Page 37 - Volume 13 Number 8

was never intended for the faint of heart, the fearful or the weak. It was both an enormous gamble and an exciting adventure, with either glory or death awaiting them all. KA
Notes:
1 It is important to point out that develop-
ment of the static, air-cooled radial engine during the early mid-1920s made many long-distance flights of the late 1920s pos- sible. Lindbergh had specified that a Wright Aeronautical, nine-cylinder J-5-series Whirlwind engine power his Ryan Spirit of St. Louis monoplane. Water-cooled piston engines of the time had reached a high degree of development but were heavier and more vulnerable to systems failures on long flights.
2 The first airplane to make a nonstop flight to Hawaii was a U.S. Army Fokker mono- plane named the Bird of Paradise piloted
by Lieutenants Lester Maitland and Albert Hegenberger. They departed California June 28, 1927, and landed at Wheeler Field the next day. The first commercial airplane to complete a nonstop flight to Hawaii was
a Travel Air Type 5000 cabin monoplane dubbed City of Oakland, flown by Ernest Smith. The first attempt in June had to be aborted, but in July he was ready for a second attempt. After flying for more than 25 hours, Smith and his navigator, Emory Bronte, made a forced landing on the island of Molokai after the Wright radial engine suffered fuel exhaustion. Unfortunately, their flight has been largely forgotten. It was, however, well planned and carefully executed and made an important contribution to the advancement of aeronautics and long-distance flying.
3 Erwin had been a captain in the Great War and despite being shot down six times in combat, managed to shoot down eight of the enemy. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his feats in the air.
4 In the author’s opinion, Davis ranked as one of the most competent navigators enlisted by Dole race competitors, and Goebel was glad to have him on the Travel Air Woolaroc’s team. Later, Goebel would praise Davis for his performance during the long overwater flight that kept them safely on course all the way to the island of Oahu.
Ed Phillips, now retired and living in
the South, has researched and written eight books on the unique and rich aviation history that belongs to Wichita, Kan. His writings have focused on the evolution of the airplanes, companies and people that have made Wichita the “Air Capital of the World” for more than 80 years.
AUGUST 2019
In-flight view of the Oklahoma preparing to land at Oakland airport before final preparations for the Dole race. (Frank Phillips Foundation, Inc., Bartlesville, Oklahoma)
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 35