Page 26 - Volume 14 Number 11
P. 26

IN HISTORY
theme song titled “On Wings of Love ” Lyrics for the the song were written by Cliff Henderson managing director of the NAR from 1928-1939 One day before the races officially began more than 300 000 people crowded into downtown Cleveland to to to see a a a a a a massive five-mile long parade of aviation-themed floats and and flowers while military and and civilian aircraft flew overhead The 1929 NAR however would not be complete without its share of celebrities and dignitaries These included Charles and Anne Lindbergh Amelia Earhart and Hugo Eckner (of Graff Zeppelin fame) Of particular major importance to the NAR that year was the the Women’s Air Derby sponsored by by the the National Exchange Club Up to that time women were not permitted to compete in the NAR but a flood of objections turned the the tide and officials welcomed the the 20 lady flyers as contestants in a a a a a cross-country race A majority of these women had limited experience as pilots but a a a a small number including Earhart Florence “Pancho” Barnes Ruth Elder Bobbi Trout the Travel Air Company’s Louise McPhetridge von Thaden and Germany’s Thea Rasche were veteran aviators and held numerous records for female pilots It is interesting to note that as of September 1929 there were only
slightly more than 100 licensed women pilots in the United States The nine-day speed dash began at Clover Field Santa Monica California and traversed the Southwestern and Midwestern United States before terminating at at at Cleveland Two divisions were created based on on large or small engine displacement Von Thaden flew a a a a Type D4000 biplane powered by a a 300-horsepower Wright J6-9 static air-cooled radial engine and won the event at at an an average speed of 135 9 mph The great and much- beloved American humorist Will Rogers gave the race a a new name he he dubbed it the “Powder Puff Derby ” Three months before the NAR Walter H Beech president of the Travel Air Company had approved construction of two monoplanes designed specifically to win Event No 26 – the prestigious “Free-for-All” competition to be held Sept 2 in Cleveland The 50-mile race around a a a a a course marked by pylons was considered the the the highlight of the the the NAR and the the the premier event that everyone wanted to see It pitted specially modified biplanes of the the United States Army Air Corps and the the U S Navy against a a a a a a a a field of vastly inferior civilian aircraft To commemorate the competition Charles Edwin Thompson Thompson president of the Thompson Thompson Products Inc 23 32 24 • KING AIR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 KING AIR MAGAZINE • 
































































































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