Since the first days of aviation at Mexico Farms, aerial exhibitions and air shows were held at various times involving parachute jumps and stunt flying often by local pilot Torque Landis. Parachute jumps with several variations were performed, delayed openings, multiple chute openings, from a hot air balloon ascension, and jumps by Torque Landis, and his friend Katherine Shreve.
One of the best air shows brought to Cumberland was that of Jimmie and Jessie Woods of Wichita, Kansas. They created an aerial circus, eventually called the ‘Flying Aces’. The show performed continuously from 1929 through 1938. Jimmie and Jessie Woods brought new types of aircraft, Stearman’s, Eagle Rocks, Travel Airs, and Swallows and maintained strict control over their maintenance and overhauls. The ‘Flying Aces’ were a self-contained, well managed unit with a support staff of some fifteen full-time people. Jimmie Woods managed the circus with a firm hand and flew in almost every performance. His wife, Jessie, was the circus wing walker, parachute jumper, and surrogate mother. She became famous for sitting on the top wing of a Travel Air or Stearman, while Jimmie flew through barrel rolls, spins and loops. Jessie’s pet bulldog, Chandelle, became equally well known as ‘the flying dog’, while logging 1,000 hours of flight time. Chandelle had local competition. One of the flying aces was charged with rounding up a stray feline in every town, and the hapless animal was re-christened ‘Purceville, The Educated Cat’. ‘Purceville’ would then be seen drifting to the ground from on high after its release by the Woods in its own miniature parachute, to be claimed in most cases by some fascinated spectator and taken home to a life of ease. The Woods augmented such stunts with acts on the field that were calculated to entertain audiences between the acts in the aerial circus.
To celebrate the completion of the Works Progress Administration improvements on the runways at Mexico Farms Airport in 1935, the ‘Flying Aces’ Airshows were brought to Cumberland to perform. In between aerial displays one of their stunts, performed on the ground, had a speeding motorcycle and rider crash through a burning barrier on the newly completed north-south runway. A publicity stunt was a tug of war between the ‘Flying Aces’ Travel Air 4000 and a new 1936 Chrysler automobile from the Oscar Gurley Automobile Agency in Cumberland, with a Kelly-Springfield Tire Company tire in the middle of the rope. The object of the promotion was that a Kelly tire would not break under such tremendous force exerted between the Chrysler Automobile and the 220hp Wright Whirlwind engine Travel Air airplane in their tug of war. The ‘Flying Aces’ came highly recommended from over 300 American Legion performances all over the United States, and according to press reports, have been performing to tremendous crowds everywhere.
Jessie Woods claimed to be the only person in the world to ever attempt to stand on the top wing of a plane while the pilot does loops, spins and a barrel rolls with her as part of the ‘Flying Aces Aerial Circus’ two hour program. Risking her neck every day in some stunt was all in a day’s work for the intrepid Jessie Woods. She once lost her balance when the plane suddenly lurched and she dropped several hundred feet before her parachute opened and let her safely to the ground. Mrs. Woods is but one of 15 nationally known stunt performers, who thrill the large crowds. Her act included 15 spectacular air and ground events, including many never before shown in this area of the country.
Jessie Woods, and on the top wing of the Travel Air flown by her husband.
Photos and a caption published in the Fun-N-Sun handout in 1991 at Lakeland, Florida.
During the visit of the ‘Flying Aces’ to Mexico Farms in 1935, Jessie Woods’ pet dog Chandelle had pups. Jessie gave one of the offspring to Floyd Johnson, a boy of 11. Floyd named the pup ‘Snappsy’. ‘Snappsy’ lived to a ripe old age, long after WW II. In 1985, fifty years to the day that she appeared here, Jessie Woods came to an OX-5 organizational gathering at Mexico Farms and was reacquainted with Floyd Johnson. She impressed everyone with her vitality, alertness, power of recollection, and knowledge of aviation history. When Bob Armstrong asked her if she would like to ride in his 1927 OX-5 powered Waco 10, she whipped a white flying helmet from her pocket and scampered up on the wing walk into the front cockpit – usually not an easy task, especially for an older person. It was also thrilling for Bob Poling when Jessie consented to fly with him in his Piper J-3 Cub, handling the controls well in the process. Jessie Woods also attended the Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Experimental Aircraft Association Convention Fly-In in 1990. Jessie had her picture taken beside an OX-5 powered PA-4 Pitcairn, owned by Harold and Bob Armstrong, which they had flown to the fly-in from Cumberland.
In 1991, while at Sun-N-Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida, Jessie, at age 82, again took to the air as a wing walker on a 1930 model 225hp Wright Whirlwind powered New Standard D-25 bi-plane owned and flown by Steve Oliver. Suzanne Oliver, Steve’s wife, stood on the opposite wing in order to balance the plane. Both Jessie and Suzanne remained between the wings while Steve Oliver flew the airplane over the huge crowd during the Sun-N-Fun Fly-In. Jessie had not been on the wing of a bi-plane for many years and this act was an impressive feat, especially considering her advanced age.
Tom Scott’s Travel Air 4000 at Fun-N-Sun in 1992. On the right is Jessie Woods receiving a flight piloted by the author in his Piper J-3 Cub at Mexico Farms in 1985.
In 1992 Tom Scott and Tom Scott, Jr. landed at the Sun-N-Fun Fly-In in their restored 1929 Travel Air 4000 which replicated in detail the Travel Air 4000 used in the ‘Flying Aces’ by Jim and Jessie Woods from 1931 to 1938. This fascinating lady died in 2001, but Jessie Woods will be remembered as a pioneer in aviation and her feats long recalled.
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Wings Over Cumberland 