Those were the good old days! Year 1947. The pix was taken at the "Cleveland National Air Races which was a popular event among early aviation enthusiasts. Starting in 1929 and continuing thru 1949. Pilots risked their necks racing around pylons, five laps over a ten mile course at low levels. Several world famous pilots participated over the years, among them Charles Lindbergh, Wiley Post, Roscoe Turner, Jackie Cochran and many others.
          Jason K. Downer (Jay) was a Saginaw business man, owner of Scientific Brake Service and dealer for Trailmobile commercial vehicles who became interested in flying, at first for pleasure and then in aircraft manufacturing. He purchased an Aeronca in the mid 40's and learned to fly, and purchased a Republic Seabee (above) from our dealership in 1946. Downer demonstrated his intention of entering the airplane manufacturing business by buying the Republic Seabee manufacturing type certificate in 1956 with the intention of supplying replacement parts to existing Seabee owners. He quickly followed, in 1957 with the purchase of the existing manufacturing facilities and rights to build the Bellanca Cruisair, a popular 4-place, low wing plane at Alexandria, Minnesota. About this time, Jay left his established businesses in Saginaw in the hands of trusted employees and started to devote full time to his newly acquired enterprises and we saw little of him after that.
          I did see Jay, on one memorable occasion later. He called me and said he had just purchased a twin Cessna 310 and would I be able to fly with him to Chicago to see if he demonstrated enough piloting skill to obtain a rating on the plane. To fly this new twin was actually a first for me and a real opportunity to get acquainted with it. After he demonstrated the ability and as he had logged the required time on the plane, I issued, to him, a twin engine rating. It was enjoyable but it was the last time I had personal contact with him.
I did hear about him, from time to time, and was greatly surprised, while researching material for my coming Seabee website,"The Internationl Republic Seabee Owners Club" to learn that he had purchasd the manufacturing rights to the Seabee and had manufactured replacement parts for a few years. I later learned that he sold his manufacturing facilities in 1960 and died a few years ago......JH
For more on Jason K. Downer    Click Here
For My Former "IRSOC" website     Click Here.....SEE HONORARIUM.....JH