)
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Model 8 Executive
Scaled-up version of Model 2C
  • Power: A 520 hp Lycoming ISO-720
  • Gross weight: 3,400 lbs
  • Span: 24 feet; Length: 28.5 feet
  • Maximum speed: 260 mph
  • Cruising speed (@ 70% power): 200 mph, Range 550 miles
Model 8
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Model 9
High performance VTOL
  • Gross weight: 2,600 lbs.
  • Capability: Surveillance missions @ 380 mph
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Model 12
An ASW (flying boat)
  • Gross Weight: 26,000 lbs.
  • Capability: Carries crew of 4 with 2,000 lbs. of ASW electronics and 2,500 lbs. of armament
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Model 16
Designed for a long-range rescue mission
  • Carries crew of two and capable of picking up four people while in hover
  • Meets Army requirement (circa 1960) for VTOL and STOL
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Model 18
Short-haul transport
    Model 18
  • Power: Two Allison T-56 shaft turbines
  • Gross weight: 30,000 lbs.
  • Span: 50 feet; Length: 63 feet; Height: 23.5 feet
  • Cruising speed: 275 mph
  • Seats 36 to 40
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Model 20
High-speed fighter. Features tip driven main rotors in the wings and deflectors in the turbine exhaust for pitch and yaw control in hovering.
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Model 30 Bus
Circa 1962.
  • Power: Four shaft turbines for 4 lift fans in wings and control-fan in nose.
  • Maximum speed: 550 mph
  • Cruise speed: 290 mph
  • Maximum altitude hover out of ground effect hover: 10,000 feet
  • Seats 40 passengers
Model 30 Bus
Click here to see 3 views of the Model 30.
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    Sources:
  • Levy, Howard. "Vanguard Unveils Unusual VTOL" Air Progress. Spring 1960: 18-22.
  • "Air Review" Air Progress. Summer 1962: 72-73.
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