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Robert N. Buck

Robert Nietzel Buck (January 29, 1914 – April 14, 2007) broke the junior transcontinental air speed record in 1930 and for a time was the youngest licensed pilot in the United States.[1]

Robert Nietzel Buck
Buck after his record-breaking flight
Born(1914-01-29)January 29, 1914
DiedApril 14, 2007(2007-04-14) (aged 93)
OccupationAviator

Early life edit

He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on January 29, 1914, to Abijah Orange Buck (1869–1932) and Emily Nietzel. Emily was Abija's second wife, and she was the daughter of Elizabeth Bellingrath.[2][3][4]

In 1930 at age 16 he took lessons in a Fleet Aircraft using a Kinner engine. He received the United States Department of Commerce license #13478.

On October 4, 1930, he beat the junior transcontinental airspeed record of Eddie August Schneider in his PA-6 Pitcairn Mailwing he named "Yankee Clipper". His time was 23 hours and 47 minutes of elapsed flying time. The junior record only counts time in the air and excludes time spent on the ground.[5][6][7][8] Robert said on February 6, 2005: "I was the youngest to fly coast to coast and that record still stands. I had my license at 16 and after that, they raised the minimum age to 17. With that change no one could break my record."

In December 1933, he flew to the Yucatan with Bob Nixon.[9] As part of that trip, they stopped in Los Angeles and spoke at a meeting of Alpha Eta Rho, an aviation fraternity.[9] They also participated in a cattle round up in Santa Rose, New Mexico.[9]

Career edit

In 1937 he began flying for TWA. Buck became a Captain in 1940, then was promoted to TWA's chief pilot in 1945.[2][4][10] In September 1957, Buck piloted the first nonstop flight from Los Angeles to London, flying the long-range Lockheed L-1649 Starliner. The following year, he wrote an extensive description of the flight published by Air Facts magazine.[11]

In 1965 he flew around the world from pole to pole in a Boeing 707. This was done with several other pilots in shifts.[10] In 1970 he flew TWA's first Boeing 747 on Flight 800 from New York City to Paris,[10] and in the same year wrote Weather Flying.

Personal life edit

Buck married Jean Pearsall in 1938.[4] He retired from TWA at age 60 on January 28, 1974[1][10] and moved to Vermont, where he wrote Flying Know-How, Art of Flying, and Pilot's Burden.

He died on April 14, 2007, in Berlin, Vermont, after complications from an accidental fall.[1]

Legacy edit

He was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey in 1981.

Publications edit

  • Flying Know-How. New York, N.Y.: Delacorte Press/E. Friede. 1975. ISBN 0-440-04934-2.
  • The Art of Flying. New York: Macmillan. 1984. ISBN 0-02-518220-X.
  • The Pilot's Burden: Flight Safety and the Roots of Pilot Error. Ames: Iowa State University. 1994. ISBN 0-8138-2357-9.
  • Weather Flying. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1998. ISBN 0-07-008761-X.
  • North Star Over my Shoulder: A Flying Life. New York: Simon & Schuster. 2002. ISBN 0-7432-1964-3.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Margalit Fox (May 20, 2007). "Robert N. Buck Dies at 93. Was Record-Setting Aviator". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-08-21. Robert N. Buck, a distinguished pilot who in the 1930s crossed the continent at record speed, flew a light plane higher than anyone had done before and photographed ancient ruins of the Yucatán from the air for the first time — all by the age of 20 — died on April 14 in Berlin, Vermont. ...
  2. ^ a b Robert Buck (2002). North Star Over my Shoulder: A Flying Life. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-1964-3.
  3. ^ "Dr. Abijah O. Buck, Surgeon, Is Dead". New York Times. Was Long Chief Practitioner of Singer Manufacturing Company in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Served As Major In War. Army Training Camp Where He Was Medical Officer Had Lowest Grip Death Rate. Aviation Enthusiast.
  4. ^ a b c "Robert N. Buck". Times Argus. April 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-21. North Fayston resident Bob Buck, an aviator who set flying records in the 1930s, made an airline career with TWA to include the position of chief pilot, conducted severe weather research, flew with Hollywood stars, worked for Howard Hughes, was an advocate for aviation safety and industry consultant as well as a noted author, passed away April 14, 2007, at age 93. He died of complications from a broken hip. Bob was born in Elizabeth Port, N.J., January 29, 1914. ...
  5. ^ "Boy flyer set to try at transcontinental record". Decatur Daily Review. September 27, 1930.
  6. ^ Decatur Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois; September 29, 1930; Boy aviator in quest of record.
  7. ^ Decatur Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois; October 1, 1930; Boy flier hops off second time
  8. ^ "Boy Flier Plans Return Air Trip". Decatur Daily Review. October 5, 1930.
  9. ^ a b c "Bob Buck and Bob Nixon In California En Route to Yucatan". The Courier-News. Bridgewater, New Jersey. 1933-12-14. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-06-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c d "Weather pioneer Robert N. Buck dies at 93". Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  11. '^ Buck, Bob (10 September 2014). "From The Archives: Bob Buck Flies A Connie From LA To London". Air Facts. Cincinnati, Ohio: Original publisher: Leighton Collins; relaunch: Sporty’s Pilot Shop. Retrieved 31 March 2021. Editor's Note: Bob Buck was one of Air Facts most popular writers in the 1950s and 60s, beloved for his first-hand accounts of the changing airline world… In our latest trip through the Air Facts archives, we fly from Los Angeles to London via the polar route, as told from the left seat of a Connie.

External links edit

  • Robert Nietzel Buck at Valley Reporter
  • Robert Nietzel Buck at Times Argus
  • Robert Nietzel Buck at Davis-Monthan Airfield Register
  • Robert Nietzel Buck at AVWeb
  • Robert N. Buck on National Public Radio

robert, buck, musician, buck, robert, nietzel, buck, january, 1914, april, 2007, broke, junior, transcontinental, speed, record, 1930, time, youngest, licensed, pilot, united, states, robert, nietzel, buckbuck, after, record, breaking, flightborn, 1914, januar. For the musician Robert N Buck see Rob Buck Robert Nietzel Buck January 29 1914 April 14 2007 broke the junior transcontinental air speed record in 1930 and for a time was the youngest licensed pilot in the United States 1 Robert Nietzel BuckBuck after his record breaking flightBorn 1914 01 29 January 29 1914Elizabeth New Jersey USDiedApril 14 2007 2007 04 14 aged 93 Berlin Vermont USOccupationAviator Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Legacy 5 Publications 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editHe was born in Elizabeth New Jersey on January 29 1914 to Abijah Orange Buck 1869 1932 and Emily Nietzel Emily was Abija s second wife and she was the daughter of Elizabeth Bellingrath 2 3 4 In 1930 at age 16 he took lessons in a Fleet Aircraft using a Kinner engine He received the United States Department of Commerce license 13478 On October 4 1930 he beat the junior transcontinental airspeed record of Eddie August Schneider in his PA 6 Pitcairn Mailwing he named Yankee Clipper His time was 23 hours and 47 minutes of elapsed flying time The junior record only counts time in the air and excludes time spent on the ground 5 6 7 8 Robert said on February 6 2005 I was the youngest to fly coast to coast and that record still stands I had my license at 16 and after that they raised the minimum age to 17 With that change no one could break my record In December 1933 he flew to the Yucatan with Bob Nixon 9 As part of that trip they stopped in Los Angeles and spoke at a meeting of Alpha Eta Rho an aviation fraternity 9 They also participated in a cattle round up in Santa Rose New Mexico 9 Career editIn 1937 he began flying for TWA Buck became a Captain in 1940 then was promoted to TWA s chief pilot in 1945 2 4 10 In September 1957 Buck piloted the first nonstop flight from Los Angeles to London flying the long range Lockheed L 1649 Starliner The following year he wrote an extensive description of the flight published by Air Facts magazine 11 In 1965 he flew around the world from pole to pole in a Boeing 707 This was done with several other pilots in shifts 10 In 1970 he flew TWA s first Boeing 747 on Flight 800 from New York City to Paris 10 and in the same year wrote Weather Flying Personal life editBuck married Jean Pearsall in 1938 4 He retired from TWA at age 60 on January 28 1974 1 10 and moved to Vermont where he wrote Flying Know How Art of Flying and Pilot s Burden He died on April 14 2007 in Berlin Vermont after complications from an accidental fall 1 Legacy editHe was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey in 1981 Publications editFlying Know How New York N Y Delacorte Press E Friede 1975 ISBN 0 440 04934 2 The Art of Flying New York Macmillan 1984 ISBN 0 02 518220 X The Pilot s Burden Flight Safety and the Roots of Pilot Error Ames Iowa State University 1994 ISBN 0 8138 2357 9 Weather Flying New York McGraw Hill 1998 ISBN 0 07 008761 X North Star Over my Shoulder A Flying Life New York Simon amp Schuster 2002 ISBN 0 7432 1964 3 References edit a b c Margalit Fox May 20 2007 Robert N Buck Dies at 93 Was Record Setting Aviator New York Times Retrieved 2007 08 21 Robert N Buck a distinguished pilot who in the 1930s crossed the continent at record speed flew a light plane higher than anyone had done before and photographed ancient ruins of the Yucatan from the air for the first time all by the age of 20 died on April 14 in Berlin Vermont a b Robert Buck 2002 North Star Over my Shoulder A Flying Life New York Simon amp Schuster ISBN 0 7432 1964 3 Dr Abijah O Buck Surgeon Is Dead New York Times Was Long Chief Practitioner of Singer Manufacturing Company in Elizabeth New Jersey Served As Major In War Army Training Camp Where He Was Medical Officer Had Lowest Grip Death Rate Aviation Enthusiast a b c Robert N Buck Times Argus April 20 2007 Retrieved 2007 08 21 North Fayston resident Bob Buck an aviator who set flying records in the 1930s made an airline career with TWA to include the position of chief pilot conducted severe weather research flew with Hollywood stars worked for Howard Hughes was an advocate for aviation safety and industry consultant as well as a noted author passed away April 14 2007 at age 93 He died of complications from a broken hip Bob was born in Elizabeth Port N J January 29 1914 Boy flyer set to try at transcontinental record Decatur Daily Review September 27 1930 Decatur Daily Review Decatur Illinois September 29 1930 Boy aviator in quest of record Decatur Daily Review Decatur Illinois October 1 1930 Boy flier hops off second time Boy Flier Plans Return Air Trip Decatur Daily Review October 5 1930 a b c Bob Buck and Bob Nixon In California En Route to Yucatan The Courier News Bridgewater New Jersey 1933 12 14 p 14 Retrieved 2023 06 23 via Newspapers com a b c d Weather pioneer Robert N Buck dies at 93 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Retrieved 2011 12 13 Buck Bob 10 September 2014 From The Archives Bob Buck Flies A Connie From LA To London Air Facts Cincinnati Ohio Original publisher Leighton Collins relaunch Sporty s Pilot Shop Retrieved 31 March 2021 Editor s Note Bob Buck was one ofAir Facts most popular writers in the 1950s and 60s beloved for his first hand accounts of the changing airline world In our latest trip through the Air Facts archives we fly from Los Angeles to London via the polar route as told from the left seat of a Connie External links edit nbsp Biography portalRobert Nietzel Buck at Valley Reporter Robert Nietzel Buck at Times Argus Robert Nietzel Buck at Davis Monthan Airfield Register Robert Nietzel Buck at AVWeb Robert N Buck on National Public Radio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert N Buck amp oldid 1187795982, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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