Steve Ferguson (American, B. 1946) "1912 Deperdussin Racer" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Cold Press Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the Deperdussin Racer from the 100 Year of Powered Flight Collection. Armand Deperdussin founded the Societe Pour les Appareils Deperdussin (SPAD) at the small town of Betheny, close to Reims, in 1910, and selected two brilliant engineers to oversee his aircraft design and production: Louis Bechereau and Andre Hebremont. By 1910, streamlining was already becoming a consideration, and Bechereau sought to create smooth skinned monocoque fuselages that were circular in section, light in weight and very strong. Engineering did not yet extend to cantilever wings or a retractable undercarriage, so the Deperdussin racer was amply braced with wires and struts. Installed with the amazing 160 horsepower Gnome rotary engine, it was a racing sensation, and became the fastest pre-World War I aircraft in the world. Image Size: 16.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B17123)