Robert Hall (aircraft designer)
Encyclopedia
Robert L. Hall was an American
Air racing pilot and aircraft designer.
, where he was the chief engineer. He designed the Gee Bee Model Z
racer, the "City of Springfield," which swept the competition in every contest in the National Air Races of 1931. On the September 5, Hall himself flew the Gee Bee Z to victory in the General Tire and Rubber Trophy race. Lowell Bayles
flew the aircraft the next day to victory in the free-for-all event.
Hall then left the Granville Brothers, to form Hall Aircraft. There he designed the Bulldog racing aircraft, which he went on to race at the 1932 National Air Races, finished sixth at a speed of 215.5 mph. Afterwards there was speculation that its experimental Hamilton Standard propeller prevented the Wasp engine from running at full power. Hall was so disappointed with its performance that he dismantled and scrapped the plane after that race. He also designed the Cicada racing plane, which was raced at the 1932 National Air Races.
Robert Hall later joined Grumman, where he helped design and test a series of planes that proved a major force during World War II. Serving as Chief Engineer and lead flight test pilot, he helped design and made the first flights of the F4F Wildcat
, the G-21 Goose in 1937, the XP-50 in 1941, the F6F Hellcat
in 1942, the F7F Tigercat
in 1943 and the F8F Bearcat
in 1944. On May 14, 1941 while flying the XP-50, it experienced an inflight turbocharger explosion while over Long Island Sound. Hall was forced to parachute to safety. As Grumman's chief engineer and vice president, he was instrumental in the design of the F9F Panther
, F9F Cougar
, F10F Jaguar and F11F Tiger jet fighters and the Gulfstream I executive aircraft. He retired from Grumman in 1970.
His son Eric Hall is co-founder of Halls Spars, which manufacturers sailboat rigging.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Air racing pilot and aircraft designer.
Career
Robert L. Hall was born in Taunton, Massachusetts in l905. After graduating in 1927 from the University of Michigan, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he joined the Granville Brothers AircraftGranville Brothers Aircraft
Granville Brothers Aircraft was an aircraft manufacturer in operation from 1929 until its bankruptcy in 1934. The firm was located at the Springfield Airport in Springfield, Massachusetts...
, where he was the chief engineer. He designed the Gee Bee Model Z
Gee Bee Model Z
-Popular culture:Kermit Weeks, founder of Fantasy of Flight, used a Gee Bee Model Z as his main character "Zee" in a series of children's books set around the Golden Age of Aviation.-See also:-References:NotesReferences...
racer, the "City of Springfield," which swept the competition in every contest in the National Air Races of 1931. On the September 5, Hall himself flew the Gee Bee Z to victory in the General Tire and Rubber Trophy race. Lowell Bayles
Lowell Bayles
Lowell R. Bayles was an Air Race pilot of the "Golden Age of Air Racing." He was the winner of the 1931 Thompson Trophy flying the Gee Bee Model Z. Bayles was killed in the crash of the Model Z during an attempt at the landplane speed record when the plane crashed at over mph.-Early life:Bayles...
flew the aircraft the next day to victory in the free-for-all event.
Hall then left the Granville Brothers, to form Hall Aircraft. There he designed the Bulldog racing aircraft, which he went on to race at the 1932 National Air Races, finished sixth at a speed of 215.5 mph. Afterwards there was speculation that its experimental Hamilton Standard propeller prevented the Wasp engine from running at full power. Hall was so disappointed with its performance that he dismantled and scrapped the plane after that race. He also designed the Cicada racing plane, which was raced at the 1932 National Air Races.
Robert Hall later joined Grumman, where he helped design and test a series of planes that proved a major force during World War II. Serving as Chief Engineer and lead flight test pilot, he helped design and made the first flights of the F4F Wildcat
F4F Wildcat
The Grumman F4F Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy in 1940...
, the G-21 Goose in 1937, the XP-50 in 1941, the F6F Hellcat
F6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
in 1942, the F7F Tigercat
F7F Tigercat
The Grumman F7F Tigercat was the first twin-engined fighter aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed for the new Midway-class aircraft carriers, the aircraft were too large to operate from earlier decks. Although delivered to United States Marine Corps combat units before...
in 1943 and the F8F Bearcat
F8F Bearcat
The Grumman F8F Bearcat was an American single-engine naval fighter aircraft of the 1940s. It went on to serve into the mid-20th century in the United States Navy and other air forces, and would be the company's final piston engined fighter aircraft...
in 1944. On May 14, 1941 while flying the XP-50, it experienced an inflight turbocharger explosion while over Long Island Sound. Hall was forced to parachute to safety. As Grumman's chief engineer and vice president, he was instrumental in the design of the F9F Panther
F9F Panther
|-Popular culture:The Panther played a prominent role in the 1954 movie Men of the Fighting Lady . The F9F was featured in the flying sequences in the 1954 movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri, although in the 1953 James A...
, F9F Cougar
F9F Cougar
The Grumman F9F/F-9 Cougar was an aircraft carrier-based fighter aircraft for the United States Navy. Based on the earlier Grumman F9F Panther, the Cougar replaced the Panther's straight wing with a more modern swept wing...
, F10F Jaguar and F11F Tiger jet fighters and the Gulfstream I executive aircraft. He retired from Grumman in 1970.
His son Eric Hall is co-founder of Halls Spars, which manufacturers sailboat rigging.