Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
TEXAS COWBOY, TIRED OF RIDING
BRONCOS, WINS FAME IN PLANE
Kelly, One of Pair to Set Rec
ord, Learned to Fly 80
Days Ago.
Robbins, Ex-Auto Mechanic,
Learned to Pilot Ship
Without Teacher.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FORT WORTH, Tex, May 25.-A
West Texas cowboy tired of the hum
drum of everyday life aboard the hur-
ricane deck of bucking broncos, plung-
ing over the plains of the Texas Pan
handle, and an automobile mechanic,
who simply never learned to fly"
climbed into the cockpit of a rebuilt
monoplane at Meacham Field, Fort
Worth, Sunday morning. May 10, and
began another colorful chapter in the
romantic story of American aviation.
One hundred hours later-almost
five days and nights Of continuous
fiight-these strange partners aboard
their bronco of the air had brought
to America, from France. one record
Soon after, only so hours later, they
had surpassed the record established
by the United States Army's tri-
motored Question Mark.
Robbins transformer"
Less than 90 days before he entered
the cockpit of ten plane Fort Worth
Jim Kelly left a West Texas ranch,
came into Fort Worth and began
to study for a pilots license. He
was given his license but six weeks
ago, and at that time bid farewell to
his cow-ponies.
In Fort Worth he met Reg" Rob-
bins, commercial pilot, who never
learned to fly Robbins originally
was an automobile mechanic. He took
up flying as pastime, but refused to
take instructions from professionals.
gan flying. and became one of the most
popular transformers in the South
west.
Thirty days ago Robbins and Kelly
decided they would undertake an en-
durance flight, at the instigation Of the
aviation department, Fort Worth
Association of Commerce. In the
course of events, it was naturally pre-
sumed by the sponsors that Robbins
new plane-at least new motor.
Robbins Sure Of His Ship.
Robbins insisted that his monoplane,
having cruised the airways of the
Southwest for many months, carrying
hundreds of passengers without an ac-
cident, most certainly would Withstand
any test he contemplated. He finally
agreed to rebuild the ship. however.
When the question of new motor
developed, Robbins characteristic de-
cision was, THAT motor has carried this
ship over $4,000 miles. I know that
hAiOW llC" OAiCs
Well take this one" And they did
Among the peculiar questions arising,
almost eclipsing in dangers that of re-
fueling. was the method by which
Kelly, the cow-puncher, serving as me-
chanic. could make repairs on the motor
while in the air. Changes of spark
plugs greasing rocker arms. and similar
operations were necessary, but impossi-
BILE from the cockpit of the plane.
The two devised two "cat-walks,"
leading from their cabin to the motor
a walk inches wide without guards.
Cowboy Riding Herd" on Plane.
During the course of the flight, the
former cowboy could be seen 1000 feet
above the airport standing on the cat
walk, rNaking some motor adjustment
while the plane was speeding through
the air at so miles an hour or more.
For the first three days the strange
partners refused to be bothered with
parachutes. Friends, however, COM
municated with them and caused them
to realize that 1t would be compare
lively easy for Kelly to slip OF the cat
walk and be hurled through space.