It's very interesting to finally see this video. I've been a loyal fan of the Granville Brothers since I was a very little child. It was the aerial photographs of this crash site that rivited my attention. I've heard all of the theory's about why this crash happened and my very first reaction after seeing this video is it was caused by a g-force induced stress failure. The short quick DOWN then UP right before the wing comes off. Maybe the pilots reaction to the cap? A fatal reaction?
@az308gts the plane shook apart. it wasn't suited for the very high speeds it could reach and it shook apart. they did put in laminated 'bullet-proof' windscreens in future models, but they also modified the aerodynamics and airframe too.
I think if you watch the slo motion part of this film, it looks more like a flying wire snapped or an aileron suffered from flutter and the wing broke in half. The theory of the oil cap or gas cap coming off sounds ok until you realise that the cap would have been doing the same speed as the cockpit or just slightly slower. When this hit the windscreen it would have just gone down the side with hardly ant effect at all.
@bigdodgeaus well back in the day the glass wasn't laminated, and accounts of the crash verify the cap did go right thru the windscreen. but the reason for the crash was the plane wasn't suited for very high speeds and it went into an oscillation from turbulence at around 300 mph that shook it apart
The 1932 R-1 and its sister ship, the R-2, were the successors of the previous year's Thompson Trophy-winning Model Z. It was suspected by a few that the Model Z's crash during a speed run in December 1931 was due to an unexpected failure of the gasoline tank cap, which may have been ripped off of the fuel tank filler tube by the aerodynamic boundary layer of air immediately over the surface of the aircraft's fuselage, resulting in the now-airborne gas cap smashing into the pilot's face
@okmer333 Look Closely, bud, The right wing separates from the aircraft and the aircraft immediately rolls right (from the left wing still producing lift). Thats why is rolls violently as it goes into the ground. You can clearly see in the slow-mo shot the right wing is gone. It wasn't from a loose filler cap..
The 1932 R-1 and its sister ship, the R-2, were the successors of the previous year's Thompson Trophy-winning Model Z. It was suspected by a few that the Model Z's crash during a speed run in December 1931 was due to an unexpected failure of the gasoline tank cap, which may have been ripped off of the fuel tank filler tube by the aerodynamic boundary layer of air immediately over the surface of the aircraft's fuselage, resulting in the now-airborne gas cap smashing into the pilot's face.
Are you guys acatually aware of what piece of history in aviation you have posted? Thank you very kindly. Been looking for years to see that footage...thank you so much!
@71259mark Type "GeeBee" into the YouTube search to see one flying. The pilot in that video, Delmar Benjamin, had over 1,600 hours in that airplane. He retired it from air shows because of economic reasons. The plane is now on display in a museum.
1812-1814. Both by Pierre Berton. Good reading on historic Native and British /English relations. It might remove some of the sourness towards a lot of white (white in appearance anyhow) Canadian/ English people. Have a good day! Chad.
I have an RC plane that I had built with aileron control rods that were too light. At high speed they would flutter and I almost lost the plane. I have since replaced the rods with much heavier ones and now it is fine, but I can see how it could cause a loss of control, or as in this case, rip a wing off.
the reason this aircraft crashed was due to a wing malfunction correct? causing the aircraft to spin out of control. Btw, this isnt the way people want to go, but he died what he enjoyed doing and i fully respect the man.
Right around 2:52 (i.e. one of the earlier frames in that one second of video), you can see the right wing beginning to pitch upward relative to the fuselage and left wing, clearly indicating that part of right wing had become broken off from the fuselage. Had to be aileron flutter.
If you watch the video frame by frame, you’ll see it right around 2:52.
The Gee Bee Model Z was NEVER designed for 750 HP. The EXACT scale replica (not modified in any way) currently residing in Kermit Weeks' collection also exhibits aileron flutter which is why Kermit is now modifying it. His Eich and Kimball 'Z' reproduction only sports 450 HP.
The Benjamin/Wolf Gee Bee R2, also in Weeks' collection, is not modified IN ANY WAY (except better brakes) and is just as demanding to fly as the originals.
The Gee Bee racers were not "bad" aircraft, just unforgiving.
Seeing the pilot up close and personal before the crash makes the video even more sad. Horrifying was to die, thankfully it had to be painless and instantaneous. To see the right wing rip off like it did at that speed and altitude is brutal. Pilot was doomed, it was over in less than a second. I too heard Doolittle say this plane was a nightmare to fly. Says alot about his piloting skills to be the only pilot to ever fly this plane and live. Mr Bayles looks like he knew he was gonna die
The other irony about his crash is that it was his thrid pass. The first pass the plane did not break the record, the second it did, but the timers failed, the thrid he died.
The GeeBee was a plane that seemed to dare people to fly it. It had such a reputation that when Jimmy Doolittle took one on a trip he was told to file an accurate flight plan so that they would have an idea where to look for the wreckage.
Just proves how one moment in your day can change your whole life... Almost makes you wish you could go up to the guy at the beginning of the clip... take him aside and say... DUDE... NOT TODAY... as his ground crew wheeled his GeeBee back into the hanger
Wing flutter. Above 240 mph and the plane wasn't stable and prone to wing flutter that ripped the wing off. The two replica Gee Bee's flying today are have modifications to make them safe at high speed. See Fantsy of Flight for technical.
You can clearly see that all of a sudden the right wing snaps half way, folds upwards, making the airplane spin violently, sending the pilot into an uncontrollable spiral towards the ground. Also, I wonder why people wear parachutes in airplanes like this, since these racers fly close to the ground. Below 700 feet a parachute has little use, especially the type of parachutes in those days.
@telescopereplicator Probably the parachute is the piece of mind that would give a guy the courage to climb in like he did, just threw his leg up on into the cockpit. The Miles and Atwood Special is one instance, I do think Lee Miles would have jumped out after both wings , I read that he had the stick back till he hit the ground in Cleveland September 2, 1937
Lowell Bayles was the pilot of this aircraft. The accident happened on December 5th 1931, not 1933. It was a world speed record attempt after the installation of a more powerful P&W Wasp SR. Bayles just previously wone the Thompson Trophy race with it in the fall. Bob Hall the designer, also winning several races in it also. Cause of the crash was most likely oscillating flutter of the right aileron, magnifying into complete wing explosion in air before impact.
@jetwaco I had heard another possible cause of the crash was the fuel filler cap may have come loose and came through the canopy hitting Bayles and causing that sudden dip in the Gee Bee right before the wing seperation. Any plane with a wing spar built out of wood couldn't withstand the g-force of a sudden pull up at that speed.
@ferdorski I disagree witht he wing spar theory, the DeHaviland Mosquito had no problem pulling out of dives at over 5 g's and was pulling sometimes greater g forces turning at altitude (main spar made of wood). The Gee bee's were stressed to +9 G's so this acciden wast (as mentioned in other posts) due to aileron flutter (which was determined by wind tunnel tests to be quite high over 240mph, He was quoted saying it may in fact be able to hit 300 mph in level flight as modified
@barmtrail Yes, but a 2-blader is much more efficient than a four due to making less turbulence. Ideally you'd only have a single blade with a counterweight on the opposite side.
The Granville Bros. would most likely have been unsuccessful at winning a military contract due to the small, fragile airframe and dangerous flying characteristics. The Howard Hughes 'H-1' speed plane was turned down due to being a radial engined cantiveler monoplane - characteristics which the GeeBee shared.
I agree with you that the GB designs were too unstable for military use. They were, after all, built for speed. Not for maneuverability or carrying weapons. That, and the cockpit was small and the visibility from it was probably lousy. But your statements pertaining to the Hughes H-1 (and comparison to the GBZ) are inaccurate. The GBs were very short-coupled aircraft. H-1 wasn’t. Besides, there were plenty of radial-powered monoplanes used successfully in WW2.
@masmddds Yes, many radial engined planes were very successful in WWII; the Grumman F6F, P-47 Thunderbolt and Focke Wulf 190 cheif amongst them. Regardless, the reasons I mentioned were indeed among those given for the H-1 being turned down for military use. In essence, it was too ground breaking for the US military to consider its use.
So..........won-wone. I write and speak the proper true English Language. Not the American slang brought in by years of un-educated red neck hicks trying to communicate to one another on the porch drinking "shine" , playing the banjo, and groping their cousin/wife.
@jetwaco Well thank you for the education my fellow "neighbour" I was thrown off since I am NOT a white american but I am Native ... so our culture was raped by white folks anyway simmilar story up your way as well "Eh?"
@jetwaco Well thank you for the lesson my fellow "neighbour" well I was a bit thrown off since I am NOT a WHITE american , I am a Native AKA (1st nations like you have up there) , our culture was raped by white folks anyway, so once again thank you for educating this STUPID native Eh?
Well pulling out the race card will not work here bud. As I am part native. My mother`s side of the family was United Empire Loyalists, who lived in the States originally, but left obviously as they sided with the crown. My Grandfather fought in the revolutionary war with the British as a Butler`s Rangers. Moving to Niagara Falls (Canadian side) he had a son, and he married a native. Him, his son and brother then fought with the British in the war of 1812. Continued.......
@DoktorRick And you should read your history a tad bit more on which white folks in the past were the most ignorant, ruthless, and criminal towards Native Americans. The British for the most part were civil and fair to our culture. The Americans, ruthless and cruel. Some of my hero`s is Tecumseh, and his brother the Prophet. Another, Joeseph Brant (was educated in England),(Brantford/Brant-town, is just a stones throw from me, as well as Six Nations rez.). Another is John Norton.
@DoktorRick Why are they my hero`s? Because they fought against the Americans, with the British for equal rights and freedoms. They are also Native, like me. Norton, was half Scottish, like my fathers family. The British also wanted to abolish black slavery, as they knew then they were equal men to them. Ever heard of the underground rail road? Where did it lead? British Canada. Two books I wish you to read (get used on Amazon) The invasion of Canada 1812-1813, and Flames across the Border
Catastrophic structural failure of starboard wing...resulted in instant uncontrollable roll into the ground...he prob had no time to even know what happened....
Yes it was a great design but not stressed enough for the loads at the speeds they were trying to coax from it. The wing tip clearly folded in the video.
Thank you so much for posting this clip! Have been looking for it in excess of a year..thank you. Gee Bee's have always been a big fascination for me, and I have (and had) a few very large scale RC models of the various types..but the "Z" is actually more famous really than the R-1 or R-2....the only one that ever made them money was the two "Y"s they built which Lowell had a share in it . But look....Lowell.AND the mechanic who put the canopy on.....look at their faces..they knew its over!
what makes it more spine chilling is the sound of the music mate. not to mention there faces at 0:54-1:01 and 1:19.
Imagine your thoughts.
'Hey I'm the worlds fastest man of this morning and my bosses want me to go faster in a plane that is already bullshit scary and has a really nasty habit of killing pilots and almost every model of GeeBee has ended in a crash. You know what i really don't want to be here.
Apparently his body was located over 300ft away from the wreckage.
He probably died before reaching the ground from a broken neck just after the wing snapped. Many pilots during WWII died instantly this way as the torque produced by the aircraft's sudden spinning towards the missing wing was greater than the neck is capable of withholding without snapping. I don't think he saw the ground coming at him.
The gas cap flew off and went through the windshield and the airplane picthed up sharply making the wing brake off.you can see it in the slowmotion shot.
@gooseneck12 dont know how u could have seen a little gas cap come off in such bad film from so far away but man he didnt even have time to go ohhshut!
@zvent1 The Cap was external on the Gee Bee Z, it was changed on the Gee Bee R-1 and R-2 following this accident. At 0:27 you can clearly see it slightly behind the black paint on the upper fuselage. Wing flutter could have been the cause, however after the accident a couple of boys found Bayles broken goggles and the gas cap some distance from wreck.The Gee Bees were not deathtraps, almost all the accidents were caused by pilot error or modifications done without the Granville Brothers input.
@WarlordATF While I cannot completely agree with you, I will say that the Gee Bee was NOT a death trap. I have flown 2 rc scale replicas and while they do require a bit of skill (specifically rudder/aileron coupling and landing) they fly beautifully! I know that rc is not the same as the full scale 'real deal' , however, I think that a scaled down rc replica is as close to the real thing that I will ever get in my lifetime. Thank you for the reply, I will definitely research Bayles crash closer.
@zvent1 There are really 2 schools of thought on this accident. Kermit Weeks had testing done on his exact replica and it was shown to have flutter issues above 240 mph. The other is based on Zantford Granville's theory based on reviewing the film and the goggles and cap that was found. Sadly no one can really say who is right or even if it was a combination of both issues. In any event, it took a brave man to climb into these machines and push the limits. Lowell Bayles was a great pilot, R.I.P.
@gooseneck12 A fairly well discounted theory. The cap could not accelerate to any substantial velocity in that distance. As well, it would be in a boundary layer which is slower air still. I've had a fairly large piece of ice come off of the nose of an aircraft at 240-250mph and it only gathered enough energy to put a small crack in quarter inch thick perspex. The aircraft in the video suffers a catastrophic wing failure almost certainly caused by flutter.
It's very interesting to finally see this video. I've been a loyal fan of the Granville Brothers since I was a very little child. It was the aerial photographs of this crash site that rivited my attention. I've heard all of the theory's about why this crash happened and my very first reaction after seeing this video is it was caused by a g-force induced stress failure. The short quick DOWN then UP right before the wing comes off. Maybe the pilots reaction to the cap? A fatal reaction?
az308gts 2 weeks ago
@az308gts Very difficult to say at this resolution but I think I probably agree. First time I've seen this too.
Camerameister1 2 weeks ago
@az308gts the plane shook apart. it wasn't suited for the very high speeds it could reach and it shook apart. they did put in laminated 'bullet-proof' windscreens in future models, but they also modified the aerodynamics and airframe too.
demilieu 2 days ago
@az308gts turbulance from the high speeds it could reach caused the plane to oscillate and shake apart. the rad cap story is just that.
demilieu 2 days ago
"Whattaya say we try for a cantalever wing,boys?".
Bellerspitts 4 weeks ago
I think if you watch the slo motion part of this film, it looks more like a flying wire snapped or an aileron suffered from flutter and the wing broke in half. The theory of the oil cap or gas cap coming off sounds ok until you realise that the cap would have been doing the same speed as the cockpit or just slightly slower. When this hit the windscreen it would have just gone down the side with hardly ant effect at all.
bigdodgeaus 1 month ago 2
@bigdodgeaus well back in the day the glass wasn't laminated, and accounts of the crash verify the cap did go right thru the windscreen. but the reason for the crash was the plane wasn't suited for very high speeds and it went into an oscillation from turbulence at around 300 mph that shook it apart
demilieu 2 days ago
@syntaur yes but most people aren't flying at 300mph everyday. . thats a pretty specific moment.
mvenshnop 2 months ago
was this at Cleveland Hopkins?
Phantomrig 3 months ago
thanks for the clip
fastone942 5 months ago in playlist Air crash
The 1932 R-1 and its sister ship, the R-2, were the successors of the previous year's Thompson Trophy-winning Model Z. It was suspected by a few that the Model Z's crash during a speed run in December 1931 was due to an unexpected failure of the gasoline tank cap, which may have been ripped off of the fuel tank filler tube by the aerodynamic boundary layer of air immediately over the surface of the aircraft's fuselage, resulting in the now-airborne gas cap smashing into the pilot's face
okmer333 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@okmer333 Look Closely, bud, The right wing separates from the aircraft and the aircraft immediately rolls right (from the left wing still producing lift). Thats why is rolls violently as it goes into the ground. You can clearly see in the slow-mo shot the right wing is gone. It wasn't from a loose filler cap..
26Invader 2 months ago
The 1932 R-1 and its sister ship, the R-2, were the successors of the previous year's Thompson Trophy-winning Model Z. It was suspected by a few that the Model Z's crash during a speed run in December 1931 was due to an unexpected failure of the gasoline tank cap, which may have been ripped off of the fuel tank filler tube by the aerodynamic boundary layer of air immediately over the surface of the aircraft's fuselage, resulting in the now-airborne gas cap smashing into the pilot's face.
okmer333 6 months ago
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26Invader 2 months ago
Are you guys acatually aware of what piece of history in aviation you have posted? Thank you very kindly. Been looking for years to see that footage...thank you so much!
MrMazz1970 7 months ago
goodnight
zackdevan 7 months ago
He died doing what he loved. *bows head in prayer*
megaflyer99 8 months ago
It would seem that the words, Bee Gee & Crash are synonymous with one another.
71259mark 8 months ago
@71259mark Type "GeeBee" into the YouTube search to see one flying. The pilot in that video, Delmar Benjamin, had over 1,600 hours in that airplane. He retired it from air shows because of economic reasons. The plane is now on display in a museum.
JGMagoo 7 months ago
1812-1814. Both by Pierre Berton. Good reading on historic Native and British /English relations. It might remove some of the sourness towards a lot of white (white in appearance anyhow) Canadian/ English people. Have a good day! Chad.
jetwaco 8 months ago
In memoriam to Great Pilot! R.I.P. Mr. Bayles
jegr27 8 months ago
What would be the appropriate emergency maneuvers if oyu find yourself in a cigarette roll. Conditions 8000 ft,700mph descent, all systems down?
MrElgeneralisimo 8 months ago
Rest In Peace fellow aviator.
MrElgeneralisimo 8 months ago
@militaryvideocom
what's the name of this song sir?
MaadAzzGang 9 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
type in "ski crashes" in the youtube search and click the video with stars in the title to be shocked!
katelenito 9 months ago 82
I have an RC plane that I had built with aileron control rods that were too light. At high speed they would flutter and I almost lost the plane. I have since replaced the rods with much heavier ones and now it is fine, but I can see how it could cause a loss of control, or as in this case, rip a wing off.
Vbluguitar 9 months ago
the reason this aircraft crashed was due to a wing malfunction correct? causing the aircraft to spin out of control. Btw, this isnt the way people want to go, but he died what he enjoyed doing and i fully respect the man.
Dylan409137 9 months ago
Wow, what a crash! :/
Can anyone tell me this song's name?
McFlyGaby 10 months ago
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dizzypilots1 10 months ago
:;( R.I.P. :(
gtaLOQUENDOgta 10 months ago
Потрясающее видео.
Похоже, Лоуэлл Байлес знал, что ему не удастся переиграть смерть...
И всё же, он полез в самолёт...
Настоящий герой, что бы там ни говорили!
Homa526 11 months ago
What’s with the music and sound effects?
The sound of the plane crashing sounds more like an automobile accident. Are these sound effects that you added in to the video?
masmddds 11 months ago
Right around 2:52 (i.e. one of the earlier frames in that one second of video), you can see the right wing beginning to pitch upward relative to the fuselage and left wing, clearly indicating that part of right wing had become broken off from the fuselage. Had to be aileron flutter.
If you watch the video frame by frame, you’ll see it right around 2:52.
masmddds 11 months ago
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dizzypilots1 1 year ago
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dizzypilots1 1 year ago
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dizzypilots1 1 year ago
The Gee Bee Model Z was NEVER designed for 750 HP. The EXACT scale replica (not modified in any way) currently residing in Kermit Weeks' collection also exhibits aileron flutter which is why Kermit is now modifying it. His Eich and Kimball 'Z' reproduction only sports 450 HP.
The Benjamin/Wolf Gee Bee R2, also in Weeks' collection, is not modified IN ANY WAY (except better brakes) and is just as demanding to fly as the originals.
The Gee Bee racers were not "bad" aircraft, just unforgiving.
RichardGee9 1 year ago
Seeing the pilot up close and personal before the crash makes the video even more sad. Horrifying was to die, thankfully it had to be painless and instantaneous. To see the right wing rip off like it did at that speed and altitude is brutal. Pilot was doomed, it was over in less than a second. I too heard Doolittle say this plane was a nightmare to fly. Says alot about his piloting skills to be the only pilot to ever fly this plane and live. Mr Bayles looks like he knew he was gonna die
Tampaslice 1 year ago
@Tampaslice doolittle never went as fast as bayles.
dizzypilots1 1 year ago
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dizzypilots1 1 year ago
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dizzypilots1 1 year ago
Jimmy Doolittle said that the Gee Bee R1 was the most dangerous aircraft he ever flew.............that film is just god awful :-(
Yes, as short coupled as it was, with the high speeds, flutter separation makes sense
Zumbawithcindy 1 year ago
The other irony about his crash is that it was his thrid pass. The first pass the plane did not break the record, the second it did, but the timers failed, the thrid he died.
Ikonta 1 year ago
gee bee is best chois for kamikaze
lmaodzen 1 year ago
best chois for kamikaze
lmaodzen 1 year ago
Gee bee = Death plane, i say it in every plane and it's true.
wildbings 1 year ago
Tell me the music name please
MIASOrub 1 year ago
Highly unstable and poorly designed deathtrap
MrStevilKneivel 1 year ago
The GeeBee was a plane that seemed to dare people to fly it. It had such a reputation that when Jimmy Doolittle took one on a trip he was told to file an accurate flight plan so that they would have an idea where to look for the wreckage.
49bobbyk 1 year ago
@stunmunky Words to live by.
crazy4sian 1 year ago
@stunmunky im glad i cant understand it, if u freaks like this i dont want to know why
cargecko007 1 year ago
Just proves how one moment in your day can change your whole life... Almost makes you wish you could go up to the guy at the beginning of the clip... take him aside and say... DUDE... NOT TODAY... as his ground crew wheeled his GeeBee back into the hanger
syntaur 1 year ago 2
just how the fuck can you "like" something like this... u people make me sick
cargecko007 1 year ago
This plane looks so much smaller than other Gee Bee's.
peckerwood57 1 year ago
the wings are small and so thin. you have to be going really fast to get any lift
deemilieu 1 year ago
Wing flutter. Above 240 mph and the plane wasn't stable and prone to wing flutter that ripped the wing off. The two replica Gee Bee's flying today are have modifications to make them safe at high speed. See Fantsy of Flight for technical.
deemilieu 1 year ago
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deemilieu 1 year ago
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deemilieu 1 year ago
Rest in Peace Mr. Bayles. We owe you and every other pilot of your era who pushed--and stretched--the envelope an incalculable debt of gratitude.
Sheboggie1 1 year ago
I believe that is called... screwing the pooch... or becoming a smoking hole in the ground
syntaur 1 year ago
Gee Bee's are EXTREMELY hard to fly
grandtheftautowwe 1 year ago
You can clearly see that all of a sudden the right wing snaps half way, folds upwards, making the airplane spin violently, sending the pilot into an uncontrollable spiral towards the ground. Also, I wonder why people wear parachutes in airplanes like this, since these racers fly close to the ground. Below 700 feet a parachute has little use, especially the type of parachutes in those days.
telescopereplicator 1 year ago
@telescopereplicator Probably the parachute is the piece of mind that would give a guy the courage to climb in like he did, just threw his leg up on into the cockpit. The Miles and Atwood Special is one instance, I do think Lee Miles would have jumped out after both wings , I read that he had the stick back till he hit the ground in Cleveland September 2, 1937
ushouldntjudgeme 1 year ago
Lowell Bayles was the pilot of this aircraft. The accident happened on December 5th 1931, not 1933. It was a world speed record attempt after the installation of a more powerful P&W Wasp SR. Bayles just previously wone the Thompson Trophy race with it in the fall. Bob Hall the designer, also winning several races in it also. Cause of the crash was most likely oscillating flutter of the right aileron, magnifying into complete wing explosion in air before impact.
jetwaco 1 year ago 10
@jetwaco You're correct and we've changed the information. Thank you!
militaryvideocom 1 year ago
@jetwaco I had heard another possible cause of the crash was the fuel filler cap may have come loose and came through the canopy hitting Bayles and causing that sudden dip in the Gee Bee right before the wing seperation. Any plane with a wing spar built out of wood couldn't withstand the g-force of a sudden pull up at that speed.
ferdorski 1 year ago
@ferdorski I disagree witht he wing spar theory, the DeHaviland Mosquito had no problem pulling out of dives at over 5 g's and was pulling sometimes greater g forces turning at altitude (main spar made of wood). The Gee bee's were stressed to +9 G's so this acciden wast (as mentioned in other posts) due to aileron flutter (which was determined by wind tunnel tests to be quite high over 240mph, He was quoted saying it may in fact be able to hit 300 mph in level flight as modified
usmctanks1 1 year ago
@jetwaco Could this aircrafts engine operate with a 4 blade prop?
Do you think this aircraft with 50 cal. weapons could out fly am AM6 zero?
barmtrail 10 months ago
@barmtrail Yes, but a 2-blader is much more efficient than a four due to making less turbulence. Ideally you'd only have a single blade with a counterweight on the opposite side.
The Granville Bros. would most likely have been unsuccessful at winning a military contract due to the small, fragile airframe and dangerous flying characteristics. The Howard Hughes 'H-1' speed plane was turned down due to being a radial engined cantiveler monoplane - characteristics which the GeeBee shared.
boingkster 10 months ago
@boingkster
I agree with you that the GB designs were too unstable for military use. They were, after all, built for speed. Not for maneuverability or carrying weapons. That, and the cockpit was small and the visibility from it was probably lousy. But your statements pertaining to the Hughes H-1 (and comparison to the GBZ) are inaccurate. The GBs were very short-coupled aircraft. H-1 wasn’t. Besides, there were plenty of radial-powered monoplanes used successfully in WW2.
masmddds 3 months ago
@masmddds Yes, many radial engined planes were very successful in WWII; the Grumman F6F, P-47 Thunderbolt and Focke Wulf 190 cheif amongst them. Regardless, the reasons I mentioned were indeed among those given for the H-1 being turned down for military use. In essence, it was too ground breaking for the US military to consider its use.
boingkster 3 months ago
@jetwaco You are correct EXCEPT the spelling of WON .... (wone?)
DoktorRick 8 months ago
@DoktorRick
In Canada we speak and spell the proper Queens English.
Example: color-colour, favorite-favourite, airplane-aeroplane, caliber-calibre ect ect.
So..........won-wone. I write and speak the proper true English Language. Not the American slang brought in by years of un-educated red neck hicks trying to communicate to one another on the porch drinking "shine" , playing the banjo, and groping their cousin/wife.
jetwaco 8 months ago
@jetwaco Well thank you for the education my fellow "neighbour" I was thrown off since I am NOT a white american but I am Native ... so our culture was raped by white folks anyway simmilar story up your way as well "Eh?"
DoktorRick 8 months ago
@jetwaco Well thank you for the lesson my fellow "neighbour" well I was a bit thrown off since I am NOT a WHITE american , I am a Native AKA (1st nations like you have up there) , our culture was raped by white folks anyway, so once again thank you for educating this STUPID native Eh?
DoktorRick 8 months ago
@DoktorRick
Well pulling out the race card will not work here bud. As I am part native. My mother`s side of the family was United Empire Loyalists, who lived in the States originally, but left obviously as they sided with the crown. My Grandfather fought in the revolutionary war with the British as a Butler`s Rangers. Moving to Niagara Falls (Canadian side) he had a son, and he married a native. Him, his son and brother then fought with the British in the war of 1812. Continued.......
jetwaco 8 months ago
@DoktorRick And you should read your history a tad bit more on which white folks in the past were the most ignorant, ruthless, and criminal towards Native Americans. The British for the most part were civil and fair to our culture. The Americans, ruthless and cruel. Some of my hero`s is Tecumseh, and his brother the Prophet. Another, Joeseph Brant (was educated in England),(Brantford/Brant-town, is just a stones throw from me, as well as Six Nations rez.). Another is John Norton.
jetwaco 8 months ago
@DoktorRick Why are they my hero`s? Because they fought against the Americans, with the British for equal rights and freedoms. They are also Native, like me. Norton, was half Scottish, like my fathers family. The British also wanted to abolish black slavery, as they knew then they were equal men to them. Ever heard of the underground rail road? Where did it lead? British Canada. Two books I wish you to read (get used on Amazon) The invasion of Canada 1812-1813, and Flames across the Border
jetwaco 8 months ago
@jetwaco & DoktorRick This online love fest of bigots has got to end. You two should get a room.
Sundogjeep 7 months ago
I think maybe a piece broke off a wing. That's why it was spinning like that.
brnleague99 1 year ago
holy shit
Lior2850 1 year ago
RIP, those Gee Bee's were a handful.
Croozer 1 year ago 2
My grandpa is building a gee bee r1 and it will be the only one thats flying and yess he willl be flying it.
His name is harold forth check him out at
conn3r12 1 year ago
Catastrophic structural failure of starboard wing...resulted in instant uncontrollable roll into the ground...he prob had no time to even know what happened....
FSXISCOOL 1 year ago
Yes it was a great design but not stressed enough for the loads at the speeds they were trying to coax from it. The wing tip clearly folded in the video.
choofish 1 year ago
Yes i also heard that the gas cap came off and was under the impression that it was the last thing going throught his mind... literally.
rcflierrc 2 years ago
My father always spoke of the Gee Bee.......he was born in1926. Man breaking speed records....so noble !
nitrofumes 2 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this clip! Have been looking for it in excess of a year..thank you. Gee Bee's have always been a big fascination for me, and I have (and had) a few very large scale RC models of the various types..but the "Z" is actually more famous really than the R-1 or R-2....the only one that ever made them money was the two "Y"s they built which Lowell had a share in it . But look....Lowell.AND the mechanic who put the canopy on.....look at their faces..they knew its over!
malcolm19701970 2 years ago
what makes it more spine chilling is the sound of the music mate. not to mention there faces at 0:54-1:01 and 1:19.
Imagine your thoughts.
'Hey I'm the worlds fastest man of this morning and my bosses want me to go faster in a plane that is already bullshit scary and has a really nasty habit of killing pilots and almost every model of GeeBee has ended in a crash. You know what i really don't want to be here.
Apparently his body was located over 300ft away from the wreckage.
tommo2785 2 years ago
He probably died before reaching the ground from a broken neck just after the wing snapped. Many pilots during WWII died instantly this way as the torque produced by the aircraft's sudden spinning towards the missing wing was greater than the neck is capable of withholding without snapping. I don't think he saw the ground coming at him.
thecirrusman 2 years ago
Well, i guess that this plane just couldnt
take speeds over 300 mph becauce the wings started to wobble at 270. Do your homework huh?
cumminski 2 years ago
Wow, did that thing come apart...
foodstick 2 years ago
The gas cap flew off and went through the windshield and the airplane picthed up sharply making the wing brake off.you can see it in the slowmotion shot.
gooseneck12 2 years ago 3
Yeah.. I bet he lost control and got hit by the gas cap.
WakeUpDummies 2 years ago
@gooseneck12
It's subtle, but you get a flash view of the underside of the wings right before the breakage.
gcrav 1 year ago
@gooseneck12 dont know how u could have seen a little gas cap come off in such bad film from so far away but man he didnt even have time to go ohhshut!
strongbad73 1 year ago
@gooseneck12 Not possible, the gas cap on that plane was internal.
zvent1 1 year ago
@zvent1 The Cap was external on the Gee Bee Z, it was changed on the Gee Bee R-1 and R-2 following this accident. At 0:27 you can clearly see it slightly behind the black paint on the upper fuselage. Wing flutter could have been the cause, however after the accident a couple of boys found Bayles broken goggles and the gas cap some distance from wreck.The Gee Bees were not deathtraps, almost all the accidents were caused by pilot error or modifications done without the Granville Brothers input.
WarlordATF 1 year ago
@WarlordATF While I cannot completely agree with you, I will say that the Gee Bee was NOT a death trap. I have flown 2 rc scale replicas and while they do require a bit of skill (specifically rudder/aileron coupling and landing) they fly beautifully! I know that rc is not the same as the full scale 'real deal' , however, I think that a scaled down rc replica is as close to the real thing that I will ever get in my lifetime. Thank you for the reply, I will definitely research Bayles crash closer.
zvent1 1 year ago
@zvent1 There are really 2 schools of thought on this accident. Kermit Weeks had testing done on his exact replica and it was shown to have flutter issues above 240 mph. The other is based on Zantford Granville's theory based on reviewing the film and the goggles and cap that was found. Sadly no one can really say who is right or even if it was a combination of both issues. In any event, it took a brave man to climb into these machines and push the limits. Lowell Bayles was a great pilot, R.I.P.
WarlordATF 1 year ago
@gooseneck12 A fairly well discounted theory. The cap could not accelerate to any substantial velocity in that distance. As well, it would be in a boundary layer which is slower air still. I've had a fairly large piece of ice come off of the nose of an aircraft at 240-250mph and it only gathered enough energy to put a small crack in quarter inch thick perspex. The aircraft in the video suffers a catastrophic wing failure almost certainly caused by flutter.
schlusselmensch 11 months ago
@gooseneck12 It looked to me like both wings at the leading edge folded upward. I did not see a gas cap fly off.
barmtrail 10 months ago
i thought he was trying some showy spinning maneuver but did teh wing come off?
walkerredeye 2 years ago
Yes, "teh" wing did come off.
Xardueth 2 years ago
Died doing what he enjoyed the most. RIP Mr. Bayles.
silvereagle2061 2 years ago 15
I wish I can go out like that
AlfieWilRus 2 years ago
the clip would be so much better without this boring music
roisoleil100 2 years ago
@silvereagle2061
I hate when people say that... :S I wanna die in my sleep and live while I'm doing what I love the most.
texNoz 1 year ago