This photo above is a great photo of Tex and His airshow Great
Lakes.
(On photso below..click on the pictures for a larger view)
Tex Rankin was a airshow pilot who was one of the first to make this
airplane famous.
Here below are two pages from the Great Lakes Log (Thanks to the
Antique Airplane Association for these) In reading you will
find that there are some changes from a standard Sport Trainer.
Click on each page to read the larger view. You will
find that Tex Rankins' ship was no ordinary Great Lakes.
Tex and Dorothy Hester both flew this plane. It is being
restored now in Oregon.
Here is another photo before the red white and blue paint job.
Tex in for a landing. It was painted RED WHITE and BLUE and
had 30 minutes of smoke! Click on image to see it bigger.
Click on image to see it bigger
Smoke on Ready for take off! The National Aerobatic Champion
in his Super Great Lakes!
A Color Pic of this plane under restoration in an Oregon Museum
of this great plane (even a color picture) - click
here
Bill Norin had these photos of Him and Tex on his webpage. They
are in color. Thanks to Bill for sharing.
These are some of the only color photos I can find of Tex's Great
Lakes!
Bill as a child is in the cockpit. That is Tex standing with the
tie on.
Bill is standing on his crutches in front of Tex's Great
Lakes.
