Dates

• Existence: 1880 - 1910

Biographical Note: Ralph G. Johnstone

Ralph Johnstone was an early aviator who flew for the Wright Exhibition Team.

Johnstone was born on September 18, 1880, in Parsons, Kansas. He started as a vaudeville trick bicycle rider before he became a pilot with the Wright exhibition team.

Along with Archibald Hoxsey, Johnstone was known for making many record altitude attempts. On October 27, 1910, at the International Aviation Tournament at the Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, New York, Johnstone set a new American flight altitude record of 8,471 feet. During the flight, a gust of wind forced him to fly backwards, and he landed near Artist Lake in Middle Island, New York.

Johnstone died on November 17, 1910, in Denver, Colorado, when he crashed. Johnstone's Model B was still fairly new but had a damaged wing that was not adequately repaired. The wing failed during an altitude attempt and he crashed in front of a crowd.

Gender

• male

Occupations

• Air pilots

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