This airplane landed twice at Tucson. It bore S/N 1287 and was manufactured during 1928. Both visits it was flown by Dudley M. Steele. His first visit was on Wednesday, May 23, 1928 at 10:35 PM. He and passenger Ralph Hall remained in Tucson overnight. They were eastbound from Yuma, AZ and departed the next morning for Lordsburg, NM. Steele noted in the Remarks column of the Register, "Chairman Contest Com. National Air Races". Pilot Steele was also on the racing committee for the Cleveland Races, 1939.

The second landing for NC4276 was on Friday, June 22, 1928 at 10:30 AM. Steele was solo westbound from Lordsburg, NM to Los Angeles, CA.

The image below, courtesy of friend of dmairfield.org Tim Kalina, comes from the October 1929 issue of the Air Travel magazine rotogravure section. Not only do we see a spectacularly clear image of NC4278, but the background pattern of repeating biplanes is very creative and attractive.

Waco GXE NC4278, ca. October 1929

The lower airplane, Fokker trimotor NC394E is not in the Register.

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UPLOADED: 02/26/08 REVISED: