"Who are these guys?" you may ask?. Many considered Wiley Post to be the second greatest American flyer next to Charles A. Lindbergh.
Will Rogers was born on November 4, 1879, in Indiana Territory, an area of land that later would become known as Oklahoma. As film star making over 70 movies, Rogers became famous through his syndicated column, which reached millions of his readers.
As a young man, Will became an expert rider and "rope twirler," later starring in wild west shows, and Vaudeville around the World. He went to Hollywood in 1918, and started in many features, and short films in silent cinema. In 1934, he was voted the most popular actor in Hollywood. Will Rogers was known for the phrase, " I never met a man I didn't like".
Wiley Post was born in 1899, near Grand Plains, Texas. He grew up in Oklahoma. Post and an Australian, Harold Gatty went around the world in 1931. Post wore a distinctive patch over his left eye after he lost his eye in an oilrig accident. Two years later, Post made a solo fight around the world, becoming the first man to circumnavigate the earth twice in an aircraft. Post completed his first solo world flight in seven days, 18 hours and 49.5 minutes. Post retired the Winnie Mae, the plane Post used in his around-the-world flight, and purchased a new hybrid aircraft assembled from parts of two previously damaged ships.
In 1935, Post and Rogers came to Renton Airport for installation of a set of Fairchild Edo 5300 pontoons, much like those used by Alaskan bush pilots. The special pontoons did not arrive on time and a pair of pontoons from a Fairchild 71 were installed-much heavier than what was required by Post's plane. Post and Rogers were anxious for the trip and kept the heavier pontoons. This was their first stop on their world pleasure trip..."
They flew north past Seward Park, and toward Seattle, climbing all the while. As Post did some shallow banks, the climb, leveled off, and tried a shallow dive, feeling out the controls and the handling of the Orion with those big twin floats attached. After more testing, they were near the north end of the Lake Washington. By then, Post executed a 180 degree turn and headed back south along the east shore of the lake toward Renton. They were soon over land again, throttle back, and in a 180 degree turn, positioned the aircraft for a landing just off the beach from which they had started some 45 minutes before. The landing was smooth and the deceleration rapid as Post turned toward the Bryn Mawr seaplane ramp (now Renton Airport) where the crew was waiting to tie them up..."
Two days after the first test on the floats, Post got ready to depart from Renton. Will Rogers had arrived and was ready for a leisurely sightseeing tour across the Pacific and through Asia. The beautiful red Lockheed departed Seattle for Juneau, Alaska on August 7th, just two days after that first flight. On August 9th they left for Aklavik, Northwest Territory (Canada) where a combination of sightseeing and weather conditions kept them until the 12th, then on to Fairbanks for one day. On the 15th of August, the famous duo departed Fairbanks for Pt. Barrow and the continuation of their world trip.
Eskimo seal hunters saw the red Lockheed fly low over their village of Walakpi and land in a Tidal River flowing into the Arctic Ocean. Once on land, Post asked the direction to Pt. Barrow. One of the hunters pointed north across the featureless tundra. Post tinkered with the engine for a few minutes and Rogers chatted with the Eskimos. Then they started the engine, taxied across the river and took off in a steep, climbing turn.
Only fifty feet up the engine seemed to stop cold, the plane faltered, dragged a wing in the water and crashed on its back. One of America's most famous aviators, and his best loved humorist, had lost their lives in the shallow water beside the
Arctic Ocean on August 15, 1935".
The last photo taken on August 15, 1935
Wiley Post
Will Rogers
Wylie Post
"Who are these guys?" you may ask?. Many considered Wiley Post to be the second greatest American flyer next to Charles A. Lindbergh.
Will Rogers was born on November 4, 1879, in Indiana Territory, an area of land that later would become known as Oklahoma. As film star making over 70 movies, Rogers became famous through his syndicated column, which reached millions of his readers.
As a young man, Will became an expert rider and "rope twirler," later starring in wild west shows, and Vaudeville around the World. He went to Hollywood in 1918, and started in many features, and short films in silent cinema. In 1934, he was voted the most popular actor in Hollywood. Will Rogers was known for the phrase, " I never met a man I didn't like".
Wiley Post was born in 1899, near Grand Plains, Texas. He grew up in Oklahoma. Post and an Australian, Harold Gatty went around the world in 1931. Post wore a distinctive patch over his left eye after he lost his eye in an oilrig accident. Two years later, Post made a solo fight around the world, becoming the first man to circumnavigate the earth twice in an aircraft. Post completed his first solo world flight in seven days, 18 hours and 49.5 minutes. Post retired the Winnie Mae, the plane Post used in his around-the-world flight, and purchased a new hybrid aircraft assembled from parts of two previously damaged ships.
In 1935, Post and Rogers came to Renton Airport for installation of a set of Fairchild Edo 5300 pontoons, much like those used by Alaskan bush pilots. The special pontoons did not arrive on time and a pair of pontoons from a Fairchild 71 were installed-much heavier than what was required by Post's plane. Post and Rogers were anxious for the trip and kept the heavier pontoons. This was their first stop on their world pleasure trip..."
They flew north past Seward Park, and toward Seattle, climbing all the while. As Post did some shallow banks, the climb, leveled off, and tried a shallow dive, feeling out the controls and the handling of the Orion with those big twin floats attached. After more testing, they were near the north end of the Lake Washington. By then, Post executed a 180 degree turn and headed back south along the east shore of the lake toward Renton. They were soon over land again, throttle back, and in a 180 degree turn, positioned the aircraft for a landing just off the beach from which they had started some 45 minutes before. The landing was smooth and the deceleration rapid as Post turned toward the Bryn Mawr seaplane ramp (now Renton Airport) where the crew was waiting to tie them up..."
Two days after the first test on the floats, Post got ready to depart from Renton. Will Rogers had arrived and was ready for a leisurely sightseeing tour across the Pacific and through Asia. The beautiful red Lockheed departed Seattle for Juneau, Alaska on August 7th, just two days after that first flight. On August 9th they left for Aklavik, Northwest Territory (Canada) where a combination of sightseeing and weather conditions kept them until the 12th, then on to Fairbanks for one day. On the 15th of August, the famous duo departed Fairbanks for Pt. Barrow and the continuation of their world trip.
Eskimo seal hunters saw the red Lockheed fly low over their village of Walakpi and land in a Tidal River flowing into the Arctic Ocean. Once on land, Post asked the direction to Pt. Barrow. One of the hunters pointed north across the featureless tundra. Post tinkered with the engine for a few minutes and Rogers chatted with the Eskimos. Then they started the engine, taxied across the river and took off in a steep, climbing turn.
Only fifty feet up the engine seemed to stop cold, the plane faltered, dragged a wing in the water and crashed on its back. One of America's most famous aviators, and his best loved humorist, had lost their lives in the shallow water beside the Arctic Ocean on August 15, 1935".
The last photo taken on August 15, 1935
Wiley Post
Will Rogers
Wylie Post
