T. (for Tubal) Claude Ryan was born January 3, 1898 at Parsons, KS and died September 11, 1982. His name is most closely linked to the Ryan NYP NX-211, the "Spirit of St. Louis" flown by Charles Lindbergh from New York to Paris in May 1927. Fair enough, as this was a one-of-a-kind machine designed specifically for that flight, and it did exactly the job it was designed to do.

However, Ryan contributed mostly his name to the New York to Paris endeavor. Needing capital, Ryan had become partners with Benjamin Franklin Mahoney in April 1925. He was only marginally involved financially in the company that manufactured the New York to Paris aircraft, having sold his interest in the company to Mahoney in 1926 (but he stayed on to manage the company).

Please refer to the links at left for more information. The "Spirit of St. Louis" was just the beginning of an illustrious career in aerospace. He became a Member of the International Aerospace Hall of Fame, 1965. The link has an image of him at that time.

Ryan landed at Tucson twice, on September 13, 1927 (flying a Waco 10, NC1444) and September 4, 1929 (flying a Great Lakes 825K). These flights seemed to be ferry flights of new aircraft. During his 1927 visit he was inspected by the U.S. Border Patrol. There is no reason given for the inspection.

As you might imagine, the San Diego Aerospace Museum retains many artifacts of Ryan's aviation life. Below, some views of one of his earliest pilot log books. We see his signature and the tattered binding of this first log begun when he was in the military and first learned to fly.

T.C. Ryan, Pilot Log, 1920 (Source: SDAM)

Below, just inside the log, his flight training began at March Field on November 1, 1920. Training officer Peabody is not a Register pilot.

T.C. Ryan, Pilot Log, 1920 (Source: SDAM)

Below, the physical specifics of T.C. Ryan at the beginning of his flying career. He was a resident of Orange, CA, 22 years old, 5' 8" tall, brown hair and eyes, and single. His commanding officer, B.K. Yount, is not a Register pilot.

T.C. Ryan, Pilot Log, November 1, 1920- March 25, 1921 (Source: SDAM)

Below, his Pilot's School "report card" of March 25, 1921. He scored relatively high.

T.C. Ryan Flight School "Report Card", March 25, 1921 (Source: SDAM)

Below, a page from his log that covers November, 1920 to February, 1921. Register pilot Ned Schramm was Ryan's first flight instructor. Joe Baugher's site identifies the cited airplanes (44-906, et. seq.) as Curtiss model JN-6HG-1. From the looks of his log, Ryan solo'd with very few flight hours.

T.C. Ryan, Pilot Log, November, 1920- February, 1921 (Source: SDAM)

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I conclude with this fanciful cartoon map of San Diego Bay, which shows highlights of the area in 1937:

Notice the Ryan School of Aeronautics at center, with the birthplace of the "Spirit of St. Louis" signified with an arrow. You can see the Camp Kearney dirigible base, and even the "paved highways from Los Angeles and Hollywood." The "Radio Station" labeled at top center is the Chollas Heights transmitter/receiver array.

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Dossier 2.1.28

THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 01/23/06 REVISED: 11/18/08, 02/17/09