Verville-Sperry M-1 Messenger
Sperry Aircraft · United States · first flew 1921 · light aircraft
The Sperry Messenger is an American single-seat biplane designed by Alfred V. Verville for the US Army Air Service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.41 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small single-seat biplane
- Single engine in the nose
- Span of only 6.1 m
A tiny biplane 5.41 m long with a span of 6.1 m and a 60 hp Lawrance L-4 engine.
Specifications
- The Verville-Sperry M-1 Messenger has a length of 5.41 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.1 m (20 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 156 km/h (97 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built by Sperry Aircraft of Farmingdale, New York, and first flew in 1921. It was later designated the M-1 and MAT.
Variants
Sperry also produced a civilian two-seat version, the Sport Plane.
Where you'll see it
Sperry produced about 50 Messengers and Sport Planes between 1920 and 1926. It was the first aircraft to make contact with an airship in flight.
Related aircraft
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