In 1926, he formulated plans to create an original aircraft designed for utility and air transport.

Although the overall design was quite "clean," all cables, horns and attachments were mounted externally, adding considerably to the drag.

As typical of the era, the pilot sat in an open cockpit forward of the wing’s leading edge.

Powered by the newly developed, air-cooled Wright R-790 Whirlwind radial engine which proved to be reliable, the Universal became widely regarded as a good choice for small air carriers and operators.

Configurations could be readily changed from landplane to seaplane equipped with floats or if fitted with skis, the Universal could be used on rough ice and snow surfaces.

), using sophisticated side scan sonar technology, finally located the aircraft literally "parked" on the lake bottom.

In October, the underwater archaeology team returned to the recovery site and towed the tail section to shallower waters.

Parts of the fuselage, engine, and horizontal stabilizer were collected and donated to the City of Edmonton Artifact Centre; these components are on display at the Alberta Aviation Museum.

Fokker Universal c/n 434, NC7029 was recovered from a field in New York by the Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association (now the New England Air Museum).

The remains include the fuselage (broken in two sections), landing gear, engine, and small fragments of the wings.