Art Chester

Art Chester (1899–1949) was an American barnstormer and air racer of the 1930s and 1940s. Chester was instrumental in the development of the Menasco Pirate and Buccaneer inverted inline engines. He was also the designer of the propeller spinner and engine front cowling for the North American North American P-51 fighter.

Art Chester
Born
Art Chester

1899
DiedApril 1949
San Diego, California
Cause of deathAir Race Crash
NationalityAmerican
OccupationAir racer
Known forAir racing

Early life

In September 1930, Chester bought a Davis D-1-85 parasol, and flew it to victory in the National Air Races.[1] He later developed a series of successful air racers named after Popeye cartoon and comic strip characters. His designs were the Chester Jeep, Chester Goon, and Chester Swee Pea.[2] Chester's "Jeep" became a formidable racer.

He would be tow his aircraft from race site to race site, driving a matching colored Auburn boat tailed speedster.[3] Chester's "Jeep" and "Goon" were powered by Menasco Motors Company engines, which he tuned for maximum performance and reliability. Al Menasco took note of Chester's engine building and tuning skills. In 1939 Chester was hired by Menasco as an engine designer to help develop the Menasco Pirate and Buccaneer inverted inline aircraft engines.

During World War II, Chester went to work for North American Aviation as an engineer employing his racing experience on new designs.[4]

Chester was the president of the Professional Race Pilots Association and early promoter of midget air racing, the forerunner to Formula One Air Racing.[5] Chester died when his V-tailed racer Swee Pea II crashed in the slipstream of other racers at a San Diego meet.[6] Chester had entered every National air race held since 1929 until his death.[7]

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References
  1. "Davis D-1-W". Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  2. "Art Chester". Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  3. Thomas G. Matowitz. Cleveland's National Air Races.
  4. Birch Matthews. Race with the wind: how air racing advanced aviation.
  5. Popular Science. Jan 1948. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. Popular Science. July 1952. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. Aeroplane and Commercial Aviation News. 77. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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