H-1 Racer Transcontinental Record Flight

[Nels_Anderson]

 

Transcontinental Record Flight

Hughes H-1 January 19th, 1937

A Historical Perspective

By PhrogPhlyer

 

 

 

 

RECREATING HISTORY

The skies above North America were quite different in 1937 than they are today. 1924 saw the first transcontinental airway established for US Air Mail flights. It was nine years later that the first transcontinental airway was established for carrying passengers.

 

By 1937 the flying public could board such memorable aircraft as the Douglas DC-3, and the Boeing 314 Yankee Clipper seaplane. Many aircraft names such as Aeronca, Spartan, Bellanca, Stinson, and the ubiquitous Cub were part of everyday conversation.

 

The world would experience the loss of Amelia Earhart who disappeared while attempting a round-the-world flight in a Lockheed Electra. And the crash of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst would become symbolic of an end to the Zeppelin era.

 

Earlier in the year, on January 19th, industrialist, aircraft designer and pilot Howard Hughes would fly into the history books with a record setting non-stop flight from Burbank California to Newark New Jersey.

 

As we recreate this historic flight, not only will we be retracing the route, but we will also be taking a look back to the 1930's and the beginning of the Golden Age of aviation.

 

Crossing the continent in the 1920's and 1930's was a long-drawn-out affair via train. Charles Lindbergh envisioned shortening this time by using a mix of rail and air to shorten this trip to 48 hours.

 

 

 

 

During 1927 and 1928 Lindburgh made several survey flights to map out the most efficient route from coast to coast.

 

Howard Hughes set out to prove that aircraft could make this trip faster by flying non-stop. And of course, he was determined to set a speed record as he did so.

 

THE AIRCRAFT

For this flight recreation I used the FSX Hughes H-1 Racer by Tim Conrad as updated by Michael Pook.

 

https://www.flightsim.com/files/file/192894-fsx-hughes-h1-racer-updated/

 

 

 

 

With its polished aluminum, retractable tailwheel, and recessed rivets, this aircraft was the epidemy of sleek.

 

 

 

 

During the short active lifespan of this aircraft, it was identified as NX258Y and NR258Y. X for experimental, and the R for restricted. In this photo it is seen when changed from X to R, with the X painted over to create an R. Later it would only have the R258Y on its wing, but still retained the NX on its tail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The H-1 Racer was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior radial engine, producing 1000 hp.

 

 

 

 

The cockpit of this model is true to the era, although with minor gauge differences from the original. It also has an added and more modern CDI-ILS-GS gauge. Like the original, this aircraft has no cockpit lighting.

 

 

 

 

THE PILOT

In addition to his engineering and flying acclaim, Howard Hughes was known as a flamboyant playboy and movie producer. Howard chose such an early departure time because it was a time when he was accustomed to doing some of his best "thinking." Even with a planned departure time of 2 AM Howard did not get any sleep. Instead, he had a late-night dinner with a girlfriend, dropped her off at home after midnight, and caught a cab to the airport for this flight across the continent.

 

He once said, "I want to be remembered for only one thing: my contribution to aviation."

 

His contributions to aviation may not be the only thing Howard Hughes is remembered for, but I believe it will always be the most memorable of all his endeavors.

 

ROUTE PLANNNING

In the 1930's there were only a few air routes, now referred to as airways. The initial TAT air route became more established first through US air mail contracts and then the addition of passenger routing. The air traffic system was very rudimentary compared to modern airways. There were very few routes approved by the CAA (predecessor to the FAA). The route flown by Howard Hughes roughly followed the Los Angeles to New York passenger airway.

 

 

 

 

In 1937 this route could also be flown using Radio Range antennas, the state of the art navigational aid of the day.

 

 

 

 

Each radio range station had a discrete frequency and transmitted an A ( ._ ) and an N ( _. ) in Morse code creating a four-course pattern.

 

 

 

 

Following these courses was referred to as "flying the beam." This is how the Silver Lake NV radio range station was depicted on aviation charts. You can see the four courses identified going to the station, 032_, 132_, 212_, and 312_. Notice that along the 321_ bearing is the route name "Amber 2."

 

 

 

 

Here is a depiction of the radio ranges overlayed on the route.

 

 

 

 

Using the SkyVector Flight Plan tool, we recreate the route using the current airway system. Incredibly, all the points on the original air route are still in existence on today's aiways.

 

 

 

 

With the lack of accuracy inherent to the early radio range system, and without having night flying equipment on the H-1 aircraft, it is most likely that the route was primarily flown using a combination of dead reckoning and using visual landmarks. Dead reckoning is a method of calculating the current position of an aircraft using course, speed and time from a known point. Direction (course) from a checkpoint flown at a given ground speed equals the aircraft's current position.

 

As I was researching the route to be flown, I was struck by the importance and prominence that natural landmarks and the ubiquitous railroad had to visual navigation from start to finish. Having personally flown most of the regions overflown during this flight, I can attest to the ease of identification that exists for many of these features.

 

Also, as I was researching the various waypoints and airports to be associated with each leg flown, I was impressed with the amount of growth that has occurred within aviation that we now take for granted. From the whole ATC system to extremely accurate navigation aids and cockpit information presentation, and to the size and complexities of airports, we have come a long way since 1937.

 

I planned this recreation for an altitude of 15,000 ft. Howard Hughes originally planned to fly at 21,000 ft but due to a malfunction with the oxygen system flew most of the route at 14,000 ft.

 

THE FLIGHT

Leg 1 Burbank CA to Kingman AZ

 

 

 

 

The transcontinental record setting flight originated from United Airport in Burbank California, now known as the Bob Hope Airport. The SE corner of the airport is where United Airport stood.

 

 

 

 

Takeoff from Burbank at 0214 Burbank, 0514 Newark. The 1937 airport and surrounding area would have been much less illuminated.

 

 

 

 

Climb out to 15,000 ft. New Jersey, here we come.

 

 

 

 

Lavic Lake is a large area of black volcanic rock. It would have stood out as distinctly different than the surrounding terrain. It is seen here off our left wingtip. Having flown the high desert at night on several occasions, these dark lava flows can be seen from many miles away with just starlight and make a great navigational check point.

 

 

 

 

Our first major checkpoint is Kingman Airport AZ. Its location was selected by Charles Lindbergh as part of the Transcontinental Air Transport system. Both Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart were present at the airport's dedication on June 8, 1929. It was also the first commercial airport in the State of Arizona.

 

Even with the early pre-dawn light, the cleared land for the airport stands out as a much lighter color than the surrounding land. And we can see that it has grown through the years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leg 2 Kingman AZ to Winslow AZ. Departed Kingman at 0306 Burbank and Local, 0606 Newark.

 

 

 

 

Natural landmarks would have been used extensively on this leg of the flight. Any water feature along the route will clearly stand out. Here we have found Morman Lake and Lake Mary.

 

 

 

 

Meteor Crater is the next feature to be seen. Meteor Crater or Barringer Crater is a meteorite impact crater about 37 mi east of Flagstaff and 18 mi west of Winslow in the desert of northern Arizona. It was created 50,000 years ago when it impacted a lush green open grassland dotted with woodlands and inhabited by mammoths and giant ground sloths. The meteor struck at approximately 29,000 mph. The impact energy was equivalent to approximately 10 megatons of TNT.

 

 

 

 

Real world encounter, "Three Phrogs and a Crater."

 

 

 

 

Winslow, AZ. Most likely no one was "standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona" around 3:15 when the H-1 Racer flew overhead amid a star filled sky.

 

 

 

 

The location of Winslow Airport was also selected by Charles Lindbergh to be part of the Transcontinental Air Transport system. Lindbergh is seen here after landing during the 1928 survey flights. This must have been quite a thrill for the local children.

 

 

 

 

Leg 3 Winslow AZ to Gallup NM. Departed Winslow at 0339 Burbank and local, 0639 Newark.

 

 

 

 

Again, natural features are indispensable on this leg of the route. Here is seen a strong East-West ridgeline slightly South of the route.

 

 

 

 

This large cut crossing our nose is the only topographical feature like this for this route segment. It was very visible from many miles out.

 

 

 

 

The airport at Gallup should be visible just prior to the town and to the right (South) of the railroad tracks.

 

 

 

 

Here is the Airport Beacon at Gallup, shown with the most modern transportation available in the area.

 

 

 

 

Gallup. You can see how the town has grown westward and now surrounds half of the airport.

 

 

 

 

Leg 4 Gallup NM to Las Vegas TX. Departed Gallup at 0401 Burbank, 0601 Local, 0701 Newark.

 

 

 

 

Another natural feature, this large area of mountainous terrain that forms a rough circular pattern is actually the caldera of a long extinct volcano that had dominated this region in the distant past.

 

 

 

 

La Cienega Oasis was the only visible water feature on this route section.

 

 

 

 

Las Vegas TX Airport, alone in the dark high desert, its beacon clearly stood out in the night.

 

 

 

 

Leg 5 Las Vegas, TX to Dodge City KS. Departed Las Vegas at 0441 Burbank, 0641 Local, 0741 Newark.

 

 

 

 

Laguna La Monia, this lake could not be missed.

 

 

 

 

With the early sunlight helping our view, the Canadian River valley could be seen crossing ahead of us.

 

 

 

 

Boise City Airport, easily identified with a runway paralleling the railroad tracks on this route segment. Now there is enough light to fly IFRR (I Follow Railroads and Rivers).

 

 

 

 

Elkhart Airport. Based on timing, right where it ought to be.

 

 

 

 

Montezuma, although only a small airfield, it still was a good checkpoint. Now to roughly follow the RR tracks as they meander to Dodge City

 

 

 

 

Dodge City KS.

 

 

 

 

Leg 6 Dodge City KS to Wichita KS. Departed Dodge City at 0539 Burbank, 0739 Local, 0839 Newark.

 

 

 

 

Pratt Airport is directly on the route. Wichita, the heart of aviation is next.

 

 

 

 

While the likes of Clyde Cessna, Lloyd Stearman, and Walter Beech are arriving at their offices, the H-1 roads over the "Air Capital of the World."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halfway across the country, the sun is rising rapidly in the sky, and Kansas is as flat as one can imagine.

 

 

 

 

Leg 7 Wichita KS to Kansas City MO. Departed Wichita at 0602 Burbank, 0802 Local, 0902 Newark.

 

 

 

 

El Dorado Airport, alone on the plains.

 

 

 

 

Emporia, a larger community for the times, leads us to the snaky Kansas River and our next checkpoint.

 

 

 

 

Kansas City, a bustling metropolitan area, rises out of the flat plains.

 

 

 

 

 

Leg 8 Kansas City MO to St. Louis, MO. Departed Kansas City at 0634 Burbank, 0834 Local, 0934 Newark.

 

 

 

 

Higginsville Airport and the uniquely shaped Lake.

 

 

 

 

Boonville airport is just off the left wingtip, and we see the railroad crossing the Missouri River.

 

 

 

 

Columbia Airport is seen after crossing the wide Missouri.

 

 

 

 

Roughly following the Missouri River and the railroad gets us to Lambert Field in St. Louis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is difficult to even envision the 1937 field when overlayed with today's modern airport. It was considered a massive airport in its time.

 

 

 

 

Leg 9 St. Louis MO to Indianapolis IN. Departed St. Louis at 0713 Burbank, 0913 Local, 1013 Newark.

 

 

 

 

More IFR (I Follow Railroads) to Terre Haute (airport is off right wingtip).

 

 

 

 

Then easily continue to follow the railroad to Indianapolis.

 

 

 

 

Indianapolis Municipal Airport

 

 

 

 

On Sept. 25 1931 the new Indianapolis Municipal Airport is opened. Transcontinental and Western Airlines, which became TWA and was later sold to American Airlines, begins service. Eastern Airlines service begins in 1935. Its 21,000 sq ft terminal has grown to 1.2 million sq ft today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The famous Indianapolis Racetrack could be seen just past the airport.

 

 

 

 

The finest in auto racing technology at the 1937 Indianapolis 500.

 

 

 

 

Leg 10 Indianapolis IN to Dayton OH. Departed Indianapolis at 0752 Burbank, 1052 Local and Newark.

 

 

 

 

Approaching Richmond IN, Brookville Lake is visible to our south.

 

 

 

 

Dayton was, and is, home to many airports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34 years, 1 month, and 2 days after the Wright Brothers historic first powered heavier than air flight at Kitty Hawk, Howard flew over their hometown of Dayton.

 

 

 

 

Leg 11 Dayton OH to Columbus OH. Departed Dayton at 0810 Burbank, 1110 Local and Newark.

 

 

 

 

On this short route segment, the Scioto River is the most visible landmark. The Scioto River valley was home to many Native American cultures. The name Scioto is derived from the Wyandot word sk?n?_t?' 'deer'.

 

During the antebellum years, the Scioto River provided a route to freedom for many slaves escaping from the South, as they continued north after crossing the Ohio River.

 

 

 

 

After crossing the historic Scioto we pass over the Columbus Airport. One of the busiest airports in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leg 12 Columbus OH to Pittsburg PA. Departed Columbus at 0824 Burbank, 1124 Local and Newark.

 

 

 

 

Tappan Lake and the small Tappan Airpark were the most visibly notable checkpoints on the route segment.

 

 

 

 

Pittsburgh PA sits at the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River, which combine to form the Ohio River.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curtiss-Bettis Airport was the major reginal airport in 1937.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Lindburg landed at Curtiss-Bettis in 1927 while surveying airports for the Tans American route. Note the ground lettering in the background. The CAA suggested that cities paint their name in large letters to help pilots identify their location while in flight. However, in this case it was fuel advertisement "WAVERLY-GAS USED HERE"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An interesting side of early aviation, here is Ralph Schugar's Aerial Hearse, a Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-52 Airplane, Curtiss-Bettis Airport in 1931.

 

 

 

 

Near the current Allegany Couty Airport is site of the original Curtiss-Bettis Airport. Sold to Westinghouse in January 1949, the field was closed and redeveloped, becoming the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory. The two paved runways, used for parking, and two hangars remain. The Art Deco terminal building was razed sometime in the 2000s.

 

 

 

 

Leg 13 Pittsburgh PA to Newark NJ. Departed Pittsburgh 0849 Burbank, 1149 Local and Newark.

 

 

 

 

Passing Ebensburg and its airfield (off right wingtip). The clearly recognizable feature is not a lake, but rather a coal strip mine that still operates today.

 

 

 

 

Ebensburg, the airfield, and the strip mine as seen from the cockpit.

 

 

 

 

Crossing the Susquehanna River. Clearly visible are the large ridges that were created by the receding glaciers of the Pleistocene Ice Age.

 

 

 

 

We can see where the Lehigh River enters the Delaware river at Easton PA, and the distinct Pennsylvania RR bridge.

 

 

 

 

40 miles out from Newark. The New Jersey marshlands and the Atlantic Ocean can be seen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The City of Newark began dredging 68 acres of marshland to create the first major airport in the northeastern United States. With the October 1, 1928 opening, it was the first airport in the United States to pave a runway. In the mid-1930s, crowds gathered to watch the arrival of famous aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, who opened the Administration Building.

 

 

 

 

While in Newark she spent time teaching local children about aviation.

 

 

 

 

The Newark Airport Bar and Restaurant was of the few places to eat near the airport in the late 30's. It was on Route 25 (now Route 1) at the airport entrance.

 

 

 

 

Newark Airport continued its status as "world's busiest airport" until 1939 when LaGuardia Airport opened. Having two airports in the northeastern United States, cut the air traffic in half, allowing Chicago's Midway International Airport to take the title of "world's busiest airport."

 

Descending and accelerating eastbound across center field.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howard Hughes' arrival at Newark was unheralded and a surprise. It was thought that he was going to land at Chicago. The new United Air Lines extra-fare plane was loaded for its initial run and already had its door locked when the propeller whir of the hurling racer apparently made the buildings tremble from sound vibration as Hughes swept low across the field. William Zint of the Longines Watch Company, official timer for the National Aeronautic Association, noted the time. It was exactly 42 minutes and 25 seconds after noon.

 

Hughes pulled up in a sweeping chandelle maneuver and circled. Once the United Air Liner was rolling on the runway Hughes swung back toward the runway. He still had no signal from the control tower where the airline dispatchers acted as traffic controllers at the busiest airport in the world. Hughes had to open his throttle again and cruise around the field for almost twenty minutes.

 

If I had twenty minutes to loiter, I would have definitely flown past the Statue of Liberty, only a few miles from Newark. Here we can see not only Liberty Island, but also the Ellis Island immigration center and the Empire State Building in the center of the modern NYC skyline.

 

 

 

 

The green light at last was seen from the tower. The United plane was then well on its course toward Chicago. Hughes's plane slid in over the airport boundary, dropped its retractable undercarriage and tail wheel and touched both wheels and tail wheel in a perfect three-point landing at 1:02:30 PM.

 

 

 

 

After landing at Newark, Hughes told newspaper reporters, "I flew at 14,000 feet most of the way, with my highest speed 370 miles an hour. I used about 200 of the 280-gallon load. I am very tired_a bit shaky."

 

 

 

 

This flight established a special place in the history of aviation, and Howard Hughes added another record to his name.

 

The transcontinental record set that day stood for eleven years until broken by Paul Mantz in a heavily modified P-51.

 

Now it's your turn.

 

Here is the flight routing should you wish to experience this flight for yourself. Remember to set your takeoff time to 2:14 AM. And keep a close eye out for landmarks along the way. You could always try to fly this as Howard Hughes did, don't get any sleep and take-off at 2:14 AM local time!

 

 

 

 

Learn more about this historic aircraft and the transcontinental flight at the following web links.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-1_Racer

 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/howard-hughes-h-1-carried-him-all-the-way-89476521/

 

[sfgarland]

some reason keep imagining Leonardo Di Caprio in that plane!  

  Great article !  

[PhrogPhlyer]

13 minutes ago, sfgarland said:

keep imagining Leonardo Di Caprio

Thanks sf, was a challenging article to put together.

It was fun and informative as I worked on this.

 

Here's a list of the aircraft seen in The Aviator.

A must movie for any aviation fan.

https://www.impdb.org/index.php?title=The_Aviator_(2004)

[Rupert]

Great Job Phlyer!!  I enjoyed all of it!  And it was a kick to see the Phrogs near a crater as well.

 

Michael

[PhrogPhlyer]

39 minutes ago, Rupert said:

it was a kick to see the Phrogs near a crater

Thanks Michael. I knew you'd appreciate that pic!

[lnuss]

A nicely done article, Dick. It's obvious you did a huge amount of research and some careful record keeping, not to mention hunting down all of the nice illustrations -- it appears to be a labor of love.

 

8 hours ago, Nels_Anderson said:

Each radio range station had a discrete frequency and transmitted an A ( ) and an N (?- ) in Morse code creating a four-course pattern.

In the parentheses above, were you intending to put the morse code in? In the chart segment showing the Silver Lake NV radio range station, the A and N quadrants are nicely shown, with the A ( .- ) and the N ( -. ) also shown. And for those not familiar, when on course (one of the four crossing course) you'd hear a steady tone, because of the A and N blending together.

 

Thanks for this great look back.

[PhrogPhlyer]

10 minutes ago, lnuss said:

In the parentheses above, were you intending to put the morse code in?

Larry, yes the Morse was supposed to be there. I intended to find good ASCI characters to use and missed this during the countless rereads.

I'm glad you liked it, it was a fun and informative article to research and create.

PhrogPhlyer

[wobbie]

A great story..

Many thanks.