Bee Gee Air Racer - Super Sportsters were designed to be the fastest landplane in the world

The Bee Gee Air Racer was built, in 1932, for the Thompson Trophy race (pylon racing). and the Bendix Trophy race (cross country racing),  It was going to be the fastest racing plane ever built, at the time.

Jimmie Doolittle won the Thompson trophy race in Cleveland. On September 5, 1933 nursing a hay fever attack, he blazed his Bee Gee Air Racer around the pylons at a winning speed of 252.686 mph. 

While at Cleveland, Doolittle set a world's landplane speed mark over the regulation F.A.I. three-kilometer course that had been set up for a series of speed dashes sponsored by the Shell Oil Co. On August 31, the 35year-old Doolittle averaged 293.193 mph on four runs over the speed course but this did not qualify as an official record since he didn't have a barograph in the plane to confirm that he was below the required 162 feet (50 meters) during his runs. He subsequently made four more runs on September 1, averaging 282.672 mph, just .77 mph short of that required to claim a new record. On his final run, it appeared to the horrified spectators that he was about to brush some trees just north of the field. Later Jimmy said, "I was nowhere near them. I must have been at least four feet over them."

Unfortunately, the Bee Gee Air Racer had very little additional success.  The plane was very difficult to fly and several pilots were killed trying to win other races

If you are a fan of early aviation or just love quirky planes you will love this shirt showing one of the most famous planes from history.  Or perhaps you know someone else who would love this shirt.

This design is digitally printed, for maximum comfort, on premium 100% cotton T's and premium crewneck sweatshirts in various colors!

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