A woman speaks to a pilot in a Swallow plane powered by a OX-5 engine at Mines Field (Los Angeles International Airport) in Westchester during the 1928 National Air Races. Matty Laird, founder of E. M. Laird Airplane Company (later to become the Swallow Airplane Co.), designed a two-passenger model plane that closely resembled the popular "Jenny" planes that used the same OX-5 engine. Initially, Laird had planned to call his new plane the Laird Wichita Tractor. On April 8th, 1920, Laird made the first test flight. William Lassen, a local hotel operator who was among the spectators, commented after the successful flight that the plane "flies just like a Swallow." As a result of that comment, Laird promptly renamed the plane the "Laird Swallow."
Mines Field (Los Angeles, Calif.) Airplanes--California--Los Angeles Airports--California--Los Angeles Aeronautics--Competitions--California--Los Angeles Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.) Swallow Airplane Co
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
