Otto Timm
Encyclopedia
Otto William Timm was a California
-based barnstormer
and aircraft manufacturer. Charles Lindbergh
's first flight was flown by Timm. Timm had a brother named Wallace Timm who did a lot of flying for the nascent Hollywood movie industry.
, although it appears this was never completed. The next year he moved to Cicero Field in Chicago
, where a group of aviation enthusiasts had gathered. Here he built a copy of the Curtiss Pusher
, which flew in 1911. Timm started a business flying the aircraft in Pennsylvania
with a partner.
In 1913, Timm sold the business to his partner and returned to Cicero Field to begin construction of a "conventional" biplane design under contract. The next year he built a second for his own use, and started a cross-country tour that ended on 25 May 1915 when it crashed in a field in Magnolia, Minnesota
. His plane happened to come down in the field of Burt Kinner, who was fascinated by the aircraft and would go on to become an aircraft designer as well. Timm then built another design under contract for the Grinnell Aeroplane Company in 1915, later flying it at town fairs around the mideast during the summer of 1916.
In October 1916, Timm became a senior flight instructor at Rockwell Field
, San Diego. He remained here during the war, while also building a new trainer biplane known as the Timm Model T-18. With the ending of the war, Timm moved to Venice, CA and opened the Pacific Aeroplane and Supply Co., where he started construction of a six-passenger biplane known as the Pacific Hawk. Over a six-week period in 1920 he designed and built the C-1 racing monoplane, which would win the International Air Tournament in Los Angeles
in 1921.
In July 1921, Timm travelled to Lincoln, Nebraska
to test fly the new Lincoln Standard. Here he met Charles Lindbergh, giving him basic instruction on the 16th and 17th. The two remained friends, and when Timm built another Curtiss Pusher for film use in 1925, Lindbergh later bought it and stunt-flew it during the 1928 International Air Tournament. He built another one-off design in 1926, the two-place monoplane Collegiate.
In 1922, Timm founded the O.W. Timm Aircraft Company in Glendale, CA. In 1928 the name was changed to the Timm Airplane Co. The company's first design was the Timm Collegiate
series of five parasol-winged twin-seat light aircraft. Here he also produced a large (for the era) passenger biplane with an enclosed cabin seating seven and an open cockpit for two pilots. He changed the name to Timm Aircraft Company in May 1934, and introduced the Timm T-S140, a high-wing monoplane twin-engine design. In 1965, he was contacted by the TallMantz company to design a "one-off" movie model called the Tallmantz Phoenix P-1
which had a short and tragic lifespan, being involved in the death of its pilot, Paul Mantz
.
Timm died on June 29, 1978.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
-based barnstormer
Barnstorming
Barnstorming was a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s in which stunt pilots would perform tricks with airplanes, either individually or in groups called a flying circus. Barnstorming was the first major form of civil aviation in the history of flight...
and aircraft manufacturer. Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
's first flight was flown by Timm. Timm had a brother named Wallace Timm who did a lot of flying for the nascent Hollywood movie industry.
Biography
Timm was born on October 28, 1893. Timm originally started in the aviation field in 1910 when he attempted to build a copy of the Santos-Dumont "Demoiselle" monoplane while living in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, although it appears this was never completed. The next year he moved to Cicero Field in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where a group of aviation enthusiasts had gathered. Here he built a copy of the Curtiss Pusher
Curtiss Model D
|-See also:-External links:...
, which flew in 1911. Timm started a business flying the aircraft in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
with a partner.
In 1913, Timm sold the business to his partner and returned to Cicero Field to begin construction of a "conventional" biplane design under contract. The next year he built a second for his own use, and started a cross-country tour that ended on 25 May 1915 when it crashed in a field in Magnolia, Minnesota
Magnolia, Minnesota
Magnolia is a town in Rock County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 222 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
. His plane happened to come down in the field of Burt Kinner, who was fascinated by the aircraft and would go on to become an aircraft designer as well. Timm then built another design under contract for the Grinnell Aeroplane Company in 1915, later flying it at town fairs around the mideast during the summer of 1916.
In October 1916, Timm became a senior flight instructor at Rockwell Field
Rockwell Field
Rockwell Field was an Army air base located in Coronado, California, near San Diego. It shared the area known as North Island with Naval Air Station North Island from 1912 to 1935. Its functions were eventually moved to March Field so that the naval air station could take over the whole area...
, San Diego. He remained here during the war, while also building a new trainer biplane known as the Timm Model T-18. With the ending of the war, Timm moved to Venice, CA and opened the Pacific Aeroplane and Supply Co., where he started construction of a six-passenger biplane known as the Pacific Hawk. Over a six-week period in 1920 he designed and built the C-1 racing monoplane, which would win the International Air Tournament in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1921.
In July 1921, Timm travelled to Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
to test fly the new Lincoln Standard. Here he met Charles Lindbergh, giving him basic instruction on the 16th and 17th. The two remained friends, and when Timm built another Curtiss Pusher for film use in 1925, Lindbergh later bought it and stunt-flew it during the 1928 International Air Tournament. He built another one-off design in 1926, the two-place monoplane Collegiate.
In 1922, Timm founded the O.W. Timm Aircraft Company in Glendale, CA. In 1928 the name was changed to the Timm Airplane Co. The company's first design was the Timm Collegiate
Timm Collegiate
The Timm Collegiate was a series of American-built two-seat light aircraft of the late 1920s.The Timm Collegiate was a series of American-built two-seat light aircraft of the late 1920s....
series of five parasol-winged twin-seat light aircraft. Here he also produced a large (for the era) passenger biplane with an enclosed cabin seating seven and an open cockpit for two pilots. He changed the name to Timm Aircraft Company in May 1934, and introduced the Timm T-S140, a high-wing monoplane twin-engine design. In 1965, he was contacted by the TallMantz company to design a "one-off" movie model called the Tallmantz Phoenix P-1
Tallmantz Phoenix P-1
-Bibliography:* Dwiggins, Don. Hollywood Pilot: The Biography of Paul Mantz. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1967.* Dwiggins, Don. "Paul Mantz: Kingpin of the Hollywood Air Force." Air Classics Vol. 11, no. 10, October, 1975....
which had a short and tragic lifespan, being involved in the death of its pilot, Paul Mantz
Paul Mantz
Albert Paul Mantz was a noted air racing pilot, movie stunt pilot and consultant from the late 1930s until his death in the mid-1960s. He gained fame on two stages: Hollywood and in air races.-Early years:...
.
Timm died on June 29, 1978.
External links
- Two Motor Transport Has Safe Landing Gear, May 1938, Popular Mechanics rare photo of Timm T-S140 twin engine transport