Flown By Notable Pilots

This aircraft is a Swallow F28W, S/N 1040 (ATC 51), manufactured in July 1929 by Swallow Airplane Co., Wichita, KS. It was powered by a Wright J-5A 200 HP engine, S/N B-8512. As a three-place airplane, it weighed 2,700 pounds. It landed at Tucson four times between 1929 and 1932.

It sold on 2/3/30 to Ruth Elder (in the name of Ruth Elder Camp (b: 8 September 1902, Anniston, Alabama, d: 9 October 1977, San Francisco, California) c/o James E. Granger, Inc., Santa Monica, CA. Pilot Elder was an actress and aviation adventurer. See this link for some of her adventures.

There is no record at the NASM of the airplane's ownership from July 1929 to February 1930, although it is pretty clear that it was flown by Ruth Elder in the 1929 Women's Cross Country Air Race (the so-called "Powder Puff Derby") from Santa Monica to Cleveland, OH. She placed 5th behind Louise Thaden, Gladys O'Donnell, Amelia Earhart and Blanche Noyes. Her final time was 28:15:14 (average speed 96.41 MPH). She won $350.

Image, below, was taken probably near that race, or just after the airplane was sold to pilot Elder. Her name is lettered on the fuselage below the coaming of the rear cockpit. According to Jessen (p. 110), parts of this airplane were painted red. On the original image you can see the remains of a race number (60?) painted on the rear fuselage.

Swallow NC8730, ca. 1929 or 1930

We first see NC8730 at Tucson on 8/7/29 flown by Elder (pilot certificate number 675) carrying James E. Granger as passenger. They were headed from El Paso, TX to Phoenix, AZ. They were probably headed for Santa Monica, CA for the beginning of the "Powder Puff Derby".

Its second visit to Tucson was on 8/18 or 8/19/31 piloted by Clema Granger carrying her husband, Jim, as passenger. They were on their way south from Clover Field, Santa Monica, CA to Douglas, AZ on the Mexico border.

Roy Harding, a Union Oil representative, next brought NC8730 to Tucson on 9/12/1931. He was solo, on his way westbound from El Paso to Santa Monica. Next comes Nick Galloway on 9/5/1932. He was also solo, and making his way westbound from El Paso to Santa Monica.

NC8730 accumulated 571:50 flight hours, and received two new engines during Ms. Elder’s custody. She sold the airplane on 3/15/33 to Pacific School of Aviation, Inc. Owners of Pacific were James E. Granger, President; Ruth Elder, VP and Edith B. Clark, Secretary-Treasurer). Below, NC8730 in an imaged dated 1933. Note, compared to the image above, the additions of wheel pants and engine cowling, as well as the different paint scheme.

Swallow NC8730, ca. 1933

NC8730 suffered an accident at Inglewood, CA on 7/3/33. There is no record of damage or the fates of pilot or airframe. Registration was cancelled 7/15/33.

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UPLOADED: 08/08/05 REVISED: 10/28/07