Shoestrings to the Stars
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Outside, it was just daylight -- a fresh and cool September morning. It promised to be an ideal day for the Thompson Trophy Race. But behind the closed doors of the Laird factory at Chicago's Ashburn Field a weary crew worked under bright floodlights, unaware of the sun and the morning-sounds; oblivious to all except the sleek-winged machine that had drained each man's energies and skills. They worked silently, desperately, for Time was their enemy. The Thompson, air racing's greatest event, was scheduled for 4:30 that afternoon, and the Laird LC-DW300 was still unfinished, its thin, graceful wings as yet untried. On a cot in the corner, Matty's slender figure stirred, awakened by a mechanic's soft curse. He swung his feet to the floor, checked his watch, then arose stiffly and went to the workbench where he poured a cup of steaming black coffee. One of the men laboring on the black-and-gold racer saw that he was awake. 'Hey, Matty, you wanna give me a hand here?' 'Sure.' Matty put down his coffee cup and took the proffered wrench. Not many companies were headed by men that could be so addressed by a worker. However, few other bosses could have asked for and received the around-the-clock effort Laird employees had given during the preceding three weeks. Three weeks. The LC-DW300 had been designed and built in that incredibly short space of time. And during those twenty-one days, not a man had left the plant for more than an hour. No one punched the time clock. Wives brought meals and served them atop toolboxes and each man worked until exhaustion claimed him or until Matty asked him to rest. Then, after a few hours sleep on a cot just beyond the work area, he would return to the barrel-chested racer that was slowly taking shape under the cluster of lights. Of course there were other, more direct reasons for the men's dedication. They were fond of their boss and had boundless respect for his design ability. True, Matty was but thirty-five years old, but in 1930 the air frontier was largely unexplored, and its pioneers were still young. Most important were the times. The country was in the midst of the worst economic depression in history, and many aircraft manufacturers had already disappeared. Those companies that survived were naturally in resolved competition to remain. These circumstances had driven Matty to accept negotiations from Lee Shoenhair when he requested that the Laird firm design a racing ship for the Thompson Race at the National Air Races to be held that year in Chicago, and the races were a scant four weeks away. This was the cause of the hectic activity at the plant. Lee was a well-known and experienced racing pilot and also head of the Goodrich Rubber Company's Aviation Division. For Matty, it was mandatory that he seize upon this opportunity in an effort to remain solvent within the aircraft industry. Shoenhair, a Californian who had learned to fly in the Army, had placed second in the Los Angeles-Cleveland race the year before while flying the Goodrich Company's Lockheed Vega. He went on to establish other speed records in cross-country and closed-course races. So Lee was well qualified to race in the featured event in the 1930 races. When he and Matty shook hands on their forthcoming enterprise, Shoenhair agreed to scrounge an engine, propeller, wheels and instruments, while Matty concentrated on the airframe. He gave Matty a check for $275 dollars and signed an order in the name of B. F. Goodrich Rubber Company for the balance of $4,745. Within a few days, a new Wasp Junior engine was received on loan from Pratt & Whitney, and the prop, wheels and gauges quickly followed as donation from the Hamilton Company, Goodrich, and Pioneer Instrument Company. All manufacturing companies were eager to expose their wares to the public in these financially stressed times. And the National Air Races provided the perfect forum considering the feverish public interest in flight; and given the downcast spirit of the times, the air races attracted astonishing crowds. The crowds that were soon to gather at the Curtiss-Reynolds Airport for the final day of racing. Shortly before noon on this day, Matty was forced to leave final painting and rigging of the racer to his exhausted crew while he raced across town to the Curtiss-Reynolds Airport to officially enter the LC-DW300 in the main event. He thought this entry procedure would take only a short time; but regretfully found that it took too much time and would prevent him from returning to Ashburn Field to test the new racer. But at long last and with Shoenhair's help, the paperwork for the Laird racer was finally added to the official list of Thompson Trophy hopefuls. Neither Matty nor Lee saw fit to mention that their entry had not been flight- tested. By this time, it was mid-afternoon and Shoenhair called back to the factory for a progress report. He talked with Harold Laird who said that the airplane was assembled and could be flown, although it lacked its final coats of paint. Harold added that 'Speed' Holman, who had placed second in his Laird behind a Travel Air in an earlier race that day was there and had offered to test the racer. Shoenhair relayed this information to Matty. "Speed's had plenty of experience in Laird planes. It's okay with me if it is with you. It sure would save us some time.' Matty agreed. 'Tell Speed to go ahead, Harold,' Lee said. 'Then have him bring the ship over here pronto!' 'How about the rest of the paint?' Harold asked. 'Forget it. Just slap on our racing number, it's seventy-seven, and get that thing over here.' Harold scrounged a small lettering brush that boasted only a few bristles and hastily slapped the racing number '77' on the side of the racer and P & W Wasp on the engine cowl to signify the identity of the engine. Matty checked his watch again as Shoenhair hung up. 'Lee, I'm afraid you're not going to have time to familiarize yourself with the plane before the race, even if Holman gets it here by then.'
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Do you have a dream? A goal? A burning desire to accomplish something? If you don't-then find one.
This is a story about a teenage boy who dared to challenge overwhelming odds to accomplish a dream that most people scoffed at. It is the story of a young man whose determination and dedication put him in the history books. However, most history reference resources record that aviation industry in Wichita, Kansas, began with Walter H. Beech and Lloyd Stearman. It's true that they developed the industry into the giant it became, but my story is one of the young man who actually began the first commercial aircraft manufacturing company in Wichita and the country for that matter. And whose airplane designs interested Walter Beech and Lloyd Stearman enough for them to want to become his employees. This is a story that brings to life the scenes from a young man's existence in a world on the threshold of entering a new age--the Age of Aviation.
Matty Laird's life story is a reading adventure that encompasses the very early days when aviation was only an infant, to the Golden Age of Air Racing when his planes shattered speed records, to the present day when man is on the verge of setting foot on Mars. It is a story that will touch the hearts of aviation enthusiasts and historians alike, of young adults who are in search of a hero to emulate, and all those who look for inspiration to face life's challenges, tragedies and triumphs.
About the Author
During my childhood, I was fascinated by the stories told to me by my father, grandmother about the early days of aviation when it was a struggling infant and the times were austere but the population was resourceful. Hearing these tales, I developed a desire to recapture those nostalgic times when the 'turn of the Century' spirit was in the air along with the enchanting melodies of Victor Herbert and when the clatter of horses' hooves mingled with the chug of Model-A and the sputter of the new and frail aeroplane engines. Writing the life story of my father has enabled me to relive those times and to realize the challenges, successes, as well as the failure that they experienced in order to build an industry and shape their own lives.
My father had been urged to write his biography by many of his friends and family. In April of 1978, I began writing some preliminary chapters and subsequently, Dad and I started working together and continued working until his death in 1982. Our desire was to bring the times to life once again, emphasizing the human interest incidents as well as presenting factual, historical, and accurate material.
It is my intention to portray to the reader the spirit of these young men who were bent on success in spite of overwhelming odds such as lack of formal education, lack of means and material; but possessing a wealth of determination, ingenuity and perseverance. Through this portrayal, I hope to pass along to present and future generations understanding and insight into this kind of spirit and to illustrate to them the importance of this legacy of hope.