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Vought Company. Factory and office facilities were obtained in Long Island City and Vought started planes for his future program.

The nation was involved in World War I and his own work was slowed somewhat as he was serving as Consulting Engineer as requested by the Bureau of Aircraft Production at Washington, D.C. The Government wanted Vought to bring out a new advanced training plane, and in November he started work on the well remembered VE-7 dual control tandem tractor biplane. Called the Vought Bluebird, it was similar to but somewhat smaller than the Wright-Martin Model V, and was powered by either a 150 or 180 H.P. Hispano engine.

The first VE-7 was delivered to the Government for test on February 11th, 1918 after company tests at Hazelhurst Field, Long Island. This fine looking and beautifully built plane brought great credit to Vought's design genius and really established him permanently in the aircraft manufacturing business. It was easily the best aircraft in its class at that time. The development and approval of the VE-7 was too late for the World War I production program but it was used for some time after the war by the military services. It was truly the beginning of a long line of successful Vought planes and the company grew rapidly.

In 1922 the firm name was changed to Chance Vought Corporation, then in 1929 the company merged with the United Aircraft Corporation and was moved to a new plant in Hartford, Connecticut. Vought was made Vice-President of the new set-up and the growth of the present day Vought Company began.

Following a short illness Vought passed away quite unexpectedly of septicemia at Southampton Hospital, Long Island on July 25, 1930 at age 42. He was survived by his wife and two sons, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. He was a member of several engineering and social fraternities and a writer of aviation articles.

Flying Pioneer Chance M. Vought was one of the true pioneers of American aviation and devoted his entire lifetime to its progress and growth. He made outstanding contributions in the field of aircraft design which, combined with artistic ability, gave his work enduring beauty. His planes were always of advanced design and he became notably successful in business. His name is still legend in

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