Probably the world's most hazardous peacetime occupation is that of test pilot for a company making military aircraft. Lately when famed Builder John K. ("Jack") Northrop of Los Angeles (Lockheed Vega, Northrop Delta) wanted a pilot to test his newest attack plane he found his man in Vance Breese, oldtime mail pilot, barnstormer, test pilot and aviation theorist. To Pilot Breese Builder Northrop offered $8,000 for a 16,000-ft. vertical power-dive. Pilot Breese thought 50 per foot a fair price.
Because of the terrific physical strain...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In