Golden Era Planes of Fame

[Mojave Jack]

Rather than hi-jack DanielJones' thread on the Fastest Man in the World, I thought I'd carry on conversation on the H-1 racer to a new thread.

For those of you just tuning in, there was a side discussion on the accuracy of the portrayal of the H-1 in the movie, The Avaitor. To start this discussion off, Absinthe, can you elaborate a little on the retractable canopy? I haven't seen that feature, but I've mainly focused on military aircraft, so it's not too surprising. The racing planes and other innovations are an area I'd like to know more about, though.

Also, I figured as long as we were talking about the H-1, we could open up the discussion to other great planes of the Golden Era, such as the Curtiss R3C-1, the various Gee Bees, etc.

 

["Doc" Devereux]

Acording to the site that documents Jim Wright's replica the side windows rolled down into the fuselage, allowing the windscreen and seat to move forward and the pilot to get a much better view of the where he was going while on the ground.

For me the H-1 is one of the most beautiful aeroplanes ever built, a true work of art.

 

[Mojave Jack]

the site that documents Jim Wright's replica[/URL] the side windows rolled down into the fuselage, allowing the windscreen and seat to move forward and the pilot to get a much better view of the where he was going while on the ground.

In this photo (from the Wright Machine Tool Co. Inc site that you posted, Doc) the canopy looks to be in three pieces, one on each side and one on the top, though I looked up some references that say it was only two pieces. I'd really like to see how that worked, but I can't find any photos.

[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]For me the H-1 is one of the most beautiful aeroplanes ever built, a true work of art.[/QUOTE]
Absolutely, and the above photo shows that perfectly. There are plenty of beautiful planes, but I don't think any match the H-1 for pure beauty.

 

["Doc" Devereux]

In this photo (from the Wright Machine Tool Co. Inc site that you posted, Doc) the canopy looks to be in three pieces, one on each side and one on the top, though I looked up some references that say it was only two pieces. I'd really like to see how that worked, but I can't find any photos.

Me too - either way it's a very clever piece of design. Hughes was so far ahead of the curve that he just invented solutions to problems people hadn't even thought of. Not forgetting the way that Glenn Odekirk and his team not only made them come about but put thier own brains into the mix as well.

There are plenty of beautiful planes, but I don't think any match the H-1 for pure beauty.

I can only think of one: the 1934 De Havilland DH-88 Comet Racer. London (England) to Melbourne (Australia) in less than 72 hours.

 

[Mojave Jack]

The Comet is a beaut, there's no denying it! Still, I gotta stick with the H-1. Honestly, though, sometimes it's just a matter of angle and a photo just pops. I have a real love of seaplanes and flying boats, so this photo of a Dornier Do-24 just floors me:

I just love those flying boats!

 

["Doc" Devereux]

That Dornier's an absolute beauty, and I'm a big fan of flying boats as well. There's a certain elegance to the flow of some hulls that makes racing yachts look clumsy, and I still want a Catalina of my very own.

Going back to the H-1, I took Absinthe's suggestion of nosing out documentary footage and found this. In part of the footage (New York-Miami) it appears that the canopy rolled back over the tunnel from cockpit to tail, but we also get a really good view of the windscreen in its forward position.

However in this picture from the Smithsonian it seems that the canopy is made of several pieces. Perhaps they followed a guide rail that allowed them to form a curve in line with the windscreen and tunnel?

Methinks further research is required.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

The info about the canopy came from a visit to NASM's old Garber Museum, that was the restoration and storage facility for the National Air & Space Museum.

I was lucky to be able to tour Garber right after they got the H-1, this was in the days when they still had aircraft sitting out side, (Not the H-1) and Garber was off limits to the public.

I was able to view the H-1 before it went to the downtown DC museum, that had not yet opened. (Waaay back when I was a teenager during the polyester 70's)

The canopy retracts downward on each side of the cockpit, similiar to the way that Jimmy Wedell designed his cockpit enclosures, on the series of Wedell-Williams racers that I'm sure Hughes had watched with great interest in the early 30's. (Roscoe Turner, & Jimmy Wedell held a number of speed records with these aircraft during the 30's)

Roscoe Turner also used a similiar canopy system on his later "Meteor" racer.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/turner.htm

Some air racing history:
http://www.airrace.com/

 

[Story]

Wright's website also has a forum

where RKIs post. I thought this comment about the H-1/Japanese "Zero" link was very interesting -
http://www.wrightools.com/h1talk/_disc3/000000d4.htm

And as long as we're talking Planes of Fame, the DC-3 Dakota warrants an honorable mention.

http://www.centercomp.com/dc3/

 

[Story]

I just love those flying boats!

You might find this of interest -
http://www.hawaiiclipper.com/

 

[Absinthe_1900]

One of my favorite civilian aircraft, the Beechcraft "Staggerwing".

http://staggerwing.com/

 

["Doc" Devereux]

One of my favorite civilian aircraft, the Beechcraft "Staggerwing".

http://staggerwing.com/

Yep, a 'plane so pretty she even looks good in yellow.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

If you have 275 K to drop, there is a nice Staggerwing up on that popular internet auction site. (I thought about selling my house and living in the Staggerwing, for about 5min...... but I don't think the Boxer would like losing his backyard.)

 

[Mojave Jack]

You might find this of interest -
http://www.hawaiiclipper.com/

Very interesting article. Do you know how valid the claims are? The website has a bit of a sensationalist bend to it.

One of my favorite civilian aircraft, the Beechcraft "Staggerwing".

Truly a classic in every sense of the word. I mentioned the price to my co-worker, and he suggested selling my house, too! lol I don't think the airport, or my dog, would appreciate living in it, either, though.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

My main focus these days is early rotary-wing flight, and preserving a segment of history that often gets overlooked since autogiros & early helicopters are not quite as flashy as racing aircraft, or fighters.

Early Kellett Autogiros

And the people that designed and built them.

 

[Story]

Very interesting article. Do you know how valid the claims are? The website has a bit of a sensationalist bend to it..

The book is actually less.. sensational... than the website. He puts out some valid questions on the morse messages that were sent by the Hawaii Clipper and it's not beyond the realm of possibilities that some elements of the Japanese military might pull a stunt like that.

If you have 275 K to drop, there is a nice Staggerwing up on that popular internet auction site. (I thought about selling my house and living in the Staggerwing, for about 5min...... but I don't think the Boxer would like losing his backyard.)

But then you two could fly around the country, solving mysteries. All you'd need is a little-person mechanic. And a good soundtrack.

 

[The Wolf]

Absinthe 1900, I like autogiros also. They remind of two things, an episode of "Fibber McGee and Molly" and mostly Doc Savage. He not only flews gyros in the stories but designed ones as well.

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[Dixon Cannon]

One cannot cover Golden Era aircraft without noting the small but truly great Sikorsky S-38. Often called an “air yacht”, it was stylish, luxurious,yet rugged. And.. it had wheels, making it an amphibian seaplane. Many feel it was on of the all time classic seaplanes. It was used by film makers and adventurers as well as by Pan Am and smaller air carriers.

Powered by twin P&W 450hp Radial Wasp engines, it would do 110mph and cover a 600 mile range, seating 8 people plus a pilot and his first officer.

Inside a well appointed S-38 – it was the Golden Era equivalent of a Lear Jet, except that you could open the windows and cup the wind in your hand, or reach down, if you landed in the water and feel the splash of the water. But they were also rugged, as adventurers took them to explore South America, fly low over African plains to film wild game and the were used inter-island in Hawaii.

The roomy cockpit – not much more complicated than a modern automobile – the control column shifted from left to right so either pilot could fly while the other stepped back to the cabin to chat with passengers or have a drink. Sikorsky had many model variations available for the passenger area – from super luxurious to basic utilitarian explorer mode. A Rolls-Royce to a Pick-Up truck! Why perhaps, during the Golden Era the S-38 was an extremely well selling amphibious flying boat – it was the “Amphibion”.

Worthy of any great adventure story, this stylish “air yacht” was roomy, easy to fly, and could land almost anywhere. The S-38 certainly deserves much more recognition as one of the greatest classic aircraft designs of all time. c. pacific-seaplanes

http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptionsvehicles/sikorsky_s-38a.html

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Here's Leo...

with the S-38 in 'Aviator'.

This is the one that Hughes flew Kate around L.A. in then landed on the Golf Course and the Beverly Wilhire!

-dixon cannon

 

[Absinthe_1900]

Igor Sikorsky had an amazing life in aviation, his list of accomplishments would take quite awhile to list.

From his early days he had one type of aircraft that always occupied his thoughts, the helicopter, and of all his designs Igor Sikorsky's favorite was the little VS-300 helicopter.

Igor Sikorsky did his own flight testing of the VS-300, he always wore a suit and hat when flight testing this new machine.

The Legend of the Fedora:
http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/fedora.html

Sergei Sikorsky & Jimmy Viner examine Igor Sikorsky's legendary hat

 

[Mojave Jack]

One cannot cover Golden Era aircraft without noting the small but truly great Sikorsky S-37. Often called an “air yacht”, it was stylish, luxurious,yet rugged. And.. it had wheels, making it an amphibian seaplane. Many feel it was on of the all time classic seaplanes. It was used by film makers and adventurers as well as by Pan Am and smaller air carriers.

Those are great aircraft! I think you're thinking of the S-38 and S-39, though. The S-37 was a biplane that could be fitted with floats.

And the ultimate exploration aircraft, as well! The S-38 was the twin engine version, while the S-39 was the single engine version:

One of each, in the form of Osa and Martin's Sikorskys, The Spirit of Africa (S-39) and Osa's Ark (S-38)

Osa's Ark (S-38)

Spirit of Africa (S-39)

I swiped these from Holcomb's Aerodrome. Great pics and info!