For many aviation enthusiasts, it’s one of the most iconic aircraft ever built.  With its short wings, tiny cockpit at the tail, and massive engine compartment, the Gee Bee Model R Super Sportster built by the Granville Brothers of Springfield, MA is, perhaps, the most famous air racer of all time.  Built in 1932, the Gee Bee Model R-1 and R-2 were the fastest aircraft of the time.

The R-1, piloted by Jimmy Doolittle, won the 1932 Thompson Trophy race – a 10 mile closed circuit race emphasizing low altitude, high speed flying – in Cleveland, OH with an average speed of 253 mph.  Doolittle also set the world landplane speed record of 296 mph in the Shell Speed Dash. 

Even with the success, the Gee Bee Model R’s had a reputation of being dangerous aircraft in the wrong hands.  During the 1933 Thompson Trophy race, pilot Russell Boardman perished when the R-1 crashed on takeoff in Indiana.  It was rebuilt with parts from the R-2 which previously crashed and flew again, only to crash again with pilot Roy Minor at the controls.  Minor was not seriously injured, and the aircraft was yet again rebuilt and sold to Cecil Allen. Allen, against the recommendation of the Granvilles, installed fuel tanks aft of the center of gravity and upon takeoff with full fuel, the aircraft crashed fatally for the last time and was not rebuilt.

This tattoo was submitted to us by a gentleman who has had a love for the R-1 and R-2 for many years.  In the 1990′s when a full-scale replica of the R-2 flew the airshow circuit piloted by builder Delmar Benjamin, our wearer helped support the crew at local shows.  He was even able to get a ride in the “belly of the beast” while the plane taxied on the ground as there wasn’t a second seat.  With such a history with the Gee Bee, it’s easy to see why he’d choose to have it added to his permanent art collection.

The tattoo was created by artist Ryan Groebler of Stay True Tattoo in Dublin, CA. 

Our editor here at TattoosInFlight.com has the R-1 as part of his air racing thigh tattoo… you can see that by clicking this link.

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For enthusiasts of modern-day air racing, the ultimate event is the National Championship Air Races in Reno, NV.  For many years, Reno has been the place to see the fastest piston-engined aircraft and some of the most skilled pilots on Earth.  Certainly one of the fastest (if not the fastest) is Race #77 “Rare Bear”.  The “Bear” is actually a heavily modified Grumman F8F Bearcat, powered by an R-3350 in place of the stock R-2800 found on mil spec Bearcats.  Owned (and flown) for many years by air racing legend Lyle Shelton, the “Bear” is now owned by collector Rod Lewis and remains a competitor at Reno each year being flown by John Penney.

The wearer of this tattoo, an airframe and powerplant mechanic himself, was inspired to get the tattoo after helping the race team one year at Reno and got the opportunity to sit in the cockpit.

The tattoo was created by artist Erik Campbell of Kleen Sting in Grand Junction, CO.

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