benjaminfranklinmahoney

This is a photo of Charles A. Lindbergh and Ryan Airlines owner Benjamin Franklin Mahoney (aka B.F. Mahoney) in front of a Ryan M-1 aircraft, not the Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis. Ryan Airlines built the Ryan M-1, M-2, as well as the Ryan NYP, and later Ryan Brougham.

BF Mahoney had already purchased Ryan Aircraft and Ryan himself had little to do with the building of the Spirit of St Louis. BF had kept the name of the company as Ryan Aircraft leading to some confusion. see link: www.charleslindbergh.com/plane/mahoney.asp

Replacement propeller spinner and nosecone, which replaced the original spinner and more blunt nosecone which cracked during Lindbergh's May 12, 1927 flight from San Diego to Long Island. That places this photo at Curtiss Field (adjacent to Roosevelt Field), where the spinner and nosecone were replaced prior to Lindbergh's flight to Paris.

BF Mahoney came up with an idea for an airline. "You've got the airplanes here doing a lot of local flying," he said to Ryan. "Did you ever think about running a schedule to Los Angeles back and forth on a daily schedule basis?" Ryan had doubts. Undeterred, Mahoney pointed out that "people are more ready to accept flying than you may think." And he offered to put up the money for an airline for a share of the profits. Ryan agreed, and the Los Angeles­ San Diego Air Line came into being on March 1, 1925. The fare was $14.50 one way, $22.50 round trip. It was claimed to be the first airline in the United States to operate all year on a regular schedule. On April 19, 1925, Mahoney bought a half interest in Ryan's operations--the airline, aviation school and the charter and sightseeing business--for $7,500. The two became partners under the name Ryan Airlines. www.charleslindbergh.com/plane/mahoney.asp