Valentine Newbauer's weird machines...

[Kdmoo]

Newbauer Hummingbird circa 1928. Some sort of rotating disc propulsion that was doomed from the start!

Here is the Aerofiles entry:

Newbauer​

(Valentine) Newbauer Vertical Airplane Co, Monterey Park CA.
Hummingbird 1928 = Ornithopter-type craft; two revolving disks on top, and wings made from lateral vanes, all powered by a four-cylinder motorcycle engine. No record found of flight. US patent #1,743,327 issued in 1930.


Source: EAA Newsletter archive, courtesy of Ted Businger.

 

[Stargazer]

Judging from the reliable EAA source, Aerofiles definitely got it wrong on the spelling of Neubauer.

Thanks a lot for sharing this rare one!

 

[Kdmoo]

I have seen his name spelled a couple of different ways. I think the spelling in the EAA photos is the exception. Attached is a 1927 article from Popular Science Monthly with it as "Newbauer". Note the scale model he is holding of the following Strato-Gyro, another wacky gem!

Newbauer Strato-Gyro of 1930 was another far-fetched idea even for the time.

Aerofiles says:

1927 = 1pOH. Two propeller-type (coaxial?) rotors and a tractor prop. A model was built, powered by a 1.5hp engine. Newbauer claimed it lifted 60 pounds, which is judged by experts to be highly improbable. He was engaged in helicopter experiments from 1917-27 and held several patents. One project was entered in the 1924 British helicopter competition.


Source: Air Pictorial 1958.

Vintage video: Go to 00:46:20 in this clip to see the Strato-Gyro in action.
http://www.historicfilms.com/tapes/221_632.03_647.03

 

[hugo007]

Strange...

The Newbauer Hummingbird looks exactly the same as the Harry Cordy contraption in 1932 Modern Mechanix?

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/yet-another-attempt-to-defeat-the-law-of-gravity/

 

[Kdmoo]

That is odd. I wonder if Newbauer sold his contraption (and design rights) to Mr. Cordy? Both are listed in the Los Angeles area. Maybe both Newbauer and Cordy were the initial designers?

Edit: Just found an amazing high resolution photo (click on smaller picture) of the Harry Cordy Mobilopter that hugo referenced.
http://bancexam.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/flight/

Something is up here, as the article says he had worked on it for 5 years prior to 1931.

 

[taalismn]

Newbauer Hummingbird circa 1928. Some sort of rotating disc propulsion that was doomed from the start!

Here is the Aerofiles entry:

Newbauer[/c]​

​

Thing looks like the prototype of the ornithopters from the movie version of 'Dune'. B)​

 

[hugo007]

Hi all

I think Newbauer never strayed away from the coaxial helicopter type path.

http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2018/Yonkers%20NY%20Statesman/Yonkers%20NY%20Statesman%201928/Yonkers%20NY%20Statesman%201928%20-%200182.pdf

In this picture his helicopter model could be misnamed Hummingbird?

 

[Stargazer]

Amount of information justified a separate topic. Thanks to all that participated! Hope we can add to it soon.

 

[Pelzig]

Collection of Newbauer's patents for his designs.