Gee Bees R1 and R2

Another tribute to the designers, builders, and intrepid pilots of the most amazing aircraft ever to burn up the skies.

[@finntastique3891]

When Jimmy Doolittle says it's dangerous, you better believe it!

[@ZeteticPlato]

You got that right

[@bruceday8464]

I've always loved the "bumblebee" Gee Bee racers. I remember seeing an interview with Jimmy Doolittle toward the end of his life when a reporter asked him how he flew the Gee Bee racer and he said, "VERY carefully!"

[@MrSuzuki1187]

The Bee Gee was an engine nacelle with wings.

[@gunshipgray4295]

I knew Jimmy Doolittle….he was memorable…and a real hero…a true American 🇺🇸.

[@rogerb5615]

There were two pre-WW2 Russian single seaters called the "Rata" and the "Super Rata" which appear to be copies of the GeeBees, but with machine guns mounted. The full name of the Rata is the Polikarpov I-16.

[@patrickstewart3446]

I wouldn’t say they were copies as much as they had the same design philosophy: the most powerful engine in the smallest possible airframe. Ironically, the I-16 was probably much safer to fly. 😁

[@vincentlefebvre9255]

@@patrickstewart3446 One is flying in New Zealand.

[@joseantoniomarinjimenez-ri4927]

Polikarpov I.16 "Rata" flew in the Spanish Civil War under communist flag. Only skilled hands flying the aged material of the nationalist army could stay in front of the "Ratas".

[@patrickshaw8595]

@@joseantoniomarinjimenez-ri4927 Enter Der Luftwaffe !

[@Simonize41]

I love the use of the music from ‘The Rocketeer’ in this video, which as you’ll all know the GB Racer was featured in that movie. One of my all time favorites.

[@guitarcleveland]

That background music from 'The Rocketeer' is one of the greatest movie scores of all time.

[@VictoryAviation]

Definitely my favorite movie of all time, and James Horner did a bang up job!

[@guitarcleveland]

@@VictoryAviation Absolutely

[@VictoryAviation]

@Ivana Notyers We have… that’s why we made the comments about it 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@guitarcleveland]

@Ivana Notyers Mind your own business, loser

[@calsurflance5598]

Gen. Jimmy Doolittle’s son , Col. John Doolittle was a personal friend, and attended my retirement ceremony from the US Air Force. He told me when his Dad set the speed record in the Gee Bee, how many cameras were turned toward he, his brother and Mother. When it was asked why the cameras focused on them and not the plane, the response was “We wanted to capture your expression when your father crashes.” John was 10 or 11 at that time. Jimmy retired from racing after and because of this event. John told me “That is the day I lost my respect for the media”. I believe this account is mentioned in Doolittle’s autobiography, however John told me this while looking over his Dad’s memorabilia in there home in Carmel. Sadly John, a retired B-52 pilot is now gone as well.

[@flagman515]

Thank you for your post. I saw Delmar Benjamin fly his at an airshow in Winston-Salem, NC in the '90's. What an impressive aircraft! Four point rolls and inverted flight demonstration will give you chills!!

[@cw6795]

Proof that with enough power, anything will fly.

[@wolfshanze5980]

2:00 as a major WWII historian... I just have to interject here... while they were short on fuel due to an early takeoff, you stated "they were never going to make it back to the carrier"... well, they were NEVER INTENDED TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE CARRIER... you can't land a B-25 on a carrier... the original plan was to take off from the carrier, bomb Tokyo, and fly on and land at friendly Chinese fields away from Japanese lines in China... due to the early takeoff, they knew they probably wouldn't even make those friendly Chinese fields... so ya, your overall point is correct, it was basically a suicide mission, but I just had to interject, they were never intended to make it back to the carriers, full fuel or not.

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

it occurred after the bombing of Pearl Harbour & the mission was to show the Japanese that they could be bombed, even if it was a largely ineffectual raid, not causing a lot of damage.

[@muir8009]

what was suicidal about it? there was perfect validity in landing in China as the stray B29's demonstrated. high risk yes, but suicidal?

[@wolfshanze5980]

@@muir8009 B-29s? I think you're VERY confused... the B-29 didn't exist when Doolittle did his raid.

[@muir8009]

@@wolfshanze5980 yeah of course. It was more to demonstrate the principle of concept. Exactly like Doolittles raid, no damage but the principle is valid, same as landing in China or wherever :)

[@wolfshanze5980]

@@muir8009 he stated "suicidal" about the Doolittle raid, because when they launched it was suicidal. The PLAN was to take off from the Hornet, bomb Tokyo, and yes, land at friendly Chinese fields... that was the plan. The plan got ruined when the fleet got spotted by a Japanese fishing boat long before the scheduled take off time. Fearing the fleet was compromised, they launched far from Japan. Doolittle's B-25s now did not have enough fuel to make any of the planned airfields in China, so they would have to bail out over enemy territory which is what happened. So, YES it was basically a suicidal (or at the very least, highly dangerous) mission, because the plan got ruined before they started. I only mentioned the video was a tad off talking about returning to the carrier, because that was never the plan.

[@Kevin_747]

Nice video. I love all the race planes from that era. Mr. Mulligan will forever be my personal favorite. I spent a lot of time with Harold Neumann as we shared a hangar together. He loved to talk about air racing.

[@daniellavoie5357]

Who is Harold Neumann? Where hangard

[@Kevin_747]

@@daniellavoie5357 Are you a follower of 1930's era air racing? Google Mr.Mulligan or Benny Howard's Ike & Mike.

[@javis9950]

Wow… best documentary I’ve watched in forever.. well said

[@RichardGee9]

THANK YOU

[@rcair123]

I have a few RC versions of these that I fly, they are a handful but they are just wonderful.

[@moss8448]

1st model plane I ever built was a GeeBee have loved planes ever since an we're talking late `50's then it was crystal radio's then girls and I'm old.

[@georgealexander8661]

Met one of the Granville brothers at Old Rhinebeck and he was a GRAND gentleman!!

[@SSmith-fm9kg]

James Horner's "Rocketeer" music, love it. The original design of the R-1 had a rudder just as tall as the cockpit canopy. Awesome design, but terribly unstable.

[@onetoughcreampuff]

Every year, I hang two Gee Bee R2 ornaments on the Christmas tree, and every year around this time I go looking for Gee Bee footage. Great video!

[@RichardGee9]

THANKS!

[@elroyfudbucker6806]

Whilst listening to the Bee Gees maybe?

[@jerrytee2688]

Everyone's a historian nowadays, no mention of the fact that he also pioneered instrument flying. Took off, flew and landed blind to the outside world using only instruments.

[@kesslermontijo6304]

My grandfather John G. Montijo ("Google") who taught Amelia Earhart to fly (she traded flight time for baby sitting my father and his brother) also taught Doolittle advanced lessons, aerobatics and instruments. Historians should check out Long Beach Airport (Kinner Field, So. Calif.) in 1920's. One of the first airports to recognize the growing importance of Aviation.

[@lightespeed]

Love the cheeky design of what is really a flying engine, with the pilot virtually straddling the engine, who needs the usual empty box between the engine & the rear control surfaces?!

[@marstondavis]

I saw Delmar Benjamin fly his replica GB at the Hayward Executive Airport in Hayward Ca. back in the late '90's. The roar of that Wasp engine is something you'll never forget. I have a photo of that GB as my screen saver, and I look at it every day. There are a couple of pilots that have P-51 Mustangs hangered there. About three times a year they'll take off and climb to altitude and the sound of those Merlin's is as sweet as it can be. It reaches into your soul.

[@pgocon]

The R2 was flown by Lee Gehlbach, Army Aviator, Test Pilot. He flew with Jimmy Doolittle, and several other well known pilots. Lee even escorted Charles Lindbergh at one point. He was my wifes great uncle. We have a lot of memorabilia of / from him and his time racing. Very Interesting.

[@vincentlefebvre9255]

Jimmy Doolittle ? Greatest U.S. aviator in history !

[@calsurflance5598]

His son Col. John Doolittle was a personal friend. He and his wife came to my retirement ceremony when I retired from the US Air Force. You should have seen my Commander’s eyes when I introduced them!

[@wayneandrus307]

I love the GBa and think that they are an art deco piece from the 1930s.

[@scootergeorge7089]

Thing about Jimmy Doolittle and his raid on Japan, he was flying a twin engine, medium bomber, never meant to operate from an aircraft carrier. He was also the lead aircraft. Spotted ahead of the remaining 15 and hence had the shortest takeoff run. And no catapult assist. As far as a suicide mission, had the promised homing beacons been installed and operational along with better weather over China, at least some of the B-25's would have made it. Lost over China, most either ditched, or the crews bailed out. One landed in Vladivostok where the Soviets interned the aircraft and crew.

[@barrygrant2907]

A couple of notes about the Doolittle Raid: It was never planned for the bombers to return to the carriers as they could not land on it. The plan was to land at bases in China after bombing Japan, but because the raiders had to take off early, they did not have enough fuel to make it to the Chinese bases. So the mission was a one-way mission all along, but never a suicide mission, the Plan B being to fly as far as possible and then bail out and hope for the best--being found by friendlies.

[@None-zc5vg]

If JATO bottles had been available back then, maybe the B-25s could have used their thrust to carry them off the 'Hornet' with extra fuel on board (perhaps in auxiliary fuselage tanks, had someone 'thought ahead' and prearranged some kind of quick fix to accommodate an early launch) but maybe the planes were too heavy in any case.

[@MrKornhole]

Thanks for the pictures and stories. I have always loved this aircraft and have seen one of them at Oshkosh Air Museum many times.

[@RichardGee9]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrRoyobentoni]

Excellent explanation. It look hard to handle.

[@iplaymytele]

I remember in the movie the Rocketeer Howard Hughes gave the Rocketeer a new Gee Bee , at the end of the movie…! it sounds like the same music from the Rocketeer…..!

[@joekurtz8303]

Unique airframe,seen pictures & newsreels of this as a child. Just seen a child's scale toy pedal car just like this on TV available to purchase

[@jerrywestaway9316]

These Planes Make Me Feel Like I Have The Hee Bee Gee Bees :-)

[@kkteutsch6416]

Geebees started a generation where the directions was to construct a plane around the most power engine available, that continued 'till the WWII ended, like F4F, F6F, even Corsair, Thunderbolt and Skyraider was made this way...

[@jaredpyle3425]

A-10 warthog is built around its gun lol

[@callumfreebairn8082]

gives me chills too to hear it

[@lawrencemarocco8197]

Find the most powerful engine there is, then put just enough airplane around it to get it off the ground. What a scary proposition.

[@stanleydomalewski8497]

Gee Bee R1,R2 and "Z" , Vicious little Brutes, that Only the Best COULD Fly !

[@robertmarx1954]

I always thought of the Gee Bee racers as engines with wings on them.

[@HarborLockRoad]

I had to laugh my butt off when the " history channel" referred to, " the Grenville brothers of Springfield, Ohio." Of course, we in Massachusetts know they were in Springfield Massachusetts, and the fields they flew from today are built over, but, many of us older folks can still show you where they were located back then. Springfield Ohio, my sweet ass! Lol

[@chuck62891]

They came from my hometown of Springfield, MA.

[@msvvero]

Great presentation

[@RichardGee9]

THANK YOU

[@cramersclassics]

Great video! Would be even better with the background music lower while you're talking.

[@ricklewis5804]

Great video.

[@RichardGee9]

THANK YOU

[@jasoncook6177]

What a gorgeous and dangerous plant , awesome 👌

[@jameshoopes6467]

The epitome of form following function.

[@gglen2141]

I'll bet an engine cowling mounted camera would make taxiing that thing a lot easier.

[@Anne6621]

you can take the most powerful and fastest jet planes but imo they don't hold a candle to piston engine , just think of those lucky people who got to build the most amazing airplane ever built , The H4 Hercules and the Bee Gees just drives me crazy , i don't think people really grasp the amazing exciting first 50 years of flight , my god talk about an exciting time

[@rothbj1]

Other pilots report the lower powered R2 (#7) was a nice handling plane.

[@simongee8928]

An engine, a seat, two wings and away you go - !

[@alfredogontijo8044]

Nunca voei mais tenho um amor especial por este avião é um amor quê não sei de onde veio ,desde de criancinha como me emocionaria ter o prazer de encontrar esse avião de perto e meu sonho amo gee bee !

[@ericbouchard7547]

Great video and tribute to the Gee Bees, Richard. What do you know about the Gee Bee Z and Bob Hall's involvement with the project? I've taken an interest in Hall, from his work with the Granville Brothers all the way to his test flying for Grumman starting in 1936. Most of the information I've learned about his pre-Grumman career comes from either wikipedia or the odd website chronicling 1930s air racing; none of it goes into particular detail. Did Hall really design the Z in five weeks' time? Was he the sole designer? What about the model Y?

[@RichardGee9]

Eric, I know very little about Bob Hall or the Gee Bee Z. My focus was on the R1/R2, although I have always liked the Model Z. Sounds like Hall was a prolific designer and test pilot, or I doubt Grumman would have put so much faith in him?

[@Farmer-bh3cg]

I understood that Jimmy Doolittle, after the race, said "I'll never fly it again."

[@calsurflance5598]

He retired from racing after this , because the press was focused on trying to capture the family’s reaction if and when he crashed. His son, John, told me this himself .

[@Farmer-bh3cg]

@@calsurflance5598 Thank you for the update. Reporters were ghouls then and are propaganda shilling ghouls now. Back then, they were honest about it. Today they lie about Everything.

[@alfredogontijo8044]

Eu sou um apaixonado, por esse avião ,meu sonho e ver ele de perto ,ou pelo menos ter uma réplica dele eu não sei oque é talvez coisa de outra vida.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Crazy bird.

[@babyboomer9560]

On one of his interviews I believe he said the next guy to fly it after him crashed and died.

[@thewatcher5271]

Wasn't Jimmy Doolittle The Only Man Who Won The Schneider, Bendix & Thompson Trophies? He Was The First To Land On Instruments Flying Blind & Helped To Pioneer The Higher Octane Rating In Avgas. Don Lopez, A Great Aviator In His Own Right, Said Of Doolittle, "Never Was A Person More Inappropriately Named."

[@robertlafnear4865]

I love those words" UNSTABLE " and "DANGEROUS "................. WOW............ This might be for me... I know I LOVE the plane.

[@Colin_Holloway]

Kermit Weeks now has both Delmar's Gee Bee R2 and a replica Gee Bee Z. He has some great videos taking about flutter issues which he believes is the reason for the crash of the original Gee Bee Z kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqfWp5SdZ5ZoesU

[@TDCflyer]

I don't understand why people still state that plane was "unstable" and "dangerous". Yes, Doolittle used to brag about being able to fly this "most unstable, dangerous" plane, but back in the days when he actually flew it he stated it was a pleasure to fly. Also, Delmar Benjamin proved the plane was stable and very capable with his exact replica. The one thing that separates this plane from modern layouts is the lack of proper flaps to slow it down for landing, which means the pilot has to handle very high speeds and has to react very fast on take-off and landing.

[@RichardGee9]

The Gee Bee Super Sportsters ARE unstable in pitch and yaw. Delmar Benjamin has said the aircraft has what is known as "divergent stability" (a.k.a. directional divergence). He has also stated that "the airplane's reputation is well-deserved." The designer of the aircraft, Howell Miller, said of the prototype: Stability will be marginal, but safe. Publicly, Doolittle said it was a 'sweet flying airplane.' Privately he said it "was the most dangerous airplane he ever flew." You can believe what you want; I believe the men who designed and flew the airplane. I also have 60 Gee Bee (scale RC) flights under my belt and agree with those who actually flew the airplane.

[@edgein3299]

you would have to be crazy to fly this.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

I remember Delmar Benjamin said that he could knife edge the Gee Bee all day long because he had so much side area than wing.

[@juleswins3]

What I know about planes and aviation I could write in the palm of my hand but ungainly? I dunno, Richard. I think it’s the slickest, coolest, sexiest plane ever built!

[@RichardGee9]

Considering most folks consider the Gee Bee Super Sportsters "cartoonish," you can draw your own conclusions. I would concur it is the COOLEST airplane ever built, but "slick and sexy?" Well, I guess it's like a woman... we all have our own personal preferences.

[@juleswins3]

@@RichardGee9 Exactly!

[@HavardStreAndresen]

Lovely video, but it is strange not to mention the fatal accidents in these aircrafts.

[@MrSuzuki1187]

The Gee Bee was an engine nacelle with wings.

[@avnrulz]

I have a model of this on my desk at work.

[@freddyrosenberg9288]

I don't understand the huge engine and the tiny prop. What's the point?

[@manuelvillamil9809]

“Watch this PB!!…”

[@davidwoodward7020]

interesting,but no mention of how fast or what was the record?

[@larchman4327]

I wonder if they could have designed it so the cylinders stick out of the side to make it aerodynamic at least.

[@scootergeorge7089]

As a kid, I built a scale model of the Gee Bee racer. I thought it was cool. My mother said it looked "stupid."

[@vincentlefebvre9255]

In what scale ?

[@scootergeorge7089]

@@vincentlefebvre9255 - This would have been way back in or around 1963 but I'm guessing 1/48 scale. Maybe 3 or 4 inch wing span.

[@vincentlefebvre9255]

@@scootergeorge7089 I started building a prehistorical Gee Bee in 1/48. I did not finish it yet. I believe it is a former Hawk kit. It's boxed by Testor. Most probably what you built. I was born in 1966 !

[@scootergeorge7089]

@@vincentlefebvre9255 - Yes, it must have ben the Hawk kit.

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

OK ... I'm watching this and I'm going ... "Why? Do you WANT to die?" The only more serious reaction I've ever had was a video on someone who was flying an Me-163 ... My first reaction was "Are you insane?" Then I saw them hook it up to the tow plane and pull it aloft and I'm like .... "Oh ... they're just gliding it ... OK." Can these people flying Gee Bee's - even get insurance? .

[@blxtothis]

No video of the thing flying then?

[@thermalascension]

I'd like to fly a firecracker. It was a fine little airplane ,.

[@robertbennett848]

It seems to me , if they put another foot or two on the horizontal stabilizer and elevator, the plane would have been more stable. Just saying. I have only been flying for a little over a year. RC flying by the way.

[@jarmstrong2843]

A very fast death trap.

[@bsdude010]

Watch this Peevee!!!

[@bigsparky8888]

These GB's H AZ ve bugged me since I was a little boy in the early 50's...as s toddler I would point and say..."awpane"...hek...I remember blimps at Long Beach...squiggly lines before a STOP sign on the roads close to the beach...wow...(ha...they teased me and told me it was to catch drunk drivers)

[@markr831]

Well Shoot I wouldn't be flying the dang thing then! ....... family friendly put

[@jameskirk578]

Beautiful aeroplane. Elevators and rudder far too small and would never operate outside the turbulent prop wash. Would that be why it was hard to fly one wonders.

[@g6rcteam81]

Not unstable at all ! Delmar proved that over and over Dolittle was hanger selling books

[@RichardGee9]

There are two types of Gee Bee enthusiasts: Those who have actually built and flown scale R models, and those that like to talk about them as though they have a clue...

[@g6rcteam81]

My grandfather worked for the Granvilles and I fly several 1\4 scale model z and 2 r\2S Also check my channel before you make A statement like that!

[@RichardGee9]

Oh, pardon me. So because your grandfather worked for the Granvilles (in what capacity?) and because you may have flown some RC models (fidelity to scale unknown) we should discount everything "Granny," Doolittle, Bales, Boardman, Haffke, Mendenhall, and Benjamin said and wrote about the Gee Bee racers? Benjamin, in particular, accumulated 1,500 hours in the R2. By any account, he is THE authority on this aircraft and he has said, "The Gee Bee is unstable in pitch and in yaw - it exhibits divergent stability." Doolittle also said as much. Delmar also said, "The Gee Bee's reputation is well-deserved." The only thing Delmar proved was that a truly exceptional pilot can fly the R2. Not sure what you were trying to say about Doolittle w/your butchered grammar, but it sounds like you were impugning an American hero whose shoes you aren't worthy of shining...

[@RichardGee9]

How about posting a video of your 36% Gee Bee in flight?

[@tripacer8259]

@@RichardGee9 You can't fight stupid......... Don't waste your time.

[@David-yy7lb]

How the hell is the pilot is supposed to see the runway

[@FrankSleighter-pm5vx]

They don't make them like Doolittle any more.

[@freezatron]

Back ground music is annoying !!! interesting history of an interesting aeroplane though :)

[@Justwantahover]

The smallest wingspan plane in the world would be worse to fly and only flew twice (I think). It had a 5 ft wingspan and carried a pilot. Look it up.

[@JJ-cf7nb]

The replica aircraft behind the guy has the Pratt R985 and not the more powerful R1340 he's saying it has. That makes it a copy of the slower R2 and not Doolittle's R1.

[@RichardGee9]

Incorrect. I finished this CARF Gee Bee as the model R1. Notice the cowl marking says WASP (and not WASP Jr.). I will admit, cowl shape is not perfectly accurate for an R1. At the end of the video I do show stills of my CARF R2. Other than cowl and rudder outline, and tailwheel placement, the two aircraft are identical externally.

[@JJ-cf7nb]

OK, fair enough; I actually thought it was a full scale replica and so well done! Having flown both DHC2 Beaver's and DHC3 Otters, I'm quite familiar with both engines. That cowl behind you on your model of the R1 just didn't appear to have the volume to fit the 1340 (and has the same lines as the cowl fitted to the original R2).

[@jimrich4192]

Cute! but so what...if it's DANGEROUS?

[@thermalascension]

But my Salto sailplane ,. Moves pretty good ,. Without a engine. 😉

[@OldGeezer55]

What engine does the replica employee?

[@RichardGee9]

The replica used the same engine as the original R2; P&W R985 9 cylinder radial... about 500 hp.

[@OldGeezer55]

@@RichardGee9 Thanks for the reply! I'd read that it was that originall but found it hard to believe they still existed.

[@pcbondart]

Gee, this airplane isn't that far from being the Russian Polikarpov fighter they entered WW2 with, and that was, I think, a reasonably flyable airplane. The Russian fighter was only 2 ft 4 inches longer, wingspan 4 ft wider, and 300 horsepower more than the GeeBee.

[@johngregory4801]

Basically, they were just flying engine nacelles.

[@RichardGee9]

Believe it or not, the Gee Bee Super Sportster was thoroughly tested in a wind tunnel and its designer deemed it "marginally stable, but safe to fly." Much though went into the design, but the over-riding goal was to create the fastest land plane in the world. Compromises had to be made to achieve that goal.

[@FreeTurtleboy]

Who would have bombed japan had the gee bee killed Jimmy?

[@peglegnoid6139]

I wonder if Doolittle used nitrous oxide injection setting the speed record ?

[@leifvejby8023]

He didn't - he didn't even open the throttle fully, he wanted the regular pilot to be able to take the record back when having recovered . Doolittle was just a replacement pilot while the real pilot (Boardman?) got well after some flying incident.

[@mikedunn7795]

Also known as the *Flying Coffin*..

[@GeneralJackRipper]

Yeah. But it was FAST.

[@r.g.o3879]

It looks like something a cartoonist designed not something ever meant to actually fly!!

[@ronshaw80]

What piece of music is playing in the background?

[@RichardGee9]

+Ron Shaw Main Title - Takeoff - James Horner - The Rocketeer

[@nickhedges5152]

They really don't look safe do they?

[@RichardGee9]

They WEREN'T!

[@damienhill6383]

Lethal ..

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

Mostly a flying oil-drum, it seems

[@matthewmoore5698]

Oh er

[@davidjanuszewski5020]

Ugly, but, beautiful.

[@geraldscott4302]

Suicide machine.

[@garthrichert5256]

Not much good for anything other than propelling a fat big engine through the sky, at the risk of the pilots life.

[@natalianesterova2107]

Absolute rubbish. Delmar Benjamin logged 1400 hours over 10 years in an R2. They were not for Piper Cub pilots but they were flyable

[@leifvejby8023]

Benjamin even did some inverted formation flying the very first time he flew it!