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YOUR PURCHASE OF THESE BOOKS SUPPORTS THE WEB SITES THAT BRING TO YOU THE HISTORY BEHIND OLD AIRFIELD REGISTERS

Your copy of the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register (available in paperback) with all the pilots' signatures and helpful cross-references to pilots and their aircraft is available at the link. 375 pages with black & white photographs and extensive tables

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The Congress of Ghosts (available as Kindle Edition eBook) is an anniversary celebration for 2010.  It is an historical biography, that celebrates the 5th year online of www.dmairfield.org and the 10th year of effort on the project dedicated to analyze and exhibit the history embodied in the Register of the Davis-Monthan Airfield, Tucson, AZ. This book includes over thirty people, aircraft and events that swirled through Tucson between 1925 and 1936. It includes across 277 pages previously unpublished photographs and texts, and facsimiles of personal letters, diaries and military orders. Order your copy at the link.

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Military Aircraft of the Davis Monthan Register, 1925-1936 (available in paperback) at the link. This book describes and illustrates with black & white photographs the majority of military aircraft that landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield between 1925 and 1936. The book includes biographies of some of the pilots who flew the aircraft to Tucson as well as extensive listings of all the pilots and airplanes. Use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author, while supplies last.

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Art Goebel's Own Story (available as free PDF download) by Art Goebel (edited by G.W. Hyatt) is written in language that expands for us his life as a Golden Age aviation entrepreneur, who used his aviation exploits to build a business around his passion.  Available as a free download at the link.

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Winners' Viewpoints: The Great 1927 Trans-Pacific Dole Race (available as Kindle Edition eBook) is available at the link. This book describes and illustrates with black & white photographs the majority of military aircraft that landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield between 1925 and 1936. The book includes biographies of some of the pilots who flew the aircraft to Tucson as well as extensive listings of all the pilots and airplanes. Use this FORM to order a copy signed by the author, while supplies last.

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Clover Field: The first Century of Aviation in the Golden State (available in paperback & Kindle Edition) With the 100th anniversary in 2017 of the use of Clover Field as a place to land aircraft in Santa Monica, this book celebrates that use by exploring some of the people and aircraft that made the airport great. 281 pages, black & white photographs.

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STINSON SM-6000-B NC10846

This airplane was a Stinson model SM-6000-B, S/N 5045. NC10846 was manufactured in June, 1931 by the Stinson Aircraft Corporation, Wayne, MI. Called the "Model T," it was a large, high-winged, tri-motored monoplane. It was powered by three nine-cylinder Lycoming R-680 engines of 215HP each, giving it a cruise speed of about 115MPH. It was, for the time, a high-capacity passenger and freight carrying airplane. It was flown by a crew of one.

At least 42 examples of the model were manufactured by the Stinson Aircraft Corporation, Wayne, MI. In passenger configuration the Model T could seat 8-11 people and their baggage. This REFERENCE, volume 5, page 59, states that the SM-6000-B's, "Excellent performance, inherent safety, and a compatible nature helped to promote the popularity and the longevity of the SM-6000-B, so we find that at least 25 examples were still flying actively in 1939, and some even for years afterwards." It could maintain an altitude of 6,000 feet with only two engines operating, even when fully loaded.

NC10846 appeared frequently in the Grand Central Air Terminal (GCAT) Register. A real airline workhorse, it was recorded 155 times between July 2nd and January 18, 1932 (Register pages 112-265). As a new airplane, it was a liner in the employ of Century-Pacific, Ltd. It wore Century-Pacific Ltd. livery. Century-Pacific was organized by Albuquerque, NM (Oxnard Field) Register pilot E.L. Cord.

As with the other 6000s owned and operated by Century Pacific Ltd., tower Operator Wright did not identify the pilot names or passenger numbers for any of the landings by NC10846. From the arrivals information in the Register, it is clear that NC10846 was on the San Diego to San Francisco route, originating and terminating at Glendale.

During 1932, Century-Pacific was absorbed into the workings of the American Airways sytem, thus American inherited some 24 SM-6000-Bs and other craft in the merger. American operated the Stinsons for about three years, then offered them for sale as used aircraft to the highest bidder. We can trace NC10846 through this series of exchanges, because, thanks to the generosity of a site visitor, we have the complete registration and airworthiness records for NC10846.

The initial bill of sale, dated June 20, 1931, identified the new owner as Century Pacific Airlines, Inc., Glendale, CA. That bill of sale is below.

Bill of Sale, Stinson NC10846, June 19, 1931 (Source: Site Visitor)
Bill of Sale, Stinson NC10846, June 19, 1931 (Source: Site Visitor)

 

Stinson NC10846, Registration, July, 1931 (Source: Site Visitor)
Stinson NC10846, Registration, July, 1931 (Source: Site Visitor)

 

By July, 1931 it was licensed to carry ten passengers. The first registration card, or license, is at left, with an expiration date twelve months later. By law this card had to be carried in the airplane at all times, along with specified weight placards for passengers and baggage.

As of 1932, Century-Pacific operated thirteen Stinson Model SM-6000-B aircraft, of which nine were recorded in the GCAT Register during 1931. They were NC10810, NC10813, NC10814, NC10840, NC10843, NC10844, NC10845, NC10846 and NC10847.

Frustratingly, only six pilot names were noted in the Register by tower Operator A.J. Lygum or others that allowed us to associate particular pilots with any given flights by NC10846 or any of the other Century-Pacific Stinsons.

A three-page letter, below, from the Department of Commerce (DOC) dated February 25, 1932 clarified the registration currency of Century-Pacific's airplanes (plus two Stinson Juniors used by the air line). Of real interest in this letter is a listing of the pilots employed (either full-time or part-time?) by Century-Pacific.

One was Harold Sweet who was recorded nearly 200 times giving scenic recreational rides in the Ford trimotor NC5577. This activity was completely unrelated to Century-Pacific business.

DOC Letter to Century-Pacific Lines, Ltd., February 25, 1932 (Source: Site Visitor)
DOC Letter to Century-Pacific Lines, Ltd., February 25, 1932 (Source: Site Visitor)

Some of the other pilots appeared in other Registers. For example, James L. Giffin appeared in the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register on November 14, 1931 flying the Stinson Jr. NC10866 operated by Century-Pacific. And Walton H. Smiley landed at Tucson November 16, 1931 flying the SM-6000-B NC10847. In addition, NC10872 and NC10893 were Register airplanes, visiting the Davis-Monthan Airfield on August 18, 1931, and between September 4 and 9, 1931, respectively, all within the period of Century operations.

DOC Letter to Century-Pacific Lines, Ltd., February 25, 1932 (Source: Site Visitor)
DOC Letter to Century-Pacific Lines, Ltd., February 25, 1932 (Source: Site Visitor)

Likewise, Blackmore, Joseph Plosser, Williams, Muncie, Medler, Ben Catlin, Glennan, Robert Cantwell, and Erickson were signed in one or more Registers, some flying the Century-Pacific airliners.

DOC Letter to Century-Pacific Lines, Ltd., February 25, 1932 (Source: Site Visitor)
DOC Letter to Century-Pacific Lines, Ltd., February 25, 1932 (Source: Site Visitor)

Like the other Stinsons listed in the letter, NC10846 was transferred to American Airways, Inc. as of March 31, 1932, and the official paperwork is so dated. Interestingly, a letter, below, dated May 24, 1932 states that NC10846 was flying between Phoenix and Tucson for American. There are no entries in the Davis-Monthan Register (Tucson) that illustrate this routing. This could be due to the fact that American built its own terminal building at Tucson and the Tucson Register was maintained in another building. Regardless, notice that this note was signed by Eddie Rickenbacker, WWI ace who was then vice-president of American Airways.

Letter, May 24, 1932 (Source: Site Visitor)
Letter, May 24, 1932 (Source: Site Visitor)

 

Thanks to a site guest, below are two views of the old Ft. Worth, TX American Airlines hangar. The first shows the detail of the American Airlines logo heading the corner posts.

Old American Airlines Hangar, Ft. Worth (Source: Site Visitor)
Old American Airlines Hangar, Ft. Worth (Source: Site Visitor)

Below, as the hangar lay in disrepair.

Old American Airlines Hangar, Ft. Worth (Source: Site Visitor)
Old American Airlines Hangar, Ft. Worth (Source: Site Visitor)

Our contributor states about these photographs, "The ex-AA hangar where it was based in Ft. Worth is on the national register of historic places.  In a state of disrepair for many years, it was rescued by Robert Bass to become the centerpiece of his American Aero FBO.  He invested $17 million into the restoration and upgrade.  The hangar capacity was raised to accommodate his G650 by replacing the old roof truss system to give more height.  The hangar doors fold upward.  Other upgrades were modern fire protection, radiant heat, LED lighting, security system, etc...." Below is a photograph of the restored hangar. It appears to have banquet tables set up in the far right corner.

Restored American Airlines Hangar, Ft. Worth Airport, Meacham Field, Ca. 2017 (Source: Site Visitor)
Restored American Airlines Hangar, Ft. Worth Airport, Meacham Field, Ca. 2017 (Source: Site Visitor)

 

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