This is a wooden model GeeBee R1 racing plane (tail #NR2100). The original aircraft was designed by the Granville Brothers (hence the GB name) as a special-built racing plane designed to vie for the Thompson trophy. It was, in effect, a Pratt & Whitney 1333 engine with wings and a tail added to it. It won the 1932 Thompson trophy with Jimmy Dolittle at the controls. He also set a new world landplane speed record of 476 km/h (296 mph) in the Shell Speed Dash. The plane’s small control surfaces and uncompromising design made it a difficult and dangerous plane to fly.
GeeBee R1 Racing Plane
