| "Winnie Mae's" Pants Found!! |
After seventy-five years, "Winnie Mae's" pants headed back home to Oklahoma. Jackie Mullarky of Scotts Valley, CA
was cleaning out the basement of her parents home when she came across an old wooden propeller and a rather large
metal piece that looked as if it should be in the recycle bin. Upon examination of the dusty old relic and on the way to the
recycler, she noticed an inscription which reads:
was cleaning out the basement of her parents home when she came across an old wooden propeller and a rather large
metal piece that looked as if it should be in the recycle bin. Upon examination of the dusty old relic and on the way to the
recycler, she noticed an inscription which reads:
"This has been in the basement of my parents home for fifty-years", Jackie told the Taxi-Strip. "Both my parents
were pilots, but I'm not and I never paid any attention to it before", she added. I saw this name, "Wiley Post", so I decided
to look him up on the internet".
After some research and asking questions Jackie e-mail the Taxi-Strip asking if we knew anyone who might be
interested, Indeed we did! The wheel pant and the old Jenny propeller were donated to the Curtiss-Wright Wiley Post
Hangar where it shall be on permanent display. Bob Kemper, Executive Director said, "This is the largest piece of the
Winnie Mae outside the National Air & Space Museum". There were individuals several organizations who offered their
planes to fly to California and bring the left side of Winnie Mae's pants and bring it back home.
were pilots, but I'm not and I never paid any attention to it before", she added. I saw this name, "Wiley Post", so I decided
to look him up on the internet".
After some research and asking questions Jackie e-mail the Taxi-Strip asking if we knew anyone who might be
interested, Indeed we did! The wheel pant and the old Jenny propeller were donated to the Curtiss-Wright Wiley Post
Hangar where it shall be on permanent display. Bob Kemper, Executive Director said, "This is the largest piece of the
Winnie Mae outside the National Air & Space Museum". There were individuals several organizations who offered their
planes to fly to California and bring the left side of Winnie Mae's pants and bring it back home.
| To Otto Sanloff: This is the left side of Winnie Mae's pants, She's a good gal. Around the world in 8 days, 15 hrs, 51minutes, June 23 - July 1, 1931 --Wiley Post |
Clara Flocking, Jackie Mullarky's mother was the first woman from San Jose, CA
to receive her private pilot certificate in 1940. In 1941 she received her
commerical ticket and in 1942, Clara become a Certified Flight Instructor,
instructing U.S. Naval Cadets the art of flying
Otto Sanloff was an engineer with Lockheed in Burbank. Neither Jackie or her
brothers have any idea how their parents came to be the owners of this wheel
pant. It is known that after Wiley Post's first around the world flight with Harold
Gatty, the Winnie Mae was taken back to the factory for inspection and to be
returned to its normal status as a corporate airplane for F.C. Hall of Chickasha,
Ok.
to receive her private pilot certificate in 1940. In 1941 she received her
commerical ticket and in 1942, Clara become a Certified Flight Instructor,
instructing U.S. Naval Cadets the art of flying
Otto Sanloff was an engineer with Lockheed in Burbank. Neither Jackie or her
brothers have any idea how their parents came to be the owners of this wheel
pant. It is known that after Wiley Post's first around the world flight with Harold
Gatty, the Winnie Mae was taken back to the factory for inspection and to be
returned to its normal status as a corporate airplane for F.C. Hall of Chickasha,
Ok.
Although dusty and showing its age after fifty years in a
basement, the piece is in remarkably good condition. The
inscription is definitely in Wiley Post's hand, according to
author and historian, Bob Burke. Burke's book WILEY POST
From Oklahoma to Eternity has just been republished in soft
back by the Oklahoma Historical Association. Burke is the
state's leading author with 60-books published. He has been
nominated for three Pulitzer Prizes.
"Everyone here is most excited...the chances of
something like this happening...It's like a bolt out of lightning",
Burke said.
basement, the piece is in remarkably good condition. The
inscription is definitely in Wiley Post's hand, according to
author and historian, Bob Burke. Burke's book WILEY POST
From Oklahoma to Eternity has just been republished in soft
back by the Oklahoma Historical Association. Burke is the
state's leading author with 60-books published. He has been
nominated for three Pulitzer Prizes.
"Everyone here is most excited...the chances of
something like this happening...It's like a bolt out of lightning",
Burke said.
| The Return Home to Oklahoma City |
Saturday August 26th 2006, one of the original wheel pants of the Winnie Mae was returned to OKC
and Wiley Post Airport at Hangar 21, Southern Wings Aircraft Sales. A reception was held on arrival
at 1:00 pm. The wheel pant has been in a basement in California for the past 50 years. It have been
donated to the Wiley Post Heritage of Flight Center by Jackie Mullarky of Scotts Valley, CA..
Bob Kemper said, "This is a fantastic day for the Wiley Post Flight Center. Being able to have the
original wheel pant from the Winnie Mae is more than we could have imagined. While our museum
is being constructed, it will be on display at the 'Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots in OKC."
The wheel pant was returned to OKC from California, by Bill and Sue Halpain of Oklahoma City with
sponsors providing fuel for the trip.
Also on it's way to the museum is an early propeller from a Curtiss Canuck. Wiley Post's first airplane
was a Canuck, much like the one shown below.
and Wiley Post Airport at Hangar 21, Southern Wings Aircraft Sales. A reception was held on arrival
at 1:00 pm. The wheel pant has been in a basement in California for the past 50 years. It have been
donated to the Wiley Post Heritage of Flight Center by Jackie Mullarky of Scotts Valley, CA..
Bob Kemper said, "This is a fantastic day for the Wiley Post Flight Center. Being able to have the
original wheel pant from the Winnie Mae is more than we could have imagined. While our museum
is being constructed, it will be on display at the 'Ninety-Nines Museum of Women Pilots in OKC."
The wheel pant was returned to OKC from California, by Bill and Sue Halpain of Oklahoma City with
sponsors providing fuel for the trip.
Also on it's way to the museum is an early propeller from a Curtiss Canuck. Wiley Post's first airplane
was a Canuck, much like the one shown below.
| Compare the shape of the prop to the one on the Curtiss JN-4C on the right. |
| Why The Winnie Mae Needed New Pants |
| Soft field landings are not without hazard. Wiley and Harold sat down at a designated fuel stop In Alaska, but the soft ground wouldn't support the plane. The prop was bent, but Wiley being mechanically inclined, borrow a couple of big pipe wrenches and straightened the prop. The wheel pant on the plane is the one now in OKC. |
| Another reason the Winnie Mae needed a new wheel pant was due to Wiley and Harold using it as ladder. There is a tread on top but as you can see Harold's left foot is on the paint work. The foot wearing of the paint is clearly visible on the pant today. |
| With TV cameras rolling, Sue Halpain supervises as Bill Halpain and Bob Kemper gingerly removes the pant from the Halpain's A-36 Bonanza. Sue flew the pane to Wiley Post Airport. |
| Bob Kemper, Executive Director of the Wiley Post Heritage of Flight Center and publisher of the TAXI-STRiP, carefully examines this rare treasure. |
| Left: Sue's cousin, Ray Wallace of San Jose, Bill & Sue Halpain Right: Jackie Mullarky Bottom: Jackie Mullarky's brother Karl Schnieder |
| Loading the Halpain's Bonanza at San Jose for the next day's flight home. |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Story by Sue Haipain Bob Kemper, Executive Director of the Wiley Post Heritage of Flight
Center, and long time friend was in need of a volunteer to fly out to San Jose, CA to retrieve the
original left wheel pant of Wiley Post's Winnie Mae airplane. Jackie Mullarky had found the relic in
the basement of her late parents home and upon researching and realizing the treasure she had
found, donated the pant to the Center, providing someone would personally retrieve it. Bob made
another plea at the August 4 OPA (Oklahoma Pilots Association) meeting.
Loving to fly and sometimes looking for excuses to do so, Bill and I volunteered to fly out in our
Bonanza to retrieve the pant. Becoming excited about this journey, we departed Wiley Post Airport
at 6:30 AM on August 23, made quick fuel stop at Winslow, AZ, and arrivied in San Jose at 3:45 PM
Central (1:45 local) and were met at the airport by my cousin who lives there. We also had pre
arranged to meet Jackie Mullarky and her brother at the airport to make the transfer in the evening.
And there it was! Breathtaking and beautiful was this wheel pant which had flown around the
world with Wiley Post in 1931! We carefully wrapped the pant and placed it gently in the back of the
Bonanza nestling it along with an old propeller which Jackie has also found and donated to the
museum.
The next morning, we departed San Jose, CA at 9:30 local for Pagosa Spings, CO for an
overnight visit with my brother. We encountered horrible thunderstorms over the Grand Canyon
and had to turn back and landed at Laughlin, AZ. We absolutely could not lose this precious cargo
to a thunderstorm! We rented a car and drove across the bridge to Laughlin, NV and spent the
night at the River Palms high rise casino for $21.00! Unbelievable! With the temperature at 107
degrees, it was off season. I e-mailed Bob and teased him that we had lost the wheel pant in
paying off all our gambling debts of the evening!
The next morning, weather improved, we were off again for Pagosa Springs, CO and had a
nice visit with my brother and sister-in-law. We were treated like celebrities by the locals there at
the airport and we proudly had a show and tell of the wheel pant.
Finally, on August 26, we are headed for home with our precious cargo. Upon landing at 1:05
PM, we were greeted by Bob and friends of the aviation community at Southern Wings Aviation with
a reception celebration. What an honor and privilege to be a part of the returning the original Wiley
Post Winnie Mae wheel pant home!
Center, and long time friend was in need of a volunteer to fly out to San Jose, CA to retrieve the
original left wheel pant of Wiley Post's Winnie Mae airplane. Jackie Mullarky had found the relic in
the basement of her late parents home and upon researching and realizing the treasure she had
found, donated the pant to the Center, providing someone would personally retrieve it. Bob made
another plea at the August 4 OPA (Oklahoma Pilots Association) meeting.
Loving to fly and sometimes looking for excuses to do so, Bill and I volunteered to fly out in our
Bonanza to retrieve the pant. Becoming excited about this journey, we departed Wiley Post Airport
at 6:30 AM on August 23, made quick fuel stop at Winslow, AZ, and arrivied in San Jose at 3:45 PM
Central (1:45 local) and were met at the airport by my cousin who lives there. We also had pre
arranged to meet Jackie Mullarky and her brother at the airport to make the transfer in the evening.
And there it was! Breathtaking and beautiful was this wheel pant which had flown around the
world with Wiley Post in 1931! We carefully wrapped the pant and placed it gently in the back of the
Bonanza nestling it along with an old propeller which Jackie has also found and donated to the
museum.
The next morning, we departed San Jose, CA at 9:30 local for Pagosa Spings, CO for an
overnight visit with my brother. We encountered horrible thunderstorms over the Grand Canyon
and had to turn back and landed at Laughlin, AZ. We absolutely could not lose this precious cargo
to a thunderstorm! We rented a car and drove across the bridge to Laughlin, NV and spent the
night at the River Palms high rise casino for $21.00! Unbelievable! With the temperature at 107
degrees, it was off season. I e-mailed Bob and teased him that we had lost the wheel pant in
paying off all our gambling debts of the evening!
The next morning, weather improved, we were off again for Pagosa Springs, CO and had a
nice visit with my brother and sister-in-law. We were treated like celebrities by the locals there at
the airport and we proudly had a show and tell of the wheel pant.
Finally, on August 26, we are headed for home with our precious cargo. Upon landing at 1:05
PM, we were greeted by Bob and friends of the aviation community at Southern Wings Aviation with
a reception celebration. What an honor and privilege to be a part of the returning the original Wiley
Post Winnie Mae wheel pant home!
click on hangar for home page
| "We are now emotionally involved" |
| Bringing "Winnie's" Pants Home |