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Gilbo-Gilbo Aero Engineers was a short-lived company based in both Stevens Point, Wisconsin and Akron, Ohio. In a Sept. 1928 advertisement, they claimed to be "Designers, Executive Managers, Constructors" of "Airships - Airplanes - Air Ports - Factories and Commercial Air Lines". No less!
The ad presented the Gilbo V-64 "Airseaplane", a large all-metal twin-hull flying boat project with added cabin deck within wing structure, "for heavy duty commercial and military operation." Advertisement claimed the double hull and "superimposed cabin space" to have been "introduced by Wm. R. Gilbo". Construction was to begin in Europe beginning Sept. 1st (why in Europe is anyone's guess!). One thing is for sure: this was the first and the last time the Gilbo-Gilbo company and their aircraft were ever heard of! The 1929 crash put an end to many aircraft, even much less ambitious ones than this. There was no place for a huge twin-hull flying boat, not even the Savoia-Marchetti S.55, which found no takers in America despite American Aeronautical's efforts to promote it.
The ad presented the Gilbo V-64 "Airseaplane", a large all-metal twin-hull flying boat project with added cabin deck within wing structure, "for heavy duty commercial and military operation." Advertisement claimed the double hull and "superimposed cabin space" to have been "introduced by Wm. R. Gilbo". Construction was to begin in Europe beginning Sept. 1st (why in Europe is anyone's guess!). One thing is for sure: this was the first and the last time the Gilbo-Gilbo company and their aircraft were ever heard of! The 1929 crash put an end to many aircraft, even much less ambitious ones than this. There was no place for a huge twin-hull flying boat, not even the Savoia-Marchetti S.55, which found no takers in America despite American Aeronautical's efforts to promote it.
(I'm joking . . . )
