General History

The Standard J-1 was designed by Charles Day who had also designed the famous Curtiss Jenny.  The first version of this aircraft was one of four that help the U.S. Army chase down Mexican bandit, Pancho Villa in 1916.  When the United States entered the first World War in 1917, the aircraft was built to supplement the Curtiss Jenny for training pilots.  Most aircraft that were produced were underpowered with the 4-cylinder Hall-Scott or Curtiss OX-5 engines with 90 hp.  By war’s end, more than 1,600 Standard J-1’s were produced. 

After the war, many J-1’s were converted to the more powerful 150 hp Hisso engine and were used for barnstorming, joy-riding and mail service.  Because aviation was not regulated, it was only a matter of time before the accident rate began to rise.  Largely due to poor maintenance and the deterioration of surplus World War I aircraft, the Air Commerce Act of 1926 was passed.  Part of the new act included that, "All passenger carrying aircraft could not be built of wood, and those already made would be condemned."  This effectively ended the Barnstorming Era and destroyed all but the 34 remaining Standard J-1’s. 

Personal History

This Standard J-1 was owned by famous movie-pilot Paul Mantz and was used in many aviation films.  It is quite possible that this aircraft was 1 of 2 used in the 1930’s Howard Hughes epic Hells Angels as a German two-seater.  At the completion of the film Mantz ended up with the 2 Standard’s.  It is known that this aircraft was built up from 2 Standards for the 1957 movie, “Spirit of St. Louis”.  It was also used in the film, “Lucky Lady”.  In 1975, this aircraft, along with another Standard J-1 owned by Ernie Freeman of Los Angeles, California, starred in the film, “The Great Waldo Pepper” with Robert Redford.  It is great film about a couple of barnstorming pilots that find themselves at the end of their era and out of work.  It is a very pertinent story showing the demise of the Barnstorming Era aircraft.  This aircraft was acquired when Kermit purchased the Tallmantz Collection in 1985.

Kermit Comment

Charles Lindbergh got his first airplane ride in a Standard J-1 when he was 20 years old.  When the movie, “Spirit of St. Louis” was about to be made, Paul Mantz was contracted to supply aircraft for the film.  The script called for a Standard J-1 to be used to portray Lindbergh’s first flight.  Mantz hired a gentleman by the name of Otto Timm to restore build up aircraft for the film.  It was Otto Timm who had given Charles Lindbergh his first ride in 1923.

When Lindbergh heard that Timm was restoring this aircraft for the film, he visited his old friend in California.  While he was there, it is rumored that he flew this aircraft.