The Gee Bees of Springfield 1990 Documentary

The Gee Bees of Springfield is a 30 minute documentary created and hosted by aviation enthusiasts and historians Tom Nallen and Don Foster in 1990. This documentary features interviews with the key players in the Gee Bee story including Granville Brother Bob Granville and chief designers Bob Hall and Howell "Pete" Miller all of whom are now deceased. Given these first hand accounts by the designers, builders and pilots of the original aircraft, this is perhaps the most accurate telling of the Granville Brothers and Gee Bee story recorded.
Enjoy and please visit www.thegeebee.com for more.
Tom Nallen2

[@wilechevarria]

During this production I sat behind Bob Hall. He watched a video I brought of him flying in the Thompson Trophy Race. As the dot on the screen grew bigger and flew past, I wondered what he though as he watched himself pass the pylon. By the way, his wife was so appreciative that we took the time to interview him, she bought pizza for the whole crew. -Wil Echevarria, executive producer of this film.

[@tomnallen2]

You and the team did a great job with this Wil. Thanks

[@calsurflance5598]

This was excellent! Fantastic history preservation! Jimmy Doolittle’s son Ret Col. John Doolittle, was a personal friend and came to my Air Force retirement ceremony. He was present when his Dad set the speed record in 1932. He told the story of how his Dad retired from racing that day. When he realized many cameras were pointed at the family, he asked why the family; the response was, “ to capture their expressions when you crash”. The Doolittle family understandably despised the media from then on.

[@tomnallen2]

Fascinating story. Thanks for sharing!

[@johnwayne1464]

Thank you very much for this, I have just finished reading Farmers Take Flight by J I Granville and have learned a lot about the Gee Bees of which I am a fan and of 1920 -1930s air racing in general. The Thompson Trophy, Bendix and Schneider races are areas of great interest to me.

[@Gator_Bait_Motorsports]

The GeeBee is one of the most iconic aircraft in aviation history. I was thrilled to see the reproduction aircraft fly and debunk the bad reputation it had. Delmar Benjamin put on great shows with it.

[@rob379lqz]

I don’t care what anyone says. I love the Bee Gees! 🕺🪩🕺

[@krisgreenwood5173]

We used to have an air show at the airport in Ankeny Iowa in the 1990's. One day I saw the GeeBee fly over. I grabbed the kids and headed to the airport. I was a police officer at the time and I used to stop by the airport and shoot the breeze with the guys at the FBO. They let me sneak back and I grabbed a couple of pictures of the GeeBee with the kids. I understand that airplane is at the Oshkosh musuem now.

[@Psycandy]

a gee bee is the hotrod of the aviation world

[@briansteffmagnussen9078]

It seem possible that if these braces for the wing is affected by the slipstream they will have to snap due to metal fatigue. And i belive the designers have forseen this and would inspect them regularely. But they did only know that much back then about the strenght of the metal. When they seem fine at take off and during the flight are compromised, the strenght of the metal are going to be weakened second by second. Any child can rip a soda can in two by bending it enough times, These braces would be bend several hundred times over and over.

[@rocketlife9549]

Wing Flutter is what killed Lowell Bayles

[@pl7868]

suffered from aileron reversal to

[@johntischler1634]

How do know that for certain?

[@pl7868]

@@johntischler1634 they flutter tested the wing

[@johntischler1634]

@@pl7868 Who "flutter tested" the wing?

[@pl7868]

@@johntischler1634 kermit weeks you can watch the video google his site

[@stanleydomalewski8497]

TheyWere Vicious little Bruts that Only the Best Pilots could Fly !

[@wacotom3729]

Gibst das auch in Deutsch??!!