Steve Wittman

Sylvester Joseph "Steve" Wittman (April 5 1904 - April 27 1995) was an air-racer and aircraft designer and builder. He gained his pilot's license (signed by Orville Wright) in 1924 and built his first aircraft later that same year, powered by a motorcycle engine.

From 1925 to 1927 he had his own flying service, giving joyrides and during this time also became a demonstration and test pilot for the Pheasant Aircraft Company and Dayton Aircraft Company. He also began his air-racing career, designing, building, and piloting his own aircraft, including "Chief Oshkosh" and "Bonzo".

Steve's first race in his first aircraft design was in "Bonzo" in the 1935 Thompson Trophy race, where he placed second.

In 1937, piloting his second homebuilt, "Chief Oshkosh", Steve placed 2nd. in the Greve Trophy Race. Steve flew "Bonzo" in the Thompson Trophy race, and he led for the first 18 laps of the 20 lap race, at an average speed of over 275 mph (442.57 km/h). Suddenly his engine began to run rough, and Steve was forced to throttle back to remain in the race, finishing in 5th place.

During World War II his Wittman Flying Service was part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program, training pilots for the Army Air Corps.

After the war, Steve finished 8th 1946 Thompson Trophy race with a clipped wing Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighter. In 1947 Bill Brennand won the inaugural Goodyear class race at the National Air Races piloting Wittman's 'Buster'. 'Buster' went on to many more Goodyear/Continental Trophy races, and was retired after the 1954 Danville, New York air races. It is now on display at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Wittman built an entirely new 'Bonzo' for the 1948 National Air Races, and flying it himself, finished 3rd. Steve raced 'Bonzo' through the 1950's and 1960's, including the first few Reno National Championship air races, before retiring from Formula One competition in 1973. 'Bonzo' is now displayed next to Steve's prewar 'Bonzo' in the EAA AirVenture Museum along with several other Wittman airplanes.

Wittman was manager of the Oshkosh, Wisconsin airport from 1931 to 1969 - which is now named after him (Wittman Regional Airport). Steve became involved in the newly-formed Experimental Aircraft Association in 1953 and was instrumental in bringing the EAA's annual fly-in to the Oshkosh Airport in 1970.

He designed and built Witt’s V to compete in the new Formula Vee, racing class. He competed in races with that aircraft until 1979.

Wittman also designed the popular Wittman Tailwind homebuilt airplane.

Steve married Dorthy Rady in 1941. He taught her to fly and she accompanied him to most of his races. Dorthy died in 1991 and Steve married Paula Muirin in 1992. On April 27, 1995, Steve and Paula took off for a routine cross-country flight from their winter home in Ocala, Florida to their summer home in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Wittman "O&O" N41SW (41 for 1941, year of his first marriage, plus SW, his initials) crashed 5 miles south of Stevenson Alabama, killing both Steve and Paula. [http://www.ntsb.gov/NTSB/GenPDF.asp?id=ATL95FA092&rpt=fa]

References

* [http://www.aviationhalloffamewisconsin.com/inductees/wittman.htm Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame website]