N1970L

N1970L is a Vought V-10 Vanguard, a single-engine piston aircraft operated by LARK AVIATION LLC. SkyMeter has tracked 60 flights totalling 23 hours of airtime via ADS-B. The most frequent segment is MI37 to KPHN. Service window in our records spans 217 days. Of those flights, 4 (6.7%) carry at least one detected incident: a go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Vought V-10 Vanguard has a maximum takeoff weight of 3,400 lb, light wake category.

About the Vought V-10 Vanguard

The Vought V-10 Vanguard represents a brief foray by the legendary military aircraft manufacturer into the general aviation market during the early 1960s. Best known for the F4U Corsair and A-7 Corsair II, Vought designed the V-10 as a four-seat, single-engine retractable-gear aircraft intended to compete with established models like the Beechcraft Bonanza and Piper Comanche. Powered by a Lycoming IO-540 engine producing 260 horsepower, the Vanguard featured all-metal construction and a distinctive low-wing configuration that reflected Vought's military design heritage.

Production was extremely limited, with only a handful of airframes completed before Vought abandoned the general aviation venture to focus on its core defense contracts. The type never achieved FAA certification under the standard airworthiness process, and most examples were certificated individually under experimental or restricted categories. This rarity makes the V-10 a curiosity among vintage aircraft enthusiasts today, representing one of the few attempts by a major military contractor to enter the civilian light aircraft market during the post-war boom.

The Vanguard's performance envelope was competitive for its era, with a cruise speed around 180 knots and useful load suitable for cross-country family travel. Its retractable landing gear and constant-speed propeller placed it in the complex single-engine category, though handling characteristics were reportedly conventional. The type's obscurity means few pilots have experience with it, and parts support relies entirely on owner fabrication or salvage from the tiny existing fleet.

SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with among the most active observed operators.