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Show oes to Paris in 1927. The Curtiss P-40 of Flying Tiger fame helped stem Japans invasion of southern China by the formation of the US financed and supported AVG (American eS Volunteer Group) under Gen Claire Chenault . The C-46 Curtiss Commando of the China, Burma, India Hump operations was transformed after WW2 into a pioneer role as the first (CONTINUED) Bridges’ calls it, though my map claims it's "Picture Arch Butte’). It truly is outrageous that due to the massive monetary influx from events like 24 Hours of Moab, absolutely no steps are taken to curb environmental damage. What is REALLY outrageous however, and thank YOU for having the cajones to point this out, is that SUWA or any of the other of groups that purport to be on the front lines for Wilderness (specifically in the Canyon Country) weren't there making a stink about it! And why? Because they're afraid what little local support they may have will be diminished by coming out against a big cash generator like 24 Hours of Moab. Where's a bunch of monkey wrenching, fishingwire stringing EarthFirsters when you need them? Well I'm leaving the Moab area for a bit-- wintering in the high northwest mountains of Wyoming-- a bit crazy eh? Spend summer where it can get no hotter and winter where it can get no colder. But rest assured once I get an address somewhere I'll be sending out for a subscription. Keep up the good work-- you and the Zephyr are an inspiration! WRIGHT BROTHERS & A MOAB CONNECTION To: Canyon Country Zephyr Jim Stiles, Publisher Today, Dec17th, 2003, being the 100th anniversary of the first (officially noticed) flight of man at Kittyhawk, NC., by the Wright Brothers, I thought you might be interested in a somewhat tenuous connection with the Wrights, Moab and aeronautics, that might make interesting reading for your readers. November 5th a pile of rusty iron pipe arrived in Moab unceremoniously on the back of a car trailer. Ironically it was the first time in 70 years the old pile of rusty iron had been west of the Rocky Mountains since 1934. Been above 7000 feet or over what is now I-40. Its modest movement at 75 plus miles per hour was less than half its cruising speed of 160 MPH. In 1933 this pile of rusty iron was the acknowledged "Queen of the Skies". Today it is virtually unknown, almost forgotten and unrecognized in aviation history because there are none left and with history it’s more visual than memory that keeps old artifacts alive. (In 1933 Cunard introduced the Queen Mary, the latest thing in fashion, size, luxury and affluence so ad piomo wise everything was captioned "The Queen" just as “extreme” is overworked today). Condor was the first true American transcontinental transport. First sleeper transport. First sound proofed passenger cabin transport. First retractable landing gear passenger . transport (for 12 days). It was the largest bi-wing passenger transport built in the United States. It doesn't look like a Queen. It looks like a pile of rusty iron. However it is in Moab, at least for the winter. Its history and story are more than a little interesting and not without some very ironic twists. versions were used from 1933 thru the 1970;s on Douglas DC-2's, Lockheed Loadstar's , Grumman F3F and F4F Navy fighters, Boeing B-17 Bombers, Sikorsky H-55 and H-58 Helicopters. In 1933, when the great depression was in full swing, Curtiss Wright Corporation took over Robertson Aircraft Company of St. Louis, Missouri. It was on the site of what is today Patrick Donnelly Somewhere in Wyoming The of the aircoach transports with when returning veterans went into business as nonscheduled aircoach cheap fare airlines after WW2 ended. Curtiss Wright produced the SB2C, SB1C (biwing US Navy Dive bomber which the government sold to the French in 1939/1940. The SB1C's ended their careers impounded on the Island of Martinque in the Caribbean. The entire world knows the role that Donald Douglas’ DC-3 played in making air travel available to the masses and for airlines to operate profitably without federal subsidy. What is not generally known is Curtiss Wright's Wright Aeronautical Corporation, then based at Paterson, New Jersey, was the first to develop an aircraft radial engine powerful enough to make the DC-3 not only possible but also a smashing economic and air safety success. This engine, the Wright R-1820, famous for its reliability, endurance and power was first introduced in 1933 on the Curtiss Wright T-32 Condor II passenger transport. Various : As prologue the following may be of interest. After the Wright Brothers patented their flying machine, they were engaged in numerous battles over infringements of their patent(s). Among the many litigants was Glenn Curtiss. Curtiss of dammondsport, NY was anoted motorcycle racer, mechanic and practical engineer. Curtiss worked with Alexander Graham Bell who was also seeking to invent a flying machine. Curtiss, early on, developed the aileron for wing control versus wing warping used by the Wright Brothers. Subsequently after battling, the Curtiss Company and the Wright company merged to form _ Curtiss Wright Corporation which as a corporate entity survives to this day (but is no longer a major airframe or engine manufacturer). At the end of World War 2 Curtiss Wright was this nations largest Corporation. Twice the size almost of General Motors. In the 1920's, 1930's and early 1940's Curtiss Wright was one of the most prolific producers of aircraft, aircraft engines and propellers. The Wright J-5 Whirlwind was what propelled Lindberg’s Ryan for 33 hours across the North Atlantic St. Louis' Lambert Field. Ralph Damen, Curtiss Wright's President ordered his Chief Engineer, George A. Page, Jr., to St. Louis, Mo., to develop something that would cover the costs of keeping the St. Louis factory going. Page had been an engineer on the first Curtiss Condor, model 18, built at Long Island City, New York. Curtiss Wright built and sold seven of the Model 18s to airlines but it found fame at the US Army Air Service's first B-2 Bomber. Page and his St. Louis team designed and built the Curtiss Condor II in less than 5 months. They delivered 45 aircraft, 15 to American Airways & Airlines, 10 to Eastern Airlines, 2 to the US Army (Y-30's), 2 to the US Navy (R4C-1), To the Argentine Navy, Colombian Navy, Lan Chile Airlines, Swiss Air, etc. Curtiss started the production line with serial number 21 (following the 20 earlier model 18 and B-2 bomber serials). Number 21, the prototype suffered vibration problems and the factory dismantled it and sold off the parts to airlines for spares. Serial 22, American Airways was lost ina thuderstorm in the Catskill Mountains of NY /NY (Thereisa great story attached to that incident). Serial 23, American Airways NC-12363, company number 166, made a crash landing on December 28, 1934 in the Adirondak Mountains of upper New York State. All aboard were rescued December 31, 1934. Number 23 was rescued in October 1967. Old 166 is currently parked in a yard just off Mia Vida in Moab. It will be restored but it has spent the past 35 years stored in a Chicago suburb. Dick Neumann Altadena, California REMEMBERING Dear Jim, THE GOOD OLD DAYS Just ran across your newspaper on the internet. I lived in Moab in the very early 70's namely and ran the Ramada Inn. While there I made friends with some people close to Kent Frost who operated Canyonlands Tours at the time. Joe Lemon was a regular in the restaurant and Dick Smith became avery food friend and even taught me how to fly. He is mentioned in Kent's book. What did you quote out of Kent's book? I have the book. I have been many places since I left Moab but I will always remember it as a very friendly town. I made many friends while there. Many of them are gone, Dick Smith, Ray and Ethil Scovel, Tex McClatchy (sp), Cliff Aldridge (I still keep in touch with his family) Bob from the SunDowner Restaurant, to name a few. When I read some of the articles about Moab I can't believe it is the same little sleepy town I remember. In the winter we were lucky to rent 10 rooms a night and there weren't as many hotels to share the clients with. Keep up the articles I enjoy reading about Moab. J Roche Chris Muhr's os ALL METALS WELDING & FABRICATION CO. | 1707 I-70 Bus. Loop Grand Jct., CO 81501 970.243.6310 FX: 970.241.5917 Metal "/ Schmeteal... Let's talk about SPRING!! 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