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LOT 28

A RARE VAMP (VAN DERSARL MOTOR PRODUCTS) AIRCRAFT COMPANY "BAT" ENGINE, BELIEVED 1929,

Sold for US$3,570 inc. premium
Lot 28

Property from the Collection of Don C. Boulton

A RARE VAMP (VAN DERSARL MOTOR PRODUCTS) AIRCRAFT COMPANY "BAT" ENGINE, BELIEVED 1929,

A RARE VAMP (VAN DERSARL MOTOR PRODUCTS) AIRCRAFT COMPANY "BAT" ENGINE, BELIEVED 1929,


4 cylinder in-line engine, fitted with Zenith carburetor and manifold, mounted on wheeled display base, the engine fitted with 1860mm diameter two bladed wooden propeller.

The VAMP Company, owned by Frank A. Van Dersarl (1895-1983), was based in Denver, and built several types of aircraft, believed 40+ machines in total, powered by their own VAMP engines, including replicas of Bleriot monoplanes and Cessna mid-wings. Pioneer aviator Harry Combs (1913-2003), with only 30 hours of flying under his belt, at the age of 16, decided to build his own aeroplane. With the help of Frank Van Dersarl they completed the construction of a sport bi-plane called the VAMP Bat in 1929. Sadly, the VAMP Bat had a short life, after flying to Pueblo, Combs lost control of the aircraft on the runway, there were no brakes and only a tailskid, caught in high winds the aircraft flipped on its back. Combs said 'I was hanging upside down inches from the ground. It busted up. I should have known that when you don't have brakes you have to stay on the grass'.

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