13 black cats: extreme sports in aviation (12 photos)

"13 flying black cats" - a team of stunt pilots, which could do almost anything in the sky. They started their activities in 1925, and mostly performed at air shows in Los Angeles and the Southwestern United States, and have also worked in film. Let's take a look at some highlights from the history of the team.





Team "13 Flying Black Cats" (13 Flying Black Cats) was founded in 1925 and based at Burdett Airport, Los Angeles. The story began with three American pilots: Burdett Fuller (one of the most prominent at the time), Jack Fry and Ronald (Bohn) McDougall. Together, in 1923 they opened Burdett Airport and Aviation School. Already in 1925 several graduates flight school, as well as Fry and McDougall themselves, united in a team, able to perform the most extreme stunts in the sky. And so they appeared "13 black cats".

1. Team base at Burdett Airport, Los Angeles



The team put on a show and wowed the crowd with their breathtaking stunts on planes. They flew the plane up upside down, and played tennis on the wings of an airplane in the sky, and made dangerous jumps. "Black cats" quickly gained popularity - in the USA they were the first to do so. Stuntmen participated in various air shows in Los Angeles, but mostly acted in films. As part of the team there were also women - however, they were never officially listed. Here some pictures from the history of this famous team:

2. Participants of "13 black cats" William Matlock (1902-1926), Paul E. Richter, Jr. (1898-1949), Ronald McDougall (1901-1970) and Ken Nichols (1902-1974). Snapshot 1925





3. Arthur Goebel (1895-1973) started flying in 1920. Then he became a member of "13 black cats", and one of the best stuntmen Hollywood



4. Three stuntmen from "13 Black Cats" are on the plane during the flight



5. Participants of "13 black cats"



6. Gladys Roy (1896-1927) was an accomplished stunt performer and jumper with parachute. She died in 1927 after accidentally stumbling upon rotating propeller



7. During the performance of one of the tricks, January 27, 1926. The photo is signed by one of the participants of "13 black cats", Gladys Ingle, and also Arthur Goebel



8. Gladys Ingle prepares to jump from one plane to another. During her career, Ingle made over 300 such jumps. Then she went out retired and took care of the family



9. Performing one of the tricks: two "black cats", hanging on the plane, pass objects to their comrades



10. Stuntmen Gladys Roy and Ivan Unger play tennis on the wing of an airplane.



11. While Bon McDougall is piloting, two other "cats" in in cowboy costumes, Al Johnson and Ken Nichols playing cards on the top the wing of the aircraft. Photo from 1925