P & W Wasp radial engines

I'm trying to "date" a photograph I purchased yesterday of a particular airplane. It was originally fitted with a Wasp "Junior" engine, then later retro-fitted with a "Senior."

Are there any visual clues to help distinguish one engine from the other?

OK...I am being a little coy here. The time-frame for the engine swap is the fall of 1931 to December, 1931. I know what the plane is, and believe it or not, the picture is autographed!!

KevFla

 

In 1931 the P&W Hornet R1690 was still in use on things like the Boeing Model 40 and some Navy planes. It looked a lot like the Wasp but had a longer stroke. Can you perhaps post a photo of it ? Who signed the autograph? What kind of plane? I misread your engine identification of the larger engine and the smaller as being a Wasp junior (R985).I think that the R985 came out later then 1931 but I'm probably wrong.

 

The Wasp 'Junior' was first sold in 1930, according to my uncle (who is usually correct). First run in '29, he thinks.

He had a good friend with a Staggerwing with that engine.


Ditto on 'What plane'? signed by ......?

 

1929 and 1930 are correct dates for the R985.

 

Gee... I can't Beelieve with all of the aviation fans here on FChat that no one has guessed Ze plane and pilot! The engine swap dates between August, 1931 and early December, 1931 would have narrowed the possible answers!
I'll post a pix of the picture tomorrow. I'm really blown-away with this find at a local antique show!

KevFla

 

Was the plane a Lockheed Vega?

 

Beautiful airplane, as well as Staggerwings mentioned in TCar's post, but no.

KevFla

 

Jimmy Doolittle, perhaps?

 

Okay, how about a Laird Super Solution?

 

THIS THREAD IS USELESS WITHOUT PICTURES.

 

Doolittle did compete against this pilot and Lairds did compete against this particular manufacturer. But guys, please re-read the first sentence of my "hints" post. Then, once you've solved the quiz, post any pictures you might have of other examples by the mystery manufacturer (and no, not Waco). By the way Ron, you have a stunning 550! Also, Bob...does the P&W engine designation R985 refer to the engine displacement (985 cubic inches)?

KevFla

 

Thanks. It's a 98 in tdf blue.
550's are one of the best deals out there these days.
You can get a nice one for around $70k. Almost getting to the 328 price level.

 

Agree.

Okay, here is a new guess.
Plane = Lockheed Sirius, Pilot = Charles Lindbergh.
.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hint: Name the most iconic air-racer of the 1930s.

Re-hint:

"Gee... I can't Beelieve with all of the aviation fans here on FChat that no one has guessed Ze plane and pilot!"

Spasso...I'll post my picture tomorrow. Much as some people are into really incredible minutia regarding vintage Ferraris and racing results, I was testing the water by seeing how hardcore some of the regulars are, here in the Aviation section.

KevFla

 

Well, now with your latest hint, I know the plane. But still can't guess the famous pilot.
So, no more guesses from me. Looking forward to the picture being posted tomorrow.
.

 

Gee Bee, had a small R985 and then the R1340. Flown by Doolittle and Granville. And recently by Delmar Benjamin.

 

Thanks to everyone that took time to think about who & what I was hinting about in my posts. Bee Gees were the most iconic air-racers of the '30s. The back-story about it's main pilot and the speculation about his demise in Detroit is something I found very fascinating!

The purpose of my question about any visible differences between the Wasp "Junior" and Wasp "Senior" engines was to narrow down the three-month time-frame this photo was made. I won't post the movie footage of his accident, but will say that it's on YouTube if you are curious. The following information is from Wikipedia. If there are copyright issues, then mods should feel free to remove. If any of you have additional photos or comments about Gee Bees, then please start a fresh thread, maybe "Air-Racers of the 1930s" so great pictures of Lockheeds, Wacos, Lairds, etc can be posted. I wonder just how many autographed pictures of Lowell Bayles exist.


Gee Bee Model ZFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search
Gee Bee Model Z

A replica of the Gee Bee Model Z
Role Racing aircraft
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Granville Brothers Aircraft
Designer Bob Hall
First flight August 22, 1931
Retired December 5, 1931
Number built 1
Unit cost $5,000 USD
Developed into Gee Bee Model R

The Granville Gee Bee Model Z was an American racing aircraft of the 1930s, the first of the Super Sportster aircraft built by Granville Brothers Aircraft of Springfield, Massachusetts, with the sole intent of winning the Thompson Trophy. In this it was successful, setting a speed record for land-based aircraft. However, it soon suffered a fatal crash during a world speed record attempt, starting the reputation of the Gee Bee aircraft as killers.

Contents [hide]
1 Design and development
2 Operational history
2.1 Legacy
3 Specifications (Gee Bee Model Z Super Sportster)
4 Popular culture
5 See also
6 References
7 External links


[edit] Design and developmentSuffering from the effects of the Great Depression, the Granville Brothers decided in July 1931 to build an aircraft to compete in that fall's Thompson Trophy competition at the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio. They hoped that a victory in the prestigious race would lead to additional orders for their line of sporting aircraft.[1]

Constructed in less than five weeks at a cost of under $5,000 USD, the Gee Bee (for "Granville Brothers") Model Z, named City of Springfield, was a small, tubby airplane. It was essentially the smallest possible airframe constructed around the largest possible engine,[2] a Pratt & Whitney R-985 "Wasp Junior" radial engine, producing 535 horsepower (399 kW).[1]

[edit] Operational historyFirst flying on August 22, 1931, the Gee Bee Z quickly proved to be tricky to fly,[3] but fulfilled every expectation with regards to its speed. Flown by pilot Lowell Bayles, the Gee Bee Z established a world speed record for landplanes of 267.342 miles per hour (430.245 km/h)[3] at the National Air Races during the Shell Speed Dash qualifying on September 1,[4] then went on to win the Goodyear Trophy race, run over a course of 50 miles (80 km), the next day at an average speed of 205 miles per hour (330 km/h).[4] On the September 5, the aircraft's engineer, Bob Hall, flew the Gee Bee Z to victory in the General Tire and Rubber Trophy race, then won again the next day in a free-for-all event.[4]

In the Thompson Trophy Race on September 7, Bayles was triumphant, winning with an average speed of 236.24 miles per hour (380.19 km/h), winning over competitors including Jimmy Doolittle, James "Jimmy" Wedell, Ben Howard, Dale Jackson, Bill Ong, Ira Eaker, and Hall, who finished fourth in a Gee Bee Model Y.[4]

Following the Thompson Trophy race, the Gee Bee Z was re-engined with a larger, 750-horsepower (560 kW) Wasp Senior radial, in preparation for an attempt at establishing another world speed record at Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan.[1] Unofficially clocked at 314 miles per hour (505 km/h) in early trials, the record attempt on December 5, 1931, would end in tragedy, the aircraft suffering a wing failure and rolling into the ground, killing Bayles.[2]

It was suspected that the Model Z's crash during a speed run in December 1931 was due to an unexpected failure of the gasoline tank cap, which may have been ripped off of the fuel tank filler tube by the aerodynamic boundary layer of air immediately over the surface of the aircraft's fuselage, resulting in the now-airborne gas cap smashing into the pilot's face. A bullet-proof windscreen and internal fuel caps were part of the new design. Analysis of the crash, based on motion picture film of the event examined frame-by-frame, showed that the aircraft's fuel cap had come loose and crashed through the Gee Bee Z's windscreen. [5]It struck the pilot and incapacitated him, causing a sudden upset in pitch that led to uncontrolled flutter in the right aileron which imparted undue stress on that wing, causing it to pitch up sharply and fail.[4] In addition, tests of a reproduction aircraft have shown that the Gee Bee Z was susceptible to aerodynamic flutter at high speed.[1]The 1932 R-1 and its sister ship, the R-2, were the successors of the previous year's Thompson Trophy-winning Model Z.

[edit] LegacyFilm of the crash of the Gee Bee Z has become some of the most well known footage from the era of air racing. The crash also helped to establish the reputation of Gee Bee racing aircraft as killers.[1] The Super Sportster design would be refined into the Gee Bee Model R for the 1932 air race season.[6]

Two reproductions of the Gee Bee Z have been constructed. One, a faithful reproduction of the original aircraft, was constructed by Jeff Eicher and Kevin Kimball of Mount Dora, Florida, and is housed in the Fantasy of Flight museum in Lakeland, Florida.[1] The other, constructed by Bill Turner in 1978, featured extended wings for better flight characteristics, and after appearing in the 1991 movie The Rocketeer, is now on display at the Museum of Flight in Tukwila, Washington.[3]

[edit] Specifications (Gee Bee Model Z Super Sportster)Data from [4][7]

General characteristics

Crew: 1 (pilot)
Length: 15 ft 1 in (4.60 m)
Wingspan: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
Height: 7 ft (2.1 m)
Wing area: 75 sq ft (7.0 m2)
Airfoil: M-6
Empty weight: 1,400 lb (635 kg)
Gross weight: 2,280 lb (1,034 kg)
Fuel capacity: 103 US gallons (390 l; 86 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985 "Wasp Jr." Radial, 535 hp (399 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed Curtiss Reed fixed pitch, 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) diameter
Performance

Maximum speed: 232.314 kn; 430.245 km/h (267.342 mph)
Cruise speed: 200 kn; 370 km/h (230 mph)
[edit] Popular cultureKermit Weeks, founder of Fantasy of Flight, used a Gee Bee Model Z as his main character "Zee" in a series of children's books set around the Golden Age of Aviation



Lowell BaylesFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search
Lowell R. Bayles
Born January 24, 1900(1900-01-24)
Mason, Illinois
Died December 5, 1931(1931-12-05) (aged 31)
Wayne County Airport, Detroit, Michigan
Cause of death Airplane crash
Nationality U.S.A.
Aviation career
First flight 1924
Famous flights Cirrus Derby


Shell Speed Dash
Awards Thompson Trophy 1931

Lowell R. Bayles was an Air Race pilot of the "Golden Age of Air Racing." He was the winner of the 1931 Thompson Trophy flying the Gee Bee Model Z. Bayles was killed in the crash of the Model Z during an attempt at the landplane speed record when the plane crashed at over 300 miles per hour (483 km/h) mph.

Contents [hide]
1 Early life
2 Flying
3 Speed Record and Death
4 References
5 External links


[edit] Early lifeBayles was born in Mason, Illinois on January 24, 1900, the oldest child of R.E. Bayles. He graduated from Newton, Illinois High School and attended the University of Illinois in mining engineering, but was forced to leave due to eye trouble. He was working as an electrician in various mines around Illinois when he began taking flying lessons.

[edit] FlyingBayles began taking flying lessons from a former World War I instructor pilot. He eventually bought a surplus Curtiss JN-4 Jenny The Jenny was lost when he stopped over in Herrin, Illinois during a gang war between Charlie Birger and the Shelton Brothers Gang. Birger had been bombed from the air and he mistook Bayles' plane for the bomber and had the plane dynamited. [1]

After a stint back in the mines, Bayles began barnstorming around the country. In 1928 he partnered with H. Roscoe Brinton starting a flying service in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Due to the Great Depression, orders for aircraft had stopped and the Granville Brothers Aircraft Company saw the air racing circuit as a way to stay in business. To raise seed money for the air racing operation, the "Springfield Air Racing Association" (SARA) was formed. A group of local Springfield merchants and businessmen who sought to promote Springfield bought shares to fund creation of the racing planes. Bayles added $500 of his own money to be the pilot in the venture.

Bayles flew the Gee Bee Model X in the Cirrus Derby in 1930, coming in second and sharing the $7000 purse with the Granvilles.

In 1931, Bayles piloted a Gee Bee Model E Sportster in the Ford National Reliability Air Tour, coming in fourth in the point standing and winning the Great Lakes Trophy for a total of $2000 in prize money.[2]

At the 1931 National Air Races, Bayles and the Gee Bee Model Z, christened the "City of Springfield," cleaned up, first winning the $7500 Thompson Trophy prize with an average speed of 236.239 miles per hour (380 km/h) , then the Shell Speed dash with an average of 267.342 miles per hour (430 km/h) , breaking the speed record for the course, then won the Goodyear Trophy race with an average of 206 miles per hour (332 km/h). [3]

[edit] Speed Record and DeathBayles had failed to break the official 3 km World Landplane Speed Record at the 1931 National Air Races. Following the Thompson Trophy race, the Gee Bee Z was re-engined with a larger, 750-horsepower (560 kW) Wasp Senior radial, in preparation for an attempt at establishing another world speed record at Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan.[4]

On December 1, 1931 Lowell Bayles attempted the speed record again and made four passes at an average of 281.75 miles per hour (453 km/h) , but did not surpass the old record by the required 4.97 miles per hour (8 km/h).

On December 5, Bayles tried again, diving into the course from 1,000 feet (305 m) and leveling off at 150 feet (46 m) as rules allowed. Travelling over 300 miles per hour (483 km/h), 75 feet (23 m) from the ground, the Model Z suddenly pitched up, the right wing folded beyond the flying wire attachment point, most likely due to aileron flutter stressing the wing spar and causing it to fail. The plane crashed alongside of a railroad track in a huge ball of flame and smoke. Lowell Bayles body was thrown 300 feet (91 m) from the disintegrated plane.

Analysis of the crash, based on motion picture film of the event examined frame-by-frame, showed that the aircraft's fuel cap had come loose and crashed through the Gee Bee Z's windscreen. It struck the pilot and incapacitated him, causing a sudden upset in pitch that led to the structural failure of the wing.[5] In addition, tests of a reproduction aircraft have shown that the Gee Bee Z was susceptible to aerodynamic flutter at high speed.[4]

His fiancée, Gertrude St. Marie of Springfield, travelled to his hometown of Mason, Illinois for his funeral, along with Mrs. Zantford Granville.[6]

[edit]

 

Hi on a search for his autograph ran across your post here. As much as I hate to say this as I was hoping it was a real signature it unfornatly is a printed sig on the photo. See the attached photo. While the signatures are slightly in different spots the sigs are a dead on perfect match. See the pen lifts in each signature.

Believe me I wish it was genuine as you and I would be talking money lol. I'm an autograph collector and specialize in early aviation racing. His autograph does pop up no and again and with most early racing pilots many of them were killed which is what I collect. Often these aviators do not sell for much as few really spend time searching for them. Sadley most Americans could care less what these men did. The last Bayles signed photo I saw was a genuine on ebay and sold for 140$ Of course I was on vacation that week and missed getting it.

You still have a neat piece of history. Just wanted to make sure you knew it was a printed signature incase you decide to sell it someday. Also attached is a genuine signed photo
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one more example of the same signature stamp on a postcard
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for anyone wanting to see the real film of Bayles being killed in Detroit this is it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KTyYVnSyq4

 

Kermit did some tests, believing it was wing flutter that caused the crash.

 

Harrowing film. Very well known, though.

I had no idea the replica Gee Bee used in The Rocketeer is housed at the museum near Seattle. I have some great memories from that place.

 

Delmar Benjamin's Gee Bee,
The first time I saw this routine I was blown away.
Like flying beer keg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s79LcCCszRQ&feature=related

 

the theory of the gas cap coming lose and stricking him in the face came from some boys finding his flight googles and the lens smashed in

This spring im traveling the the site to search the old crash site area which i have pinpointed

 

After viewing the crash footage I'm of the opinion that the outer portion of the right wing failed in an upward direction.That,to me,indicates a structural failure that could have been induced by flutter or simple spar failure. Wing failures in pull ups usually fold in a forward direction, following the lift vector. To see a wing twist upward in level flight like the G.B. incident tends to indicate flutter, in my humble opinion.