A Tribute to TWA..."The Airline Run by Flyers" Early TWA History from original TWA documents. 1920s "The Golden Age of Aviation" Aero Corporation of California, Standard Air Lines "We have enjoyed the thrill of space travel because of the guts and imagination of the early flyers who saw the potential for air travel, not only as a mode of transportation, but as recreation, business and a mission... These famous aviators and heroes of their day shaped our world today." Astronaut, Scott Carpenter Aero Corporation of California Founded in 1926 Aero Corp of California Flight School, 1926 Aero Corporation of California was founded in 1926. Jack Frye, Paul Richter and Walt Hamilton, purchased Fuller's Flying School. Richter and Frye were in charge of the flying school. Hamilton was head of the shop, known as the best in the Southwest and by 1929 had 86 employees. Previously 'Ham' had perfected the Duesenberg engine, fastest of it's time. Read the Aero Corporation 'Code of Ethics for Pilots' Here Read an Aero Corporation 'Flight School Brochure' Here Paul Richter and Burdett Fuller, 1926 First Air Sheriffs In 1926 the Los Angeles Aerial Squadron was established to enforce the new Air Navigation Act passed into law that same year. Aero Corporation of California, the west coast dealer of Eaglerock airplanes, was chosen by the Sheriffs office to man this new squadron and with the swearing-in of the 1st Air Sheriffs, Lt. Paul Richter, Lt. Jack Frye and Walter Hamilton as original members, the Eaglerock became their official plane. The Eaglerock.. "What to do in a flat spin: Let go of everything, get up and walk out on the wing, sit there and pray." "Eaglerock's long thick wings 'floated' at sea level airfields. Pilots said they carried a box lunch to fend off hunger (starvation) while waiting for the ship to quit flying and set down." J.Don Alexander Left, 1st Air Sheriffs, Art Goebel, Paul Richter, Monte Edwards, Walt Hamilton and 'the girls'. 1st Air Sheriffs, Lt. Paul Richter, far right. Lt. Jack Frye, second from right, Walter Hamilton, second from the left. 1st Air Mail magazine delivery September 1926 Frank E. Samuels of "AERO DIGEST" handing Paul E. Richter, Jr. 1st Air Mail magazine delivery September 1926. Paul is in an Alexander Eaglerock aircraft. Frank Samuels was an enthusiastic flyer and Aviation authority. Samuels and Richter enjoyed a close relationship for many years with Samuels leaving treasured scrapbooks to Paul. Standard Air Lines Founded in 1927 In 1927, Frye, Richter and Hamilton started "Standard Air Lines," a division of Aero Corp and the west coast distributor of Alexander Eaglerock and Fokker aircraft. Against all odds, with one aircraft and without the aide of government mail contracts, these three men established the country's first scheduled 'passenger-only' air service operating between Los Angeles and Arizona three times a week. From that one airplane operation, Standard expanded their Fokker fleet with service to El Paso, Texas connecting with the midwest and Mexico. Richter said of those early days with passengers, heavy loads and hot days..."There were times I had to wish it off the ground." Frye and Richter flew the 1st flights - L.A. to Phoenix and Tucson in the Fokker aircraft. They held Arizona license-Frye #1, Richter #2. Richter piloted the 1st passenger flight, L.A. to Tucson, in a single engine Fokker and later piloted the 1st flight to El Paso, Tx. Richter also won 1st place in the 'cabin plane' for speed and efficiency at the opening dedication of "Hancock Field" in Santa Maria, Ca., flying a Standard Air Lines Wasp powered "Fokker Super Universal" and 3rd place in the free-for-all contest. In 1928, Richter flew an early cross-country flight, L.A. to Denver, in an OX5 Eagle ...participated in a L.A. to Colorado Springs air race...won the BH Dyas Trophy for 1st place in civilian team relay at Mines Field during the "California Air Races." Read "A Breath of Air makes a Breadth of Travel" by Fred Hattoom, Aero Digest Here Read 'Three Young Men' by the Aeronautical Journal of Commerce Here "What is believed to be the most advanced flight training course in the country has been introduced by Aero Corporation of Ca. in Los Angeles...contracted by WAE, Standard, West Coast Air Trans, Mid-Continent Air Express, National Parks Airway and Fokker Aircraft Co." Hollywood News, No. 7, 1929 "It's not enough to just ride the earth. You have to aim higher, try to take off, even fly. It is our duty." Joseph Yacopi, Argentine luthier In 1929, Frye and Richter flew to the Fokker factory at Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey and took delivery of Standard's first two, and soon fleet of, F-10 Super Tri-motors. Standard Air Lines Inc. Paul Richter and Jack Frye, (left), as vice-president and president respectively, with their plane the 'Arizonan'. This Fokker was in operation between Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, and El Paso Texas. Two other airplanes in service at the time were christened the "Texan" and "Californian." See a Standard Air Lines Brochure of 1927 Here February 1929, Standard Inaugurates Nations First Transcontinental Air-Rail Service ..."The large monoplanes are owned and operated by Standard Air Lines, Inc. ...For on the wings of these heavier-than-air-craft is written aeronautical history. They marked the inauguration of a combination air and rail transportation route, carrying passengers by plane in the day and connecting with the Texas and Pacific Railway at El Paso for the remainder of the eastbound journey"... Los Angeles Examiner, February 12, 1929 Read the entire article Here "Although one of the most hazardous air routes in the U.S., never a forced landing since the inception of the service. The trio was not deluged with offers from bankers who wanted to finance the undertaking. Air transportation as an industry was unknown to them so through necessity these three young men whose belief in aviation was unshaken pioneered an airline through the Southwest corner of the U.S. without the comforting knowledge of unlimited capitol behind them." Aviation Journal of Commerce, Sept. 1929 September 1929, Another World altitude Record   Left, Paul and Jack after their "World Altitude Record of 22680 ft. in a Fokker Tri Motor stock commercial passenger plane. They broke Waldo Waterman's previous record by 2000+ft. In 1929, Paul was an elected member of "Professional Pilots Association," Chairman of the Aeronautic Committee of "American Legion" Aviation Post #350 and a Charter member, "Alpha Eta Rho" pilot fraternity, USC and elected to the National Aeronautic Association of America. With his election to the Board of Directors of the "Aircraft Finance Corporation of America," it was stated... "Mr. Richter is one of the outstanding figures in aviation history of the West. Two of the corporations with which he is identified are conspicuously successful air transport companies: the Standard Air Lines, Inc. of which Mr. Richter is Director and General Manager, and Aero Corp. of California of which he is Vice President and Treasurer. Richter is also co-founder and director of Hawaiian Airways, Ltd."   Back to Top Here All materials on this Web site unless otherwise notated are copyrighted © and the exclusive property of the Ruth Richter-Holden Family. No Text, photographs or content may be reproduced in any manner without the expressed permission of Ruth Richter-Holden.