Tag: Len Wieczorek

Those Flyin’ Ryans – The Ryan ST

The Ryan ST went on to become the first low wing primary trainer for the United States military and many foreign nations as well.

Featuring Press Release photos from the Len Wieczorek collection

T. Claude Ryan  gained substantial name recognition when Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic in 1927 in his Ryan Mailplane-based “Spirit of St. Louis”.  In 1934, he formed the Ryan Aeronautical Company and introduced  a sleek low winged, metal-fuselaged, sport and training aircraft that would revolutionize the industry.   The Ryan S-T went on to become the first low wing primary trainer for the United States military and many foreign nations as well.  One of the most beautiful designs of aviation’s golden age, the Ryan ST remains a coveted classic aircraft today.

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Whatever Happened to the Stearman Aircraft Company?

Stearman Aircraft played a key role in America’s transition out of aviation’s golden age and into a modern aviation powerhouse

1929 Stearman Aircraft Co. sales brochure cover

Featuring Press Release photos from the Len Wieczorek collection

The name Stearman was in the forefront of the go-go aviation years following Charles Lindbergh’s milestone transatlantic flight in 1927.  The Stearman Aircraft Company played a key role in America’s transition out of aviation’s golden age and into the modern industrial powerhouse that helped turn the tide in WW2 and set the stage for the jet age.

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De Havilland’s record-setting D.H. 80A Puss Moth

While the Gee Bee’s were setting speed records around the pylons, the Puss Moth was setting transcontinental long-distance records

Jim Mollison’s “The Heart’s Content” completed the first East-West transatlantic crossing in August 1932

Featuring Press Release photos from the Len Wieczorek collection

The Great Depression started in the U.S. with the market crash in October, 1929 and the economic impact was felt around the world.  Despite this, aviation technology advanced by leaps and bounds.  The D.H. 80A Puss Moth was part of that revolution in the sky.

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