1936 Press Photo – Don Stevens Glider Takeoff Practice from Automobile with Beatrice Felter and Mary Myers

Original 1936 press photograph issued by Wide World Photos documenting glider expert Don Stevens practicing a takeoff maneuver from the roof of an automobile in preparation for a demonstration at the National Air Races. The event referenced in the caption was scheduled to open in Los Angeles on September 4th, 1936.

In the image, Stevens is seen positioned in the cockpit of the glider, which is mounted atop a Ford automobile. The scene also features Beatrice Felter (left) and Mary Myers (right), both seated on the car’s fenders in bathing suits. The glider is marked with registration “G-12188.”

The photograph includes its original paper caption on the verso, dated August 29, 1936, and clearly identifies all individuals as well as the context of the scene. Stampings and archival filing marks from the San Antonio Star Library and “AIR RACES” filing label are also present on the reverse.

This image is of particular interest to historians and collectors of early aviation, glider experimentation, and the culture of 1930s air shows. It also provides rare visual documentation of automobile-assisted glider launches in the pre-WWII era, as well as the promotional and media strategies used in public aviation events like the National Air Races.