The Johns Multiplane was a very large unsuccessful experimental aircraft having seven wings and six ailerons, powered by three Liberty L-12 V-12 aircraft engines. The machine had the appearance of a biplane spliced onto the front of a triplane with two wings added at the rear. The center fuselage housed the cockpit and one engine in tractor configuration. Both side booms ended with wing-mounted engines in pusher configuration. The aileron control force was found to be extremely high.
Designed by Herbert Johns of the American Multiplane Company in Bath, New York,Patent # 1,365,995 Flying Machine was granted to Charles A. Herrmann, also of the American Multiplane Company on Oct. 3, 1916.[1]
The massive septi-wing made a series of short hops during testing, but was eventually scrapped in 1920[2] due to its inability to maintain controlled flight.