Tubal Claude Ryan learned to fly at the United States Air Service Flight School at March Field, California, in 1921. In 1922, he established the Ryan Flying Company in San Diego, California. Realizing the need for a passenger airline, Ryan started the first year-round passenger airline service in the United States in 1925. This airline provided regularly scheduled flights between San Diego and Los Angeles. Ryan's first production aircraft, the M-1 mail plane which was developed in 1926, provided the design basis for Lindbergh's famous Spirit of St. Louis. During the early 1930s he founded the Ryan School of Aeronautics and the Ryan Aeronautical Company which produced the popular Ryan ST in 1934, first of a successful series of monoplane trainers that evolved into a widely employed Army Air Forces PT-22, training over 22,000 pilots during World War II. After the war, the Ryan firm pioneered development of experimental aircraft for short takeoff and landings, jet vertical takeoff and landings, and the pilotless target and reconnaissance drones. Ryan's Q-2C Firebee target drone was in production for over 40 years and is still being used by some military organizations. Ryan retired from active management of his company in 1969.
Inducted in 1965.
Portrait Location: Hall of Fame Hallway