TIGHAR
Historic Aircraft Recovery and Preservation => Post WWII Civilian Aircraft and Spacecraft topics => Topic started by: John Yasenko on August 30, 2015, 09:30:50 AM
-
It has been quite the while since I logged into the site.
That was in regards to a 12 inch wheel that I thought may have been from an airplane. Found out it was not.
I have a picture from 1952 which has an airplane in the background of a airport hanger, Champaign or Chicago airport.
I would like to identify it, if possible. Thought what better place than the most knowledgeable site in the world.
If someone would volunteer, I would send them the picture to post here.
The automobile that is pictured, is from 1935 though.
I am terrible at cutting and pasting.
Address for mail; motorcarinvestments@gmail.com
Thanks in advance,
John
-
Here is what John sent me:
Would you please put Wesleys name on the one bigger picture, promised him I would never make it public without his name on it. I sent two different pictures, the one is a movie actress, even was in Movies with James cagney. The other Lady was a professional model. Thought the club might enjoy identifying the plane, if possible. The DB Aston Martin was Wacky Arnolt's car, arnolt bristols, mg's and more. Grancor was another friend of Bens, Granatelli. What is the airplane in the background?
These are John's questions based on this material:
- Who was Dallas Spear?
- What is the experimental plane in the background of the pictures?
- Was the seat belt, which dates from 1933-1935, from an airplane?
(http://moleski.net/pix/tighar/DSC06124.JPG)
The next two photos are "property of Wesley Phillippi":
(http://moleski.net/pix/tighar/IMG_0010.jpg)
(http://moleski.net/pix/tighar/WES%20PHOTO.jpg)
I believe this is a correct seat belt from an airplane, era, 1932-1936 Seat belts were one of the 15 new inovations Ben incorporated into his futuristic exotic supercar. I have another set, which are quite different, but I believe these to be correct? Please post, maybe it will be verified.
(http://moleski.net/pix/tighar/DSC04559.JPG)
Along the way of expert advise; who was Dallas Spear? Thought you might enjoy a walk through automobile history. Ben was an astounding man. He was an infant builder of the national SCCA too. James Kiimberly, Wacky Arnolt and Ben.
(http://moleski.net/pix/tighar/IMG-1.jpg)
(http://moleski.net/pix/tighar/Top-1.jpg)
(http://moleski.net/pix/tighar/harris%20page%202.jpg)
-
Looks like the registration number on the aircraft is N4211 which should be a US registration number.
Checking the FAA registry, N4211 is currently de-registered but was assigned to a 1967 Bensen B-8M, which turns out to be a Gyrocopter. Here's a photo of the B-8M at the Smithsonian:
http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A19690355000 (http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A19690355000)
Clearly not the aircraft in question in the photo.
FAA record also says "N4211 has Reserved/Multiple Records" but I'm not quite sure what that means. Perhaps there is more info somewhere as to prior aircraft that used the N number.
Andrew
-
Andrew,
Why would it have a "42 M " on the back?
I wished that I could help more, but these are the only two pictures I have.
Era was 1952-1953 max.
So the plane was earlier, be my guess ?
Ben was an experienced pilot, and flew to Florida and the Bahamas' often, maybe that helps ??
I am pretty sure that he flew to Cuba to host SCCA racing before Castrol over through the president. He did host the races, and I am assuming that he flew there?
All other info provided has no assumption, all documented fact.
Maybe of help; Ben owned two airports, was in Navy research and invention during WW II with Edwin Land, POLOROID,, built tanks and ornament in a plant by Chicago also. Experimental stuff guys !!!
He was very good friends with Ed Cole, which perished in a plane crash, GM President, and also was very good friends with Lance Reventlow, which also perished in a plane crash.
I know that he also ran with Zora, Corvette guy at GM, >> Jim Kimberly of Kimberly and Clark, Phil Hill, most flew planes also.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In one of the many obits on Ben >> who was DALLAS SPEAR? Thoughts?
And I am pretty sure that you guys have knowledge of seat belts in early planes>> is that seat belt correct era from an airplane<< as everybody knows cars did not have seat belts then,
Fire any questions at me that you may have.
Just trying to finish up History work on the entire story.
Thanks in advance,
John
-
Oops, Perhaps I mis read the lettering on the tail. I can't enlarge the photo that Marty posted.
FAA registration for N42M is for a WACO JYM, and previous registration was for a RANS S-6. Neither look like the aircraft in the photo.
amck
-
There is a photo of N42M in this pdf file (http://if1airracing.com/IF1Web/index_htm_files/IF1%20Forum%202012%201-4%20JanFebMarApr.pdf).
The shape and guy wires look right, though the lettering is different.
(http://moleski.net/pix/tighar/IF1%20Forum%202012%201-4%20JanFebMarApr.jpg)
#77 Beville-Raymond “Little Spook” N42M (light gray)
"The Steve Beville-Bruce Raymond team had great success with their Thompson Class #77 'Galloping Ghost', and so Beville tried his hand at a miniature, fabric-covered version for the 190 Cu. In. Class. In the 1949 Goodyear Trophy Race, he qualified 19th at 143.384 mph and finished 7th in the Consolation Race at 130.760 mph. The following January, at Miami for the All-American Air Maneuvers, Steve qualified 16th at 156.182mph, and placed 5th in the Consolation Race at 147.683mph."
From Aerofiles (http://www.aerofiles.com/_ba.html):
Steve Beville, Hammond IN. [N42M] (WASM coll)
(http://www.aerofiles.com/cleardot.gif)
Special 1949 = 1pClwM; 85hp Continental C-85; span: 16'0" length: 17'0". Midget racer Li'l Spook (p: Steve Beville) [N42M].
(http://www.aerofiles.com/beville.jpg)
-
Darn, you beat me to it
More on this Midget Racer from the 1949 National Ari Races
http://www.airrace.com/1949%20NAR%20.htm (http://www.airrace.com/1949%20NAR%20.htm)
"For the first time sabotage darkened the Cleveland Air Races when a disgruntled
pilot ripped a piece of fabric from the wing of Steve Beville's racer "Little Spook".
The intoxicated pilot who was a competitor in last years race mistook Steve Beville's
racer "Little Spook" for "Little Rebel." Both planes are similar in size and in appearance."
Nothing like a disgruntled intoxicated pissed off pilot from last year....
amkc
-
I truly wished that I had better pics, but alas, after several decades, these are the only two with the airplane.
Look at the one with Ben and the model, a person can make out " Little " on the side of the plane.
Little what>> hopefully the club may turn up more.
Neat that experimental planes are archived, really not that many documented>> are there?
BTW, please remember that Ben was all about racing, and we have tons of documents which should get him inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame, He truly was one of the infant builders of the National SCCA.
POINT; the experimental plane>> what was he doing, a racing plane ????
-
I truly wished that I had better pics, but alas, after several decades, these are the only two with the airplane.
Look at the one with Ben and the model, a person can make out " Little " on the side of the plane.
Little what>> hopefully the club may turn up more.
"Little Spook." See posts above for more pictures and the identity of the owners.
-
By they way, do we know what the trophy is that the woman sitting on the car is holding in the first photo?
Andrew
-
Well done, boys. :)
Stay tuned for more "Moleski & McKenna: Aviation Detectives"
-
Andrew,
The lady is a movie actress which was under contract with MGM in Hollywood.
The 4 foot tall trophy was awarded to Bens 1935 Harris FWD Speedster.
It was sent special invitation to be present at a show, amazing that it won best of show at 17 years of age.
His son lives in Arizona now, he said that trophy was one of many, and it was about 4 foot tall.
Right after that, it was invited to a show in Chicago, somewhere in-between, another picture was taken, it appears to be Marylyn Monroe in the Speedster.
In early 1954, Ben and Jim Kimberly were used for racing coverage of the first edition of " Sports Illustrated";
He associated with quite the racy crowd !!!!
Thanks for the help guys, figured that the experts herein, would nail it down.
NOW, to further it all, are those vintage era 1932-1936 airplane seat belts pictured above?
And, WHO was aviation pioneer "Dallas Spear", era 1920 ?
John
-
Well done, boys. :)
Stay tuned for more "Moleski & McKenna: Aviation Detectives"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well said Sir !!!
Hope all had some fun digging into a few racing experimental aircraft.
John
-
Anyone know where either the car or the aircraft are now?
amck
-
Anyone know where either the car or the aircraft are now?
The history of the car and its restoration are on the Autopuzzles website (http://www.autopuzzles.com/Harris_1.htm).
I didn't see any more about the subsequent history of the "Little Spook."
-
In e-mail, someone asked who manufactured "Little Spook."
As I understand it, the Goodyear racers were homebrew.
There were evidently some builders who had several planes entered in the races, but I can't see any evidence of a normal commercial manufacturer building them for sale.
From AirRace.com (http://www.airrace.com/1947%20NAR%20.html):
Goodyear Trophy Race
"The new light plane race sponsored by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. of Akron Ohio
was an immediate success, most of the 2.2 mile race course was in view of the stands.
The idea for the midget-plane was thought up at the 1939 pre-war Cleveland National
Air Races but did not go beyond the idea stage due to the war in Europe. The rules for
this race were written for the "back-yard mechanic" without a lot of money to spend.
The design had to be built around a stock 85 hp engine, fixed pitched propeller and
a non-retractable landing gear. Due to the large number of entries the race was run in
elimination heats of 10 laps, semi-final heats of 15 laps and final race consisted of 25
laps around the short rectangular course."
The class is now known as "Formula One Air Racing." (http://www.air-racing-history.com/Formula%20One%20Air%20Racing.htm)
-
Anyone know where either the car or the aircraft are now?
The history of the car and its restoration are on the Autopuzzles website (http://www.autopuzzles.com/Harris_1.htm).
I didn't see any more about the subsequent history of the "Little Spook."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Here is a more concise story, still very rough and about 1/5th of our information. Please click the links at the bottom of the rough story.
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=11958.0
The help you guys provided, filled in more information for the entire "story"
Thank you,
John
-
Marty,
This link you provided below, is an unbelievable march through important aviation history.
AirRace.com
Great read !!!!!!!
Thanks again for all of the help,
John
-
This link you provided below, is an unbelievable march through important aviation history.
AirRace.com (http://airrace.com/)
Great read !!!!!!!
Thanks again for all of the help,
You're welcome, John.