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Johns Multiplane

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Multiplane
Johns Multiplane ready for testing circa 1919
Role Experimental aircraft
Manufacturer American Multiplane Co.
Designer Herbert Johns
First flight 1919
Status Scrapped
Number built 1

The Johns Multiplane was a very large unsuccessful experimental aircraft having seven wings and six ailerons, powered by three Liberty L-12 V-12 aircraft engines. The machine had the appearance of a biplane spliced onto the front of a triplane with two wings added at the rear. The center fuselage housed the cockpit and one engine in tractor configuration. Both side booms ended with wing-mounted engines in pusher configuration. The aileron control force was found to be extremely high.

Design and development

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Designed by Herbert Johns of the American Multiplane Company in Bath, New York, Patent # 1,365,995 Flying Machine was granted to Charles A. Herrmann, also of the American Multiplane Company on Oct. 3, 1916.[1]

Operational history

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The massive septi-wing made a series of short hops during testing, but was eventually scrapped in 1920[2] due to its inability to maintain controlled flight.

Johns Multiplane

Specifications

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General characteristics

  • Crew: three
  • Length: 55 ft 9 in (17 m)
  • Wingspan: 106 ft 4 in (32.4 m)
  • Powerplant: 3 × Liberty L-12 water-cooled 45° V-12 piston engine, 400 hp (300 kW) each

Performance

References

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  1. ^ "Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office". 282. 1872: 461. Retrieved 1 March 2015. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Aviation History, Nov 2010 page 11
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