Richard James (aviator)

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Richard James (1911-?) set the junior transcontinental air speed record in 1928. He completed the flight on December 15, 1928, arriving in San Francisco. He had left from New York. The elapsed flying time was 48 hours, spread over one month. [1] His record stood till 1930, when it was broken by Frank Goldsborough. [2] [3] He was born in Flushing, Queens and flew a Travel Air. [4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Richard James", Associated Press in Christian Science Monitor, December 15, 1928. Retrieved on 2007-11-28. "Curtiss Field, New York (Associated Press) Richard James, 17-year-old pilot, completed on December 15 a transcontinental flight begun October 30 in San Francisco, to win a $1000 prize ..." 
  2. ^ "Flights & Flyers. American Boy.", Time (magazine), May 12, 1930. Retrieved on 2007-09-25. "A flight from New York to Los Angeles, begun on Monday and completed Sunday, is not in itself remarkable. But if the flyer be the young son of a crack airman who met spectacular death; and if the boy seeks a "junior speed record," public fancy is captured. Last week Frank Goldsborough, 19, son of the late Brice Goldsborough, crossed the U.S. in 34 hours 3 minutes flying time, in a biplane named American Boy. Previous 'record' of 48 hours, set last year by 18-year-old Richard James, was spread over a month elapsed time. Young Goldsborough's flight was punctuated by forced landings. Overtaken by darkness near El Paso, he settled down on the desert beside a truck. 'Two prospectors were in it. They treated me royally, shared their food and water with me. In taking off next morning along a narrow road lined by telegraph poles, I had a cross wind and just clipped the lower left wing tip, but I got into the air safely.'" 
  3. ^ "Richard James", Havre Daily News, August 30, 1928. Retrieved on 2007-11-28. "(Associated Press) Richard James of New York, competing in the Curtiss Field $1000 prize for the youngest flyer to make the transcontinental trip from New York to San Francisco ..." 
  4. ^ "Fliers Risk Lives in Fire at Curtiss Field. Save 5 Planes as Hangar and 3 Ships Burn.", New York Times, March 31, 1929. Retrieved on 2007-11-28. "Curtiss Field, Long Island, Sunday, March 31, 1929. Pilots and mechanics aided by members of the Garden City Fire Department, risked their lives this morning to save five airplanes from a burning hangar on the west corner of the field, where another hangar was attacked by fire a few days ago. ... Among the planes that were saved were the Travelair, in which Richard James, boy pilot of Flushing, made a transcontinental flight a few months ago ..." 
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