Granville Gee Bee Z Super Sportster City of Springfield, 1/16th scale

This model of the Gee Bee Z Super Sportster City of Springfield was built in 1975 for the Museum's opening in 1976.

Granville Gee Bee Z Super Sportster City of Springfield, 1/16th scale

The Granville Brother of Springfield, Massachusetts built the Model Z specifically to win the Thompson Trophy Race in 1930. With a large engine in a small airframe to maximize speed, it won the race despite being difficult to fly. The next year, while trying for a world speed record, the Model Z crashed., killing pilot Lowell Bayles. This model was commissioned in 1975 for the opening of the National Air and Space Museum.

Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Date: 2011

Photo Number: NASM 2011-00643

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Granville Gee Bee Z Super Sportster City of Springfield, 1/16th scale

Granville Gee Bee Z Super Sportster City of Springfield, 1/16th scale