Dallas Spirit
Encyclopedia
Dallas Spirit, (aka Swallow Monoplane or Swallow Dole Racer), was a custom built aircraft designed to compete in the ill-fated Dole Air Derby
between California and Hawaii.
between Oakland California and Honolulu Hawaii. The second was to win the $25,000 prize for a flight between Dallas and Hong Kong sponsored by William E. Easterwood. Dallas Spirit was built at the Swallow factory at 2401 North Hillside, in Wichita, Kansas
.
on 6 August 1927. It was intended to bring as much publicity to the city as the Spirit of St. Louis
did earlier in the year with Charles Lindbergh
's solo transatlantic crossing.
and navigated by 27-year-old Alvin Eichwaldt. By the time of their departure, two planes had already crashed, killing all their occupants. Most competitors barely could take off, and had mishaps, or turned back just after departure. Dallas Spirit did the same, returning shortly after the first attempt with six feet of fabric torn from the side. Of the four aircraft that continued, two aircraft reported landings in Hawaii, and two disappeared; Miss Doran and Golden Eagle.
Repairs to Dallas Spirits tail section took two days. On 18 August, Erwin decided to attempt the California to Hawaii trip without the prize, and search for the missing aircraft Miss Doran and Golden Eagle then continue on to Manila and Hong Kong. A 55-watt short wave radio was removed from the Pabco Flyer and installed in the Dallas Spirit. Amateur radio
operators across the country monitored the transmissions on the 33.1-meter wavelength. At 9 pm, Eichwald sent a message that the aircraft went into a spin and recovered, followed by a second S.O.S that the plane had gone into a spin. The abrupt signal loss in the middle of the call occurred as the plane crashed into the ocean about 650 miles west of Oakland.
Dallas Spirit was built on credit with the promise of the Swallow Airplane Company
receiving some of the prize money. The disappearance of the plane was enough to send the company into receivership. Owner Mollendick sold off his interests to aviation investor Victor Roos
.
Dole Air Race
The Dole Air Race, also known as the Dole Derby, was a tragic air race to cross the Pacific Ocean from northern California to the Territory of Hawaii in August 1927. Of the 15-18 entrant airplanes, 11 were certified to compete but three crashed before the race, resulting in three deaths...
between California and Hawaii.
Development
Dallas Spirit was built to attempt to win back to back two aviation prizes offered at the peak of record-setting aviation accomplishments in 1927. The first was to win the $25,0000 Dole Air DerbyDole Air Race
The Dole Air Race, also known as the Dole Derby, was a tragic air race to cross the Pacific Ocean from northern California to the Territory of Hawaii in August 1927. Of the 15-18 entrant airplanes, 11 were certified to compete but three crashed before the race, resulting in three deaths...
between Oakland California and Honolulu Hawaii. The second was to win the $25,000 prize for a flight between Dallas and Hong Kong sponsored by William E. Easterwood. Dallas Spirit was built at the Swallow factory at 2401 North Hillside, in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
.
Design
Dallas Spirit was a high-wing monoplane with conventional landing gear. The dual wingstruts featured large airfoil shaped fairings. It was painted green and silver.Operational history
Dallas Spirit was unveiled at Love Field in Dallas, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
on 6 August 1927. It was intended to bring as much publicity to the city as the Spirit of St. Louis
Spirit of St. Louis
The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane that was flown solo by Charles Lindbergh on May 20–21, 1927, on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris for which Lindbergh won the $25,000 Orteig Prize.Lindbergh took off in the Spirit from Roosevelt...
did earlier in the year with Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
's solo transatlantic crossing.
The Dole Air Race
The scheduled departure date was 16 August 1927. Dallas Spirit was flown by 31-year-old William Portwood ErwinWilliam Portwood Erwin
Lieutenant William Portwood Erwin was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories.-Early life:William Portwood Erwin was the son of W. A. Erwin of Chicago. The younger Erwin, born elsewhere, was a Chicago native also.-World War I:...
and navigated by 27-year-old Alvin Eichwaldt. By the time of their departure, two planes had already crashed, killing all their occupants. Most competitors barely could take off, and had mishaps, or turned back just after departure. Dallas Spirit did the same, returning shortly after the first attempt with six feet of fabric torn from the side. Of the four aircraft that continued, two aircraft reported landings in Hawaii, and two disappeared; Miss Doran and Golden Eagle.
Repairs to Dallas Spirits tail section took two days. On 18 August, Erwin decided to attempt the California to Hawaii trip without the prize, and search for the missing aircraft Miss Doran and Golden Eagle then continue on to Manila and Hong Kong. A 55-watt short wave radio was removed from the Pabco Flyer and installed in the Dallas Spirit. Amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
operators across the country monitored the transmissions on the 33.1-meter wavelength. At 9 pm, Eichwald sent a message that the aircraft went into a spin and recovered, followed by a second S.O.S that the plane had gone into a spin. The abrupt signal loss in the middle of the call occurred as the plane crashed into the ocean about 650 miles west of Oakland.
Dallas Spirit was built on credit with the promise of the Swallow Airplane Company
Swallow Airplane Company
In January 1920, the E.M. Laird Aviation Co. Ltd. was started with the purchase of the six month old Witchita Aircraft Company, it's aircraft and the factory of the Watkins Manafacturing Company. Oilman Jacob Mollendick and Buick-Franklin salesman W.A. Burke each contributed $15,000.The first...
receiving some of the prize money. The disappearance of the plane was enough to send the company into receivership. Owner Mollendick sold off his interests to aviation investor Victor Roos
Victor Roos
Victor H. Roos was an American founder of several aircraft companies, including Cessna aircraft.- Early life :In 1917 Roos was a distributor of Harley Davidson pedal cycles in Omaha, Nebraska becoming one of the largest distributors in the Midwest....
.