bob

The gentleman on the right is legendary aviator, air racer, Lockheed Test Pilot, and regarded by many as "The Father of Area 51," Anthony W. "Tony" LeVier. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_LeVier The aircraft in the background is a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. I am currently unable to identify the pilot in the pressure suit.

Next to Tony is Bob Mattey not sure of the spelling. He was also a test pilot and was killed in a plane crash not long after this photo

Since these people have been identified, you need to change the title and remove this from the "need identification" album.

Correction on the identity of the test pilot in the pressure suit. Tony LeVier (right) is shaking hands with fellow test pilot Joe B. Jordan (left), on the day that Gordon set the (then) world altitude record of 103,395 ft in a US Air Force Lockheed F-104C Starfighter (56-0885), December 14, 1959. See: www.i-f-s.nl/f-104-records/ blog.seattlepi.com/americanaerospace/2010/12/13/f-104c-wo... www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/joe-bailey-jordan/ Here is a film documenting the record-breaking flight: YouTube - The Joint Forces Channel: "Historic Footage Of F-104 Breaking Altitude Record"

This picture appears to have been taken at Daytona Beach, Florida. Long before Daytona was associated with NASCAR it was the place to go to set land speed records. The hard-packed sand was excellent for this purpose. Actually, most racers started in Ormand Beach and drove toward the pier at Daytona. As speeds increased, it became difficult to negotiate the tight fit under the pier. Eventually those attempting land speed records turned to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Burnam set speed records for the mile (137.83 mph) and the kilometer (138.3 mph) at Daytona on April 22, 1911. At the time, it was the fastest a human had ever traveled.

Please see stumblng.tumblr.com/post/25353354, where I've added a link to a comparative photo.

Thank you both for the information, and yes stumblng.tumblr, this photograph does seem to exhibit the phenomenon of focal plane shutter distortion.

nice!

fabulous photo...reminds me of the fabulous movie "The World's Fastest Indian"!

Bob Burman professional race driver 1909 era

This is great! Reminds me of Alec Baldwin.



flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/2199030247/

What, no protective leather helmet?

More Tobey McGuire than Alec Baldwin.

ahaa.. i love this =)