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Stampe Vertongen SV-10
The prototype Stampe Vertongen SV-10 is rolled out for its first flight at Deurne airfield on the 1st of October 1935
Twin engine biplane bomber - fighter and observation aircraft
In 1934 the Belgian Government issued a specification for a twin engine “Croiseur aérien” or Flying Cruiser to see service with the 3rd Regiment Aéronautique in accordance with a typical trend in those days for large multi engine combat aircraft. This Bomber and heavy fighter was to be powered by two 780 hp Gnome radials and a crew of three was foreseen. Other specification dictated it to be fully aerobatic so that it also could be used as a heavy fighter.
The Belgian Companies LACAB (see the LACAB GR.8 Doryphore) and Stampe Vertongen accepted the challenge. The Deurne based company entered the competition with the Stampe Vertongen SV-10 designed by Georges Ivanow. The delightfully strange looking aircraft was rolled out on October 1st, 1935 and that same day Jean Stampe took it in the air for a successful first flight. Leon Stampe (son of Jean) made a second good flight on 4 November 1935. On the following day Leon Stampe accompanied by its designer Ivanow took off again with the SV-10. Unfortunately upon their return while landing at Deurne airfield the aircraft stalled and crashed at Borsbeek killing both occupants. After the accident Stampe and Vertongen decided to drop the SV-10 program and the Russian born engineer Demidoff, replaced Ivanow as head of the technical department.
Test-pilot Jean Stampe revving up both Gnôme Rhône 14Kdrs (780 hp) engines of the SV-10 prototype before its first flight from Deurne on October 1st, 1935.