Chasing Seaplane History!

[EJaneHood]

Originally Posted by KittyHawk

What a great picture, and one I'll copy for the scrapbook I am building along with the restoration of NC975M. Having such a beautiful photo of the Kitty Hawk and Jane together is perfect!

The picture is probably from the mid to late 1940's, as the Kitty Hawk has the smaller 125 hp B-5 Kinner engine installed. Bill Harmon and Paschal rebuilt it and installed a larger Kinner R-56 of 160 hp in the early 1950's. It looked very different with the larger engine and a wooden propeller. Probably performed much better, too.

Trying to get some more info from Bill Harmon. Thanks for the bit about the incident. Yes, the Kitty Hawk took quite a whack when she hit the ground. Enough so the the wings cracked, the floats are smashed and the fuselage steel tubing is bent. All in all, it will be a fun restoration!

You're probably right about Bill Muzzey, though it is a shame, as he was the owner who flew the daylights out of NC975M, ride-hopping sightseers for several years from Paugus Bay.

You've given me a few leads to run down, too. We'll see where they go. Many thanks for sharing the photo. Wonder if Jane Steady pursued a flying career or stuck with pleasure flying.

Jane was my grandmother... she didn't pursue a career in flying, though she enjoyed it very much. She obtained a degree in mathematics from Colby College and worked for Sloan-Kettering before raising four children in NYC/PA before retiring back to NH. Flight and astronomy remained among her top interests throughout her life.

Edit to add: She got her pilot's license in 1945, when she was sixteen & was married in 1948 ... so the photo would likely have been sometime during those years -- just to verify as I noted you were discussing dates.

This photo was such a treat to find -- none of us in the family had seen it before!

[SIKSUKR]

Love seeing conections being made through the internet.Great photo by the way of your grandmother.Does she have relatives in NH?I know a Paul Steady.

[ApS]

Two photos of NC975M appear at http://www.airfields-freeman.com/VA/...VA_Hampton.htm. (Middle of the page).

This photo below shows a landing-light attached at the wing root in 1932. The other is the same as one previously published here, but apparently from a different source. Starting the engine when afloat was tricky.

[KittyHawk]

Originally Posted by EJaneHood

Jane was my grandmother... she didn't pursue a career in flying, though she enjoyed it very much. She obtained a degree in mathematics from Colby College and worked for Sloan-Kettering before raising four children in NYC/PA before retiring back to NH. Flight and astronomy remained among her top interests throughout her life.

Edit to add: She got her pilot's license in 1945, when she was sixteen & was married in 1948 ... so the photo would likely have been sometime during those years -- just to verify as I noted you were discussing dates.

This photo was such a treat to find -- none of us in the family had seen it before!

EJaneHood: Many thanks for checking in regarding Jane Steady Hood's photo with Kitty Hawk NC975M. I have to say that Jane has one of the most charming, wholesome, beautiful expressions, captured in that one photo. She must have been a wonderful lady!

You mentioned another photo of her in goggles and helmet. Is it also taken with this Kitty Hawk? Sure would be great if you could post it on this forum. Lots of interested folks here! Bob Coolbaugh

[KittyHawk]

Folks: I know posts are few and far between, apologies. I really have been hard at work on the restoration of NC975M, the Kitty Hawk which flew for decades from Paugus Bay. She's in the final, though lengthy stages of covering, painting and assembly right now. I will try to post a few current photos. Trying to get her flying towards the end of this year or early next. Patience and perseverance.

[KittyHawk]

This is one of the 4 wing panels in the early stages of covering. The wings will be the last to be painted this summer. Using nitrate and butyrate dope as the New Haven factory originally did in 1931. The Kitty Hawk fuselage in the background was just prior to its turn in the paint booth. It is now getting the Kinner engine installed and plumbed.