Registration Number NX3598
Fasten Your Seatbelts
This aircraft is a Ryan B-1 Brougham, S/N 49. It derives
from the same lineage as the “Spirit of St. Louis”,
and was built during the same year. The B.F. Mahoney Aircraft
Co., San Diego, CA manufactured it on 1 November 12, 1927, It was equipped
with a 200 HP Wright J-5CA engine, S/N 2092, built on October 17, /1927.
It weighed 3,300 pounds.
Southwest Ryan Airlines, Inc., 1204 Atlas Bldg., Tulsa,
OK (Al Henley, Mgr.) purchased it on November 12, 1927. This Ryan passed
through the Davis-Monthan Airfield twice. Each flight was
eastbound from San Diego to Tulsa, and each flight coincided
with major airframe modifications performed at the Ryan factory
in San Diego.
The airplane was modified at the factory, “with larger
wing and fuel tanks to endeavor to establish world’s
endurance record.” In a letter from B.F. Mahoney
on January 9, 1928, he states the “regular wing removed
and larger wing put on (42’ span to 46’ span),
with larger tanks in fuselage to replace 3 passengers
as 2PCLM (Al Henley
& relief pilot) brakes and all unnecessary equipment
removed. Flight only over airport at Tulsa. Gross wt. 5,440.
Remodeled 1/7 to 1/19 1928.” An “X” license
was applied for on January 9, 1928, and approved by wire on January 10, 1928.
Below, an image of the airplane under construction from
Ryan Aeronautical. NX3598 was very similar to Martin
Jensen's MGM Brougham. They had the same longer span wing and fuel
tanks in the belly.
Ryan Brougham B-1, NX3598
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The first visit to the Davis-Monthan Airfield occurred on January 13, 1928 at 2:45 PM. The pilot was Al Henley. He departed
for Tulsa the same afternoon at 3:30 PM. The date of this
visit is earlier than the date given in Mahoney’s
letter for completion of the remodeling work. But, chances
are the work was completed earlier, and the transient log
date entered by Henley is accurate. Please click to
see images of pilot Henley and this airplane on this site
with its NX registration.
On February 6, 1928 the airplane had an accident at Fort Worth. The
pilot was Al Henley (transport license #778) carrying passenger
Joe Hart. Both were uninjured. A wheel collapsed on take-off
because of the excess load. It is not clear if the endurance
record was being attempted when this accident occurred. The airplane was sent by truck to the factory in San Diego for rebuilding. It was rebuilt as of August 10, 1928 to the regular Ryan B-1 specifications for ATC 25. The 42’ wing was replaced. A Wright 220 HP engine, S/N 8157 was installed.
Below is an image of NX3598 During the time of the west coast to Tulsa flight. The image is from the SDAM Flickr stream, and the caption o that site reads, "Pot Bellied Brougham 'pregnant guppy' ordered for a trans-Atlantic flight to Rome not paid for, was flown over Oklahoma in an attempt to set an endurance record."
Ryan Brougham B-1, NX3598
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It appears that the record attempt was scrapped. A “NC” license
was issued for the airplane on January 11, 1929.
On March 1, 1929 it was sold to the Garland Aircraft Corp., Tulsa,
OK, and then on March 6, 1929 to John Fernow, 1123 North Denver
St., Tulsa, OK. It was flown for several months and then sold
again to Earl Bunker Smith, 6122 East Olive St., Pipestone,
MN who installed a new, larger tail unit (installed by von
Hoffman Aircraft Co., St. Louis, MO).
It was purchased on May 27, 1930 by L.H. Atkinson, Municipal
Airport, Tulsa, OK for use with Oklahoma Short Line Airways.
On June 23, 1930 the Commercial Credit Co., Oklahoma City, began
repossession procedures for non-payment of mortgage. And on
August 9, 1930 a violation was cited for operating on a passenger
airline without seat belts for pilot or passengers. Kenneth
M. Oliver (not a Register pilot) was the pilot-in-command at the time, but he received
a warning only.
It was sold for $1,000.00 on May 29, 1931 to Sam H. Coffman,
Airport, North May Ave., Oklahoma City, OK. No further information.
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UPLOADED: 6/9/05 REVISED: 02/17/07, 10/30/08, 05/27/23
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