We are absolutely thrilled to announce the arrival of our newest, and possibly rarest, artifact: the 1929 Alliance Argo, the only one of its kind still taking to the skies today. This extraordinary aircraft represents a missing chapter in aviation history and stands as living proof of the spirit, innovation, and audacity that defined the Golden Age of flight.
Built during a time when aviation was evolving daily, the Alliance Argo was designed for spirited flight and bold aerobatic performance. With only 20 ever produced, and just a handful surviving today, our Argo remains the world’s sole airworthy example, a centerpiece of our collection and a global aviation treasure.
The Legend Behind the Metal
The story of the Argo begins with two brothers determined to push aviation forward. Aubrey and Adrian Hess had previously operated the Hess Aircraft Company in Wyandotte, Michigan, where they built their reputation for innovation. Aubrey, an aeronautical engineer who served during World War I, partnered with his brother Adrian, a University of Michigan engineering graduate, to pursue their aviation dreams.
In 1928, the Hess brothers made a bold move, they closed the Hess Aircraft Company and relocated the operation to Alliance, Ohio, founding the Alliance Aircraft Corporation. Bringing their hard-earned expertise from the Hess Aircraft Company, they assembled a talented team including Chief Engineer John E. Everett and test pilots Frederick A. Giles and Edward Leedy. Together, this group would transform their vision into the remarkable Argo biplane.
Their creation was a robust, two-seat, open-cockpit aircraft powered by the advanced Hess Warrior seven-cylinder radial engine, capable of 115–125 horsepower. The Argo’s steel tube fuselage, rugged construction, and innovative wing design made it capable of aerobatic feats that thrilled crowds, famously among the few aircraft of its day to perform the dangerous “outside loop.” The Argo represented the evolution of their earlier success, the Hess Blue Bird, showcasing the brothers’ continued drive to innovate in the rapidly expanding world of aviation.
The plane vaulted to fame at its debut at the 1929 Detroit Air Show, astonishing audiences with hair-raising low-level loops, hammerhead stalls, and snap-rolls. Pilots and crowds alike adored the Argo for its blend of eagerness, stability, and forgiving flight characteristics, a rare combination that made even amateur aviators feel like barnstorming legends.
Surviving Against the Odds
Although the Argo was poised to become a best-seller, the Great Depression cast a long shadow over American aviation, ending production at just 20 units. Most disappeared from the skies over the following decades. Today, only two or three Argos are known to exist, and our new arrival is the world’s only one still flying, its legacy preserved through meticulous restoration, and now awaiting its next chapter at our museum.
Innovation Meets Inspiration
The Alliance Argo will join our world-class collection of vintage civilian aircraft while serving a new mission as an ambassador for hands-on STEM education. Watch for the Argo making fly-in appearances throughout the region, where visitors can witness its aerobatic DNA in action, and as a star resource for our Aviation Academy STEM programs, inspiring a whole new generation of pilots, engineers, and dreamers.
To learn more about the aircraft’s technical story and restoration journey, visit these resources:
Read more at Silodrome | Learn about the Argo on Wikipedia
