G.Swanborough, P.Bowers United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 (Putnam)

ENGINEERING DIVISION - POMILIO FVL-8 and BVL-12

   Among the aeronautical talent sent to the United States by the allies in 1917/18 to help the aviation programme was the Italian designer Ottorino Pomilio, whose firm of Pomilio Brothers in Turin had been notably success­ful in the manufacture of two-seat observation and bomber models. At the request of the Engineering Division at McCook Field, Pomilio undertook the design of a single seat fighter, the FVL-8, around the new 280-h.p. Liberty 8-cylinder engine and a bomber, the BVL-12, designed around the later 400-h.p. 12-cylinder Liberty.
   Both were of conventional all-wood construction, although the plywood fuselages were relatively new to American practice. The outstanding feature of both models was the location of the fuselage above the lower wing instead of on it. The FVL-8 radiator was in the centre section of the lower wing while the BVL-12 used a nose radiator. Six FVL-8s (40081/40086) and five BVL-12s (40087/40091) were built in Indianapolis, Indiana, but were not completed before the Armistice.
   Data for the FVL-8 and the BVL-12 (in parentheses) follow: Span, 26 ft. 8 in. (45 ft. 3 in.); length, 21 ft. 8 in. (31 ft. 10 in.); wing area, 284 sq. ft. (621-5 sq. ft.); empty weight, 1,726 lb. (2,824 lb.); gross weight, 2,284 lb. (4,552 lb.); high speed, 133 m.p.h. (Ill m.p.h.).

J.Davilla Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.3: Aircraft M-W (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 75)

Pomilio FVL-8

  With the sale of Pomilio to Ansaldo, and with Ansaldo’s decision to terminate developed of the Pomilio Gamma fighter in favor of its own designs, Ottorino Pomilio decided to settle in the United States in 1918. His brother accompanied him and together they founded the Pomilio Brothers Corporation at Indianapolis. Pomilio designed a single-seat fighter for the U.S. Engineering Division, powered by a 290-hp Liberty 8 engine with armament consisting of two synchronized machine guns. A unique feature of the design was the decision to suspend the single bay upper wing above the fuselage and the lower wing below the fuselage. The fuselage had an all wood framework covered in plywood. This method was subsequently to be adopted by many American aircraft manufacturers. The radiator for the Liberty 8 was in the lower wing center section.
  Six FVL-8 (Fighter Victory Liberty) prototypes were ordered on 12 September 1918, but the war ended when these were still in course of construction. The first FVL-8 made its maiden flight in February 1919. No further orders followed.
  The first airframe had no engine and was intended to be tested to destruction. The first flyable prototype (40081) was sent to McCook Field where it was given P No. P-69. It arrived on 24 March 1919 and it flew on 9 June. Casari states that it likely only flew 1 hour 34 minutes. It appears that 40081 outlasted the other non flyable airframes delivered from Pomilio, being left in the Engineering Division’s museum as late last 1924.
  Serial numbers: S.C.40080/40086.


Pomilio FVL-8 single seat fighter with one 270-hp Liberty 8 8-Cylinder Engine
  Wingspan 26 ft. 8 in; length 21 ft. 8 in; height 8 ft. 2 in.; wing area 264 sq. ft.
  Empty weight 1,490 lbs; loaded weight 2,140 lbs.
  Performance (Contract specifications): Maximum speed 140 mph at 5,000 ft.; 138 mph at 10,000 ft.; 133 mph at 15,000 ft.; 126 mph at 20,000 ft. Climb to 10,000 ft. in 4 min.; 15,000 ft. in 9 min.; 20,000 ft. in 16 min.
  Armament (Planned): Two synchronized Marlin machine guns.
  Army Serial: 40080-40085