ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2019 - 41

Photo courtesy of SDASM

Zantford (Granny) Granville showing what an "all engine" brute the R-1 racer was.

the National Air Races. He would have
to fly four passes, two in one direction
and two in the opposite direction, to
cancel any wind effects. At the Detroit
site, he climbed the Z to about 1,000
feet from about 5 miles out and came
back in a shallow dive toward the
course. About halfway through the
speed traps, the Z jerked up, the right
wing tore off and the aircraft smashed
into the ground, instantly killing Bayles
and leaving a 200-yard stream of
burning wreckage.

1932: Another New
Beginning
The Granville Brothers faced a
problem as the year 1932 began. Their
latest breadwinner, the Model Z, had
been destroyed, their best pilot was
dead, and their best engineer, Bob
Hall, had moved on. Nevertheless, the
National Air Races in Cleveland tempted
the brothers once again.

They built two new racers similar to
the Z that was lost. One was the Super
Sportster Model R-1, designed to win
the Thomson Trophy. It was fitted with
a borrowed Pratt & Whitney Wasp Sr
engine with 800 hp to win high-speed
pylon races. The second one, the Model
R-2, was a sister ship, tailored for the
long cross-country Bendix Race from
Burbank, California, to Cleveland on
opening day, with a dependable 550
hp engine and extra-large fuel tanks to
minimize refueling stops.
The R-2 had some engine
difficulties but at least managed to
win $1,500 for coming in fourth in
the Bendix Race. Another major event
was a competition to set a new speed
record. Out of nine entrants, Jimmy
Doolittle in the R-1 came in first and
set the new record at 296.2 mph. The
closing event was the pylon race for the
Thompson Trophy. Both Gee Bees were
entered, and, as expected, the R-1,
flown by Jimmy Doolittle, easily took

first place, winning $4,500. Its mate,
the R-2, came in fourth with $500. It
was a good year.

The 1933 Races:
Luck Runs Out
The Granville brothers were determined
to do well in the 1933 races. This time,
the National Air Races would be held
in Los Angeles in early July. Also, for
the first time, the Bendix cross-country
race would be truly transcontinental,
starting from New York and reaching
Los Angeles in time for the opening
ceremony. The Granvilles planned
to enter both the R-1 and R-2 in the
Bendix Race on the first day, and again
in the Thompson Trophy Race on the
last day, and maybe in a few other
races in between. They could also enter
in other races scheduled later in the
year in Chicago and Indianapolis. With
luck, the R-1 and R-2 Racers could
make a bundle.
Jetrader

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ISTAT Jetrader - Autumn 2019

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