Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review, July 6 2018

SILAS, from 6
flew down towards Owens dry lake, turned and made the slow climb up to the peak of Mount Whitney and final- ly, much to the joy of all the observ- ers with telescopes and binoculars, reached an altitude of 15,728 feet and circled the peak of Mount Whitney. Sadly the event was not able to make it to a film reel, as the plane had shed the extra weight of its movie camera and the movie equipment that was being delivered to the summit never made it, as the mule that was pack- ing the equipment slipped and lost the equipment off its back!
After the record was set, Silas again made a quick descent to the valley floor. With tears of joy the young aviator, still frozen and shaking from the cold, was raised on the shoulders of all those in attendance and carried
about the field, ending with him be- ing delivered to his wife, Edna, who greeted him with hugs and kisses.
The glory of holding the altitude record back in those days was always short-lived, there being no shortage of young, daring types looking to best another pilot’s skill in airman- ship. Christofferson died not long af- ter he set this record, while testing a new aircraft design. Sadly, he is just a footnote in American aviation history. He achieved a few other noteworthy firsts, including the first flight from the Bay Area down the Central Val- ley over the Tehachapi’s, ending up in Los Angeles, and operating one of the very first aviation passenger services in the country in San Francisco.
Christofferson’s very first claim to fame was a flight off the roof of the
Hotel Multnomah building in Port- land, Ore. Next time you’re driving on the 395 and passing through Lone Pine, look to the west and think of the day when a young twenty-something traded a flight off a building for a pass over the highest peak in the lower 48 states, helping a motor club get the recognition it needed to help con- struct what would become known as US Route 6!
Until next time, Blue Skies and for now, Bob is out !
Courtesy photograph
days, several attempts were made but all failed to achieve the desired re- sults, with high winds and mechanical issues plaguing the young aviator and his craft. Finally a favorable weather window with low winds materialized, but even then the plane could only reach an altitude of 13,400 feet. Silas made a beeline back down to Lone Pine, sent a car to Bishop to pick up a different propeller, and then removed all the camera equipment and unnec- essary weight. With all these changes — and a little luck — he hoped for the boost in performance he needed to reach the peak.
As morning broke June 25th, the winds were calm and the now-restless organizers and public were hoping for headlines to be made. This time Silas
Courtesy photograph
Courtesy photograph Silas Cristofferson and his wife, Edna, early in his aviation career.
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July 6, 2018
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