Fifty years ago, John G. "Tex" Rankin, one of America's greatest pilots, died in the crash of a Republic Seabee in Klamath Falls, Oregon. During a career shich spanned the period from the end of WWI to the end of WWII, he inspired and trained untold thousands of our nations's aviators.
Two generations have now grown up since those years in which Tex Rankin brought his Air Circus to the cities and towns of America. Consequently, only a small segment of our population recognizes his name. When the Oregon Aviation Museum recently announced that it planned to rebuild NX315Y, the "Rankin Special" Great Lakes biplane, few recognized its significance. We hope this brief review of Tex Rankin's career will implant a seed of appreciation in those who, unfortunately, never had the opportunity to SEE TEX FLY.
In 1910, John G. Rankin left his Texas home at the age of 16, in search of adventure. Discharged from the Army Air Corp in 1919, he traveled to Washington State, where he learned to fly. He was soon instructing and barnstorming in his Curtiss Jenny.
Late in 1922, with a noticeable Texas drawl, Tex moved to Portland OR, and started the Rankin Flying Service. Several temporary moves were made to local airfields, but by 1927, the Rankin School of Flight was firmly established, with over 250 students.
Tex later wrote a series of booklets that covered all phases of flight. These booklets, known as The Rankin System of Flying Instruction, emphasized SAFETY above all else, and were used by more than 60 flying schools nationwide.
During the late 1920's, Tex barnstormed the western states, and brought the Rankin Air Circus to cities and towns throughout the West. Many watched in almost disbelief, as Tex performed amazing stunts in the sky.
In 1927, Tex entered the National Air Derby from New York to Spokane, WA. Defying superstition in his number "13" Waco, he finished out of the money after engine problems.
Displaying his talent for showmanship, Tex entered the 1928 Air Derby from New York to Los Angeles, again with a large "13" on the side of his OX-5 Waco 10. But in this race, he carried a "jinxless" black cat as a passenger. During this flight to and from New York, and with the black cat in the fronty cockpit, Tex sent a wire to Portland from each stop. In the following examples his dry humor is clearly evident.
"Landed Brightfield tonight---Cat likes trip fine. Has good appetite like mine. ---Cat loved Ohio.
Rosevelt Fied (NY) ---All set for start at daybreak.--- Cat and I are all pepped up and believe me we intend to step on 'er. Best. Tex.
Was third in Fort Worth. ---Someone stole my cat in Kansas City last night. Regards. Tex."
(The cat was found later and shipped to Los Angeles, where it was reunited with Tex--and finished fifth.)
Tex also entered the 1929 Air Derby from Portland to Cleveland, OR, flying a number "13" Taperwing Waco. Without the black cat, he finished second, and won $1,500. His "luck" was still intact when he and his mechanic were returning to Portland flying a Great Lakes Trainer. Over the Cascade Mountains, and above a thick layer of clouds and smoke, the engine quit. Descending on instruments, they pancaked onto a hill covered with small trees, and climbed out unhurt.
Only eleven days before the 1929 race, Tex had flown nonstop, and without refueling, from Canada to Mexico, the first to do so.
At the 1931 Omaha Air Races, both Tex and Dorthy Hester, were performing. During an aerobatic demonstration by Speed Holman, he crashed immediately in front of the stands. The crowd was stunned. Tex Rankin immediately took to the air in an impromptu aerobatic display to soothe the crowd.
![[NX315Y]](images/nx315y.jpg)
In 1931, Tex acquired his famous Great Lakes biplane, NC315Y, and began specializing in aerobatics, perfecting new maneuvers by trial and error. He once wrote, "Good substantial scares--the kind that make your hair stand up a little, and icy chills go down your spine--are valuable." In this same year at Charolette, North Carolina, Tex set an astounding record of 131 consecutive outside loops. During the early 1930s Tex started the Oregon Air Tours, a tradition perpetuated by the Oregon Antique and Classic Aircraft Club.
Several endurance flights were also made during the early 1930s, but mechanical problems prevented a new record.
During the mid and late 1920s, Tex continued his aerobatic exhibitions across the U.S., thrilling audiences while flying his Great Lakes or Ryan Sport Trainer. For anyone who sat in the shade of a wing, and watched Tex roll inverted at low altitude, roar down a gravel runway and pick up a flag with his wing tip, it was indeed, an exciting and unforgetable day.
![[Tex's Trophies]](images/tex_rankin_trophies.jpg)
At the 1935 National Air Races in Cleveland, Tex won the trophy for U.S. Aerobatic Champion. In 1936, Tex moved to Southern California, where he flew in movies, and gave flying lessons to many film notables. Perhaps the zenith of Tex Rankin's career was in 1938, when he won the International Aerobatic Championship, in St. Louis, Missouri, competing against the world's best aerobatic pilots. At the 1939 San Francisco World's Fair, Tex performed daily aerobatic routines, which included the square outside loop.
When WWII threatened in 1940, Tex moved to Tulare, California, and established the Rankin Aeronautical Academy, a civilian flight school for the Army Air Corp. During its 54 months of operation, it trained over 10,450 cadets. Graduating cadets were well trained in aerobatics. Twelve became WWII aces.
After the war, Tex became a West Coast Distributor for Ercoupes and Republic Seabees. He still loved aerobatics, and occasionally performed in his Great Lakes NX 315Y.
The aviation world was stunned by the death of Tex Rankin in 1947, and couldn't believe it had happened on a routine business flight. He was survived by his widow, two daughters, and one son. An older son, flying a P-38 in combat, had been declared missing in action. After 20 years in Oregon, Tex considered Oregon his adopted, and permanent, home.
How does one describe a man like Tex Rankin? Perhaps Jimmy Doolittle said it best in the Forward of Walt Bohrer's interesting and entertaining book Black Cats and Outside Loops, "I had the good fortune to have Tex Rankin as a personal friend. He was a superb pilot, a fine gentleman, and a loyal American. Tex was certainly one of the most skillful aerobatic pilots who ever lived. He could enthrall spectators with the grace and precision of his maneuvers. the real purpose of his flying was to improve equipment, to develop techniques, to increase safety, and to teach others. It takes great skill and courage to take an airplane, safely, near to its point of failure, but this Tex did repeatedly."
Ron Bartley
January 27, 1997
The OREGON AVIATION MUSEUM gratefully acknowledges permission to use publications by Walt Bohrer and Gene Luckey as a source of some material contained herein.
The Oregon Aviation Museum is restoring Tex's Great Lakes. For information, check out the restoration page.
Gradually there is more info on Tex appearing on the web. Here's the page of a gentleman lucky enough to have met & seen Tex fly as a youth.
Tex Mentioned as one of the early barnstormers in the Northwest.
Tex and his famous Great Lakes.