John H. Livingston
Encyclopedia
John H. Livingston was an American
aviator and air race
pilot of the 1920s and 1930s. Livingston placed first in 80 national air races
. His first profession was as an automobile and motorcycle mechanic. Livingston first soled an aircraft in 1920 and started work with The Iowa Airplane Company, later purchasing and managing it as Midwest Airways Corporation. Iowa's first airline with service starting in 1928.
In 1928 Livingston won first place in the Transcontinental Air Derby, flying a Waco 10T from New York to Los Angeles.
In 1930, Livingston purchased a Monocoupe 110
(NC-501W) to use in air racing. Livingston modified the landing gear, engine cowling, engine output, streamlined struts. In 1932 the aircraft went back to the factory to have the wings clipped from 32 feet to 22 feet in length becoming a Monocoupe 110 Special. Livingston would fly the aircraft through rain storms with whitewash paint to find areas of drag. His modifications increased the speed of the monocoupe from 160 to 200 mph. Out of 65 races entered, Livingston placed first 41 times in this aircraft. Livingston sold his aircraft in 1933, and it was entered in the MacRobertson Race flying from England to India where it dropped out. The rebuilt airplane returned to America, killing it's next owner Ruth Barron in a 1936 Omaha, Nebraska
crash. Livingston's first Monocoupe racer was restored over ten years between 1996 and 2006 and is still flying.
By 1933, Livingston had won more air races than any other pilot. After losing to a pilot flying a Cessna CR-2
racer, Livingston commissioned a even faster Cessna CR-3
racer. His aircraft only lasted 61 days before Livingston had to bail out of the aircraft over Ohio. In that time he won every race he entered with the aircraft. After the season he went to work for WACO
as a test pilot, and was also sponsored in the Baby Ruth Aerobatic Team featuring aircraft tied together with ropes.
In 1939, Livingston returned to air racing in a Monocoupe.
Livingston managed Chapman Airport in Iowa with his brother throughout the 1930s into World War II
. He managed a cadet training program with over 1500 students completing basic training.
Livingston retired at Pompano Beach, Florida
.
Livingston suffered a heart attack and died shortly after test flying a Pitts Special
at the age of 76. Livingston was inducted into the Iowa aviation Hall of Fame in 1995. John Livingston is considered to be the inspiration for the book and films Jonathan Livingston Seagull
. His Waco taperwing has been donated to the EAA AirVenture Museum
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
where it has been restored.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviator and air race
Air racing
- History :The first ever air race was held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1908. The participants piloted the only 4 airships in the U.S. around a course located at Forest Park...
pilot of the 1920s and 1930s. Livingston placed first in 80 national air races
Early life
John Livingston was born in 1897 in Cedar Falls, IowaCedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
. His first profession was as an automobile and motorcycle mechanic. Livingston first soled an aircraft in 1920 and started work with The Iowa Airplane Company, later purchasing and managing it as Midwest Airways Corporation. Iowa's first airline with service starting in 1928.
In 1928 Livingston won first place in the Transcontinental Air Derby, flying a Waco 10T from New York to Los Angeles.
Monocoupe 110 Special
The Monocoupe 110 Special was a United States sporting and racing aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s.The Monocoupe 110 Special was a United States sporting and racing aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s....
(NC-501W) to use in air racing. Livingston modified the landing gear, engine cowling, engine output, streamlined struts. In 1932 the aircraft went back to the factory to have the wings clipped from 32 feet to 22 feet in length becoming a Monocoupe 110 Special. Livingston would fly the aircraft through rain storms with whitewash paint to find areas of drag. His modifications increased the speed of the monocoupe from 160 to 200 mph. Out of 65 races entered, Livingston placed first 41 times in this aircraft. Livingston sold his aircraft in 1933, and it was entered in the MacRobertson Race flying from England to India where it dropped out. The rebuilt airplane returned to America, killing it's next owner Ruth Barron in a 1936 Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
crash. Livingston's first Monocoupe racer was restored over ten years between 1996 and 2006 and is still flying.
By 1933, Livingston had won more air races than any other pilot. After losing to a pilot flying a Cessna CR-2
Cessna CR-2
|-See also:...
racer, Livingston commissioned a even faster Cessna CR-3
Cessna CR-3
|-See also:...
racer. His aircraft only lasted 61 days before Livingston had to bail out of the aircraft over Ohio. In that time he won every race he entered with the aircraft. After the season he went to work for WACO
Waco Aircraft Company
The Waco Aircraft Company was an aircraft manufacturer located in Troy, Ohio, USA. Between 1919 and 1947, the company produced a wide range of civilian biplanes....
as a test pilot, and was also sponsored in the Baby Ruth Aerobatic Team featuring aircraft tied together with ropes.
In 1939, Livingston returned to air racing in a Monocoupe.
Livingston managed Chapman Airport in Iowa with his brother throughout the 1930s into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He managed a cadet training program with over 1500 students completing basic training.
Livingston retired at Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
.
Livingston suffered a heart attack and died shortly after test flying a Pitts Special
Pitts Special
The Pitts Special is a series of light aerobatic biplane designed by Curtis Pitts. It has accumulated many competition wins since its first flight in 1944...
at the age of 76. Livingston was inducted into the Iowa aviation Hall of Fame in 1995. John Livingston is considered to be the inspiration for the book and films Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Jonathan Livingston Seagull, written by Richard Bach, is a fable in novella form about a seagull learning about life and flight, and a homily about self-perfection...
. His Waco taperwing has been donated to the EAA AirVenture Museum
EAA AirVenture Museum
The EAA AirVenture Museum is a museum dedicated to the preservation and display of historical and experimental aircraft located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin adjacent to the Wittman Regional Airport. Paul Poberezny proposed the idea of the EAA Air Museum-Air Education center in August 1958. The current...
in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
where it has been restored.
Races
- 1928 Transcontinental Speed Race - First Place in a Waco Taperwing.
- 1929 Ford TourFord National Reliability Air TourThe Ford Reliability Tour, properly called "The National Air Tour for the Edsel B. Ford Reliability Trophy", was a series of Aerial Tours sponsored in part by Ford from 1925 to 1931 and re-created in 2003. Top prize was the Edsel Ford Reliability Trophy. Henry and Edsel Ford were shareholders in...
- First Place - 1931 National Air RacesNational Air RacesThe National Air Races were a series of pylon and cross-country races that took place in the United States from 1920 to 1949. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew rapidly during this period; the National Air Races were both a proving ground and...
Cleveland, OhioCleveland, OhioCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
- First place. - 1939 Miami Air Races - First Place in a Monocoupe.