Vance Breese
Encyclopedia
Vance Breese was an American aviation engineer and test pilot
.
Competing in the 1926 National Air Tour, flying a Ryan M-1
monoplane with a Wright J-4 engine, he finished in eighth place, although he had actually been in first place when he reached Cleveland, Ohio, one of 14 cities in the competition. During the 15-day event which was the second annual commercial airplane reliability tour, Breese carried J. B. Alexander and A. L. Hufford as passengers.
and in early 1932, together with Gerard "Jerry" Vultee
, he founded the Airplane Development Corporation. In the same year, Breese became the Vice President of Air Express Corp. that was established to operate a daily 17- to 18-hr service between New York and Los Angeles, exclusively for express mail with the first flight on December 12, 1932. In 1934, at the head of the Vance Breese Company, Breese moved back to California, setting up in Mines Field, Los Angeles.
monoplanes sold, including the Pabco Pacific Flyer that participated in the disastrous 1927 Dole Air Race
from Oakland to Hawaii. On April 16, 1928, another Breese 5, piloted by Breese, had a total engine failure when the motor fell off its mounts over San Francisco. "By having his passengers move forward in the cabin to shift the c/g, Breese was able to maintain control and land safely on an open hillside." Breese aircraft included the 1917 Breese "Penguin" ground-based trainer (only five were actually used in service, with the other 296 placed in storage, then scrapped after the war), single examples of the 1928 Breese R-6-C (experimental dive bomber), 1931 Breese Junior, 1933 Breese R-6-3 and the Breese-Dallas X (used for film work and owned by Paul Mantz
).
After American Airlines
showed great interest in their six-passenger Vultee V-1
design, Errett Lobban (E.L.) Cord
bought all 500 shares of stock in the company and the Airplane Development Corporation became a Cord subsidiary.
Due to the Air Mail Act of 1934, AVCO
established the Aviation Manufacturing Corporation (AMC) on November 30, 1934 through the acquisition of Cord's holdings, including Vultee's Airplane Development Corporation. AMC was liquidated on January 1, 1936 and Vultee Aircraft Division was formed as an autonomous subsidiary of AVCO. Jerry Vultee was named vice president and chief engineer. Vultee acquired the assets of the defunct AMC, including Lycoming and Stinson Aircraft Company.
Meanwhile, Vultee and Breese had redesigned the V-1 to meet American Airlines' needs and created the eight-passenger V-1A. American purchased 11 V-1As, but the aircraft ultimately failed due to safety concerns about a single-engine aircraft and the advent of the twin-engine Douglas DC-2s and DC-3s. Vultee redesigned the V-1 into the V-11 attack aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, but it received few initial orders. In November 1939, the Vultee Aircraft Division of AVCO was reorganized as an independent company but Breese was not part of the company at that point.
During 1933–1934, Breese moved to California and worked for Fokker. In 1937, he also worked for Bennett Aircraft Corp. as consultant, VP and test pilot, instrumental in the design and testing of the Bennett BTC-1 Executive
twin-engined transport. Breese joined North American in 1939–1940, as a Consultant Engineer and Test Pilot. On October 26, 1940, he was the first pilot to fly the NA-73X prototype that became the North American P-51 Mustang and completed the maiden flight of the North American B-25 Mitchell. Later, joining Northrop Corporation as a test pilot, he demonstrated the Northrop Navy fighter and Northrop N-3PB
floatplane. As Northrop's Chief Test Pilot, Breese flew the Northrop N-1M
on its maiden flight on July 3, 1941 and was at the controls of the first XP-61 prototype on May 26, 1942.
He was also a "contract" test pilot for Bell Aircraft
, Douglas Aircraft Company
and Lockheed. He was involved in the testing of the Bell P-39 Airacobra, Douglas SBD Dauntless and flew the Lockheed P-38 Lightning prototypes through a series of "flutter" tests. One of the unusual experiments in which Breese was involved, concerned the use of a parachute for an aircraft, successfully demonstrating the device in 1930.
When the experimental Keith Rider R-3 "Firecracker" racer was rebuilt after a crash, Breese flew the R-3 for a time intending to set a few world speed records before the 1935 National Air Races.
Breese died on June 26, 1973 in Los Angeles. He was listed as an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. His son and namesake, Vance Bresse Jr. is a renowned motorcycle racer, software designer and pilot, who has followed in his father's footsteps as an aircraft designer in the Breese Aircraft company he founded.
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
.
Early years
Vance Breese was born in Keystone, Washington, on April 20, 1904. His education, in his own words was: "various engineering extension courses." More than an engineer, he devoted his life to aviation.Aviation career
In 1926, Breese founded the (Vance) Breese Aircraft Company at Mills Field, San Francisco and was its President, from 1927 to 1934.Competing in the 1926 National Air Tour, flying a Ryan M-1
Ryan M-1
-Bibliography:* Hall, Donald A. www.charleslindbergh.com, July 1927. Retrieved: 3 March 2009.* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1985....
monoplane with a Wright J-4 engine, he finished in eighth place, although he had actually been in first place when he reached Cleveland, Ohio, one of 14 cities in the competition. During the 15-day event which was the second annual commercial airplane reliability tour, Breese carried J. B. Alexander and A. L. Hufford as passengers.
Aviation companies
The companies that Breese operated, appeared under various names, in 1927 as the Breese-(Arthur F. "Pop") Wild Aircraft Construction Co/Breese Flying School. In 1928, after incorporation, the company moved to Watts Airport, Beaverton Oregon and in 1931 as the Breese Aircraft Corporation, to Portland. In 1932, as the Breese & (Charles) Dallas Inc, it relocated to Detroit. The Breese Aircraft Company became the Detroit Aircraft CompanyDetroit Aircraft Corporation
The Detroit Aircraft Corporation was incorporated in Detroit, Michigan on July 10, 1922, as the Aircraft Development Corporation. The name was changed in 1929...
and in early 1932, together with Gerard "Jerry" Vultee
Vultee Aircraft
The Vultee Aircraft Corporation became an independent company in 1939 and had limited success before merging with the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in 1943 to form the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, or Convair.-History:...
, he founded the Airplane Development Corporation. In the same year, Breese became the Vice President of Air Express Corp. that was established to operate a daily 17- to 18-hr service between New York and Los Angeles, exclusively for express mail with the first flight on December 12, 1932. In 1934, at the head of the Vance Breese Company, Breese moved back to California, setting up in Mines Field, Los Angeles.
Breese aircraft
Breese aircraft were produced in small numbers, with seven Breese 5Breese-Wilde Model 5
|-See also:-External links:*Images of the Aloha , , , , *Images of the Pabco Pacific Flyer...
monoplanes sold, including the Pabco Pacific Flyer that participated in the disastrous 1927 Dole Air Race
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...
from Oakland to Hawaii. On April 16, 1928, another Breese 5, piloted by Breese, had a total engine failure when the motor fell off its mounts over San Francisco. "By having his passengers move forward in the cabin to shift the c/g, Breese was able to maintain control and land safely on an open hillside." Breese aircraft included the 1917 Breese "Penguin" ground-based trainer (only five were actually used in service, with the other 296 placed in storage, then scrapped after the war), single examples of the 1928 Breese R-6-C (experimental dive bomber), 1931 Breese Junior, 1933 Breese R-6-3 and the Breese-Dallas X (used for film work and owned by Paul Mantz
Paul Mantz
Albert Paul Mantz was a noted air racing pilot, movie stunt pilot and consultant from the late 1930s until his death in the mid-1960s. He gained fame on two stages: Hollywood and in air races.-Early years:...
).
After American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
showed great interest in their six-passenger Vultee V-1
Vultee V-1
-References:NotesBibliography* Davies, R.E.G. Airlines of the United States. McLean, Virginia: Paladwr Press Inc, 1998. ISBN 1-888962-08-9.* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985....
design, Errett Lobban (E.L.) Cord
Errett Lobban Cord
Errett Lobban "E. L." Cord was a leader in United States transport during the early and middle 20th century.Cord founded the Cord Corporation in 1929 as a holding company for over 150 companies he controlled, mostly in the field of transportation...
bought all 500 shares of stock in the company and the Airplane Development Corporation became a Cord subsidiary.
Due to the Air Mail Act of 1934, AVCO
Avco
Avco Corporation is a subsidiary of Textron which operates Textron Systems Corporation and Lycoming.-Brief history:The Embry-Riddle Company created the Aviation Corporation in 1928 as a holding company tasked with acquiring small airlines...
established the Aviation Manufacturing Corporation (AMC) on November 30, 1934 through the acquisition of Cord's holdings, including Vultee's Airplane Development Corporation. AMC was liquidated on January 1, 1936 and Vultee Aircraft Division was formed as an autonomous subsidiary of AVCO. Jerry Vultee was named vice president and chief engineer. Vultee acquired the assets of the defunct AMC, including Lycoming and Stinson Aircraft Company.
Meanwhile, Vultee and Breese had redesigned the V-1 to meet American Airlines' needs and created the eight-passenger V-1A. American purchased 11 V-1As, but the aircraft ultimately failed due to safety concerns about a single-engine aircraft and the advent of the twin-engine Douglas DC-2s and DC-3s. Vultee redesigned the V-1 into the V-11 attack aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, but it received few initial orders. In November 1939, the Vultee Aircraft Division of AVCO was reorganized as an independent company but Breese was not part of the company at that point.
Test flying
Breese was arguably the most highly qualified test pilot of his day, having flown more than 100 types of aircraft. The legend about Breese's charges was that he charged by the "foot of wingspan." His fees could be as high as $5,000 for a single flight.During 1933–1934, Breese moved to California and worked for Fokker. In 1937, he also worked for Bennett Aircraft Corp. as consultant, VP and test pilot, instrumental in the design and testing of the Bennett BTC-1 Executive
Globe BTC-1
The Bennett Aircraft Corporation Bi-motored Transport Commercial Number One Executive was a 1930s American eight-seat light transport aircraft built by the Bennett Aircraft Corporation...
twin-engined transport. Breese joined North American in 1939–1940, as a Consultant Engineer and Test Pilot. On October 26, 1940, he was the first pilot to fly the NA-73X prototype that became the North American P-51 Mustang and completed the maiden flight of the North American B-25 Mitchell. Later, joining Northrop Corporation as a test pilot, he demonstrated the Northrop Navy fighter and Northrop N-3PB
Northrop N-3PB
The Northrop N-3PB Nomad was a single-engined American floatplane of the 1940s. Northrop developed the N-3PB as an export model based on the earlier Northrop A-17 design. A total of 24 were purchased by Norway, but were not delivered until after the Fall of Norway during the Second World War...
floatplane. As Northrop's Chief Test Pilot, Breese flew the Northrop N-1M
Northrop N-1M
|-See also:-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Coleman, Ted. Jack Northrop and the Flying Wing: The Real Story Behind the Stealth Bomber. New York: Paragon House, 1988. ISBN 1-55778-079-X....
on its maiden flight on July 3, 1941 and was at the controls of the first XP-61 prototype on May 26, 1942.
He was also a "contract" test pilot for Bell Aircraft
Bell Aircraft
The Bell Aircraft Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer of the United States, a builder of several types of fighter aircraft for World War II but most famous for the Bell X-1, the first supersonic aircraft, and for the development and production of many important civilian and military helicopters...
, Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
and Lockheed. He was involved in the testing of the Bell P-39 Airacobra, Douglas SBD Dauntless and flew the Lockheed P-38 Lightning prototypes through a series of "flutter" tests. One of the unusual experiments in which Breese was involved, concerned the use of a parachute for an aircraft, successfully demonstrating the device in 1930.
When the experimental Keith Rider R-3 "Firecracker" racer was rebuilt after a crash, Breese flew the R-3 for a time intending to set a few world speed records before the 1935 National Air Races.
Breese died on June 26, 1973 in Los Angeles. He was listed as an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. His son and namesake, Vance Bresse Jr. is a renowned motorcycle racer, software designer and pilot, who has followed in his father's footsteps as an aircraft designer in the Breese Aircraft company he founded.