Fun facts about barnstorming

A fact about pilots. Written by Ric 

The plane is similar to the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny that most barnstormers used. The Air Service part of the US Army used this plane (Nicknamed the Jenny). The war was over in 1918, and the "Air Service" almost gave the planes away for $500 each. The aircraft came in boxes and had to be assembled. If the pilot wanted one, it was often picked up from an army base and had to be assembled by a mechanic. Most of the barnstormers were returning pilots from World War 1. Many future pilots took flying lessons from these returning pilots from the war. A famous aviator was "Tex Rankin, "who was a famous northwest pilot living outside of Portland, Oregon and had a school of flight for future pilots.

The early barnstormers used to put mothballs in their JN-4 engines' tanks to improve performance.

..Many barnstormers navigated by dead reckoning, using small maps and following train tracks, or rivers and roads. They also used a compass if they remembered it!

  Lindbergh, during one of his flights, reached for his compass and realized it was in his bag in the back, where he couldn’t get to it.

   Many barnstormers would land in a flat farmer’s field and would taxi to the nearby fence that made a corner where they could tie both wings to the fence.

  Since the early barnstormers found flat farmers’ fields, it was the practical way to operate, as there were very few airfields in the United States around 1919; Then, they were only dirt.  Also, the farmer usually had gas or kerosene on hand to top off the tank after going the wrong way and using more gas than expected. The farmer could call for a needed part, especially a propeller, after landing in a wheat field where the propeller would hit the tall wheat or barley, etc., and it would wear to the point of barely making takeoff speed. So many times, the pilot just ordered a new propeller. (Or had a spare), And the farmer would usually help, as it was quite a job to put one on. That’s why the farmers were so important. Also, they were put up by the farmer’s family until they got parts.

Back in 1918, the barnstormer would attract small crowds, and they would give rides for 5.00 a piece, and that kept them in the air and paid other expenses.

One thing I found really funny was that the barnstormers used young boys to guard the planes because the cows licked and loved the glue coating the planes' canvas. There were usually cows on any farm or ranch.

Some of the first barnstormers always attracted crowds since the plane was so rare, or never seen. Most of the pilots would try to visit as many "state fairs" as possible and give rides. To explain State Fairs. There are about 60 counties in a state. To explain a county. Back in the 1700s to 1800s, a county was formed by people who came together with similar religions, and backgrounds. Also, people who shared identical values. Often large ranches formed boundaries, as did railroad tracks, rivers and natural barriers like mountains, oceans, etc. Many counties were needed as the transportation was slow, so small counties were like separate nations all supporting each other. Counties were sometimes built around a town or fort for protection. So there are about 60 counties X 50 states, making about 3000.00 counties in the US. 

Every county has a county seat, a large building where laws are made or enforced. Some counties are 100 or more miles across. Each county has a large fair or show where local farms display their produce, pigs, etc. And have rodeos with showmanship of bucking broncs (a horse hopefully doesn't throw the cowboy off, etc.). There is entertainment food (lots of food!) Sometimes at a fair, barnstormers would attract people with wild stunts, such as wing walking. The barnstormers would do some very unusual stunts that shocked the crowds and drew them to the pilots’ planes. Then they would give rides for $5.00 each.

By ric (I will write further as my wife said I have exceeded by time limit).