The example shown here in the "weeds" was one of two of the type operated by a pilot school run by William H. Engle and trading as Silver Star Aircraft Service. (Note: Fairchild took over the Challenger series and retroactively gave the model number KR-31 to the C-2, despite not building any.) Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

Built in 1929 specifically to compete in the Guggenheim Safe Aircraft Competition, which it won (controversially). It was equipped with automatic wing leading edge slots, full-span wing flaps and floating ailerons on the lower wing that automatically adjusted themselves parallel to the airflow. The combination of these devices gave the Tanager a stalling speed of 31 mph and allowed it to land in only 90 ft. On 19 July 1930 it was destroyed on the ground when flames from its engine set the grass alight at Cleveland/OH. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

Built in 1946, exported as RP-C903 in 1964 and was burnt out in a ground fire at Manila, PI on 10 February 1980. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

Designed by a Mr Stearman with help from Messrs Beech and Cessna, the Travel Air 2000 (1925 to 1930) had a 90 hp Curtiss OX-5 engine. In 1927 this one was the first pilot school aircraft owned by Parks Air Lines. St Louis based Parks Air College used the name Parks Air Lines for a flight school and aircraft manufacturing operation at KSTL. The name Parks Airport on the sign just visible to the left is presumably for publicity purposes. In this seemingly staged photo a student may be getting his license signed off by a Dept of Commerce examiner after surviving some figure-eights, a dead stick landing and three touch-and-goes. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

The Parks P-2 was powered by a 150 hp Axelson-Floco B engine and was designed and built at the St Louis based Parks Air College circa 1929. It was cancelled by the FAA on 13 August 1931. Parks used the name Parks Air Lines for a flight school, aircraft manufacturing operations and presumably displayed the name Parks Airport prominently on the hangar roof (background) at KSTL for publicity. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

One of 15 built in 1930 and Pennsylvania based with a private individual at this time. Engine type was a Wright Whirlwind of 220 hp. Cancelled by the FAA as destroyed on 28 October 1947. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

Delivered in May 1934 and here parked on the apron outside the United hangar with a party of students taking a look at this wonder of modern engineering. In August 1942 it was in impressed by the USAAF as a C-73 transport and given serial 42-68363. In November 1944 it was sold off to Lineas Aereas Mexicanas and after changing hands was withdrawn from use in 1952. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

Built in April 1932 as NC54Y then re-registered as above in the same month. This racer and its stable-mates were very successful and dominated the scene at the time with their P&W Wasp Jr engines giving 1020 hp. This one was last known of on display at the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

Here the 1st prototype is flying again after being grounded for installation of an upgraded P&W R-2800-34W engine plus other modifications. In this view the exhaust pump engine cooling outlet is clearly seen. The USN were delighted with its diving characteristics, but stall and spin recovery was a problem. The delay caused by design changes resulted in other models taking over its role, consequently the contract was terminated on 3 September 1946. Five completed aircraft went to meet their fate at NAES Phillidelphia and were eventually "stricken from inventory". Dates where known: prototypes 44313 (unknown); 44314 (March 1948). Production aircraft: 90484 & 90485 (unknown); 90486 (April 1948). Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

Built in 1933 and cancelled on 7 March 1956 while still with the same owner. All the way from Alaska and here in the visitors parking area for the Air Races. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

The Fleetwings (officially Kaiser-Fleetwings by now) Model 44 was a dive bomber designed for the US Navy to replace the Curtiss Helldiver. Here the prototype is returning from an early (possibly first) test flight which took place on 12 April 1945 piloted by William H. Engle. It is landing on one of the new paved runways at Fleetwings Field which the USN had built in support of the BTK-1 project. The engine was a P&W R-2800-22W giving 2400 hp and a novel design feature was an exhaust pump engine cooling system. This proved unsatisfactory and was eventually replaced with conventional cowl flaps. Photo from: William Engle (son of Fleetwings test pilot William H. Engle) via Tim Martin

The first evidence for this grass airfield is from 1927. This photo was taken in 1928 and the biplane is believed to be a Kreider-Reisner Challenger C-2 aircraft with a Kinner D-5 engine. It carries no visible markings. (This may be because, at the time, The State of Pennsylvania had jurisdiction over things aeronautical and issued aircraft license numbers in the format P-### .) In 1945, John Van Sant bought the Silver Star Airport and renamed it to the Old Star Airport. The airport closed about 1973 and the Oxford Valley Shopping Mall was built, obliterating its existence. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

This is the first evidence found for the airfield although it looks to have been in existence for a while judging by the track marks in the grass. The building in the far right hand corner is a two-bay hangar. A pilot school run by William H. Engle and trading as Silver Star Aircraft Service operated from here starting in 1930. In 1945, John Van Sant bought the Silver Star Airport and renamed it to the Old Star Airport. The airport closed about 1973 and the Oxford Valley Shopping Mall was built, obliterating its existence. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

Test pilot William H. Engle was in California on a demonstration tour with the first F-5 Sea Bird. Here he is showing it to Hollywood actor Wallace Beery, who wanted to keep the aircraft at his seaside home so he could hop in and go fishing. Engle plunged through the surf to show it could be done, but advised the actor it was too dangerous for a low time pilot to attempt. Photo from: William Engle (son of Fleetwings test pilot William H. Engle) via Tim Martin

First record of this airfield is from a 1930 Aviation Map when it was called Keystone Aircraft Field. Fleetwings Aircraft bought Keystone Aircraft and moved here in 1941. The airfield was then known as Fleetwings Field. Fleetwings was bought by Kaiser Industries in 1943 and the airfield was renamed again to Kaiser Field. The photo shows the transformation from grass airfield to an airport with paved runways 19 & 23 shown here under construction, with 29 just beginning; all paid for by the U.S. Navy. In the 1950s 3M bought the Kaiser factory which heralded a name change to 3M Airport. This situation continued with general aviation operations until 1980 when the airport was closed. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

The one and only Fleetwings F-4 Sea Bird pictured during the time it was owned by Volitan Aviation of Pacoima/CA. The photo was taken by retired Fleetwings test pilot (William H. Engle) who originally flew it in 1937. He tracked it down to see how it had survived the years in between. Photo from: William Engle (son of the Fleetwings test pilot) via Tim Martin

Acquired by American Airlines from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation on 7 December 1945 and modified as a flying test bed for airborne radar research. The print has a Kaiser-Fleetwings rubber stamp dated 'SEP 20 1946' on the back. That plus the inclusion of the company's Chief Engineer (R.W. Ayer) in the photo indicates their involvement in providing the strange-looking cupola. On 8 August 1947 the aircraft was wrecked when it stalled into the East River during a single engine missed approach at LaGuardia/NY. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

The second F-5 Sea Bird moored opposite downtown Miami at Virginia Key while on a sales tour that included Nassau/Bahamas and Havana/Cuba. The aircraft is Oklahoma based in 2024. Photo from: William Engle via Tim Martin

The prototype Sea Bird on the ramp outside the Fleetwings seaplane factory. The FAA serial number is confirmed by the log book of pilot William H. Engle whose first flight in it was on 25 March 1937. That and all subsequent flights were recorded as on X16793. The skin is 0.010 thick stainless steel and it has been given a swirl finish to make it look attractive. The wing and empennage structures are also made from stainless steel with fabric covering. Engine is a Jacobs L-5 giving 285 hp. The three-section landing gear fairing disappeared from photos from 1938 on, however this aircraft was seen at Oshkosh 1992 with fairings, although possibly not originals. Texas based as N16793 in 2024. Photo from: Alan Reddig via Tim Martin

The prototype Sea Bird still in beautiful shape after over 80 years. The only sign of its age is the wrinkled skin which is a mere 0.010 inch thick stainless steel. At a period when most aircraft lasted about 10 years I'm sure Fleetwings did not worry about long-term skin durability at the design phase. Thanks go to then owner Walter Bowe, who arranged the photo session, for allowing its use. The aircraft is Texas based in 2024. Photo from: William Engle (photo credit Scott Slocum) via Tim Martin