The first in a new series about the Alberta Aviation Museum’s most recent acquisition.
When the “new” Fokker Universal arrived late last year from Ottawa, we had very little information about it, except its registration (NC7029) and final owner (ST Howe). Internet searches revealed no pictures of NC7029/N7029, and “ST Howe” was too common of a name to yield many results.
However, thanks to a records search through the Federal Aviation Administration, we now have a complete history of its 16-year flying career – and even a few photos, courtesy of other aviation museums.
A Brief Timeline of NC7029 and Its Owner:
In July 1928, the Atlantic Aircraft Corporation in New Jersey rolled out a brand-new Fokker Universal, known internally as Model 4. This was the 34th of its kind, designated construction number 434. Equipped with a 220 HP Wright Aeronautical Corporation Type J-5-C radial engine (Engine #8499) and a Hamilton wooden propeller, the aircraft could carry six passengers, with limited baggage – as opposed to early Universals that carried only four passenger seats and a larger luggage (or toilet) compartment. The factory outfitted it with essential instruments like a tachometer, altimeter, compass, and an airspeed indicator, along with safety items such as a first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. Registered as NC7029, this identifier would accompany the aircraft throughout its operational life.
On July 20, 1928, Reuben Daniel Silliman of New York City purchased the aircraft for $14,200, which, adjusted for inflation, is the equivalent to $449,937,76 USD, or $648,022.86 Canadian. Silliman, an adventurous Wall Street lawyer and former judge, soon applied for an airplane license, intending to use the Fokker for both personal and professional purposes. Initially, he considered selling it to Berkshire Airways but ultimately decided to keep it.
Just a few months later, on October 13, 1928, disaster struck. A fierce windstorm tore the aircraft from its moorings at his private airstrip outside Sheffield, Massachusetts,. By morning, NC7029 lay damaged on a nearby highway. The landing gear and fuselage sustained damage, but Atlantic Aircraft quickly repaired it, returning the plane to service.
By 1930, the aircraft had seen limited use – primarily giving rides to Silliman’s friends and family. He replaced its original wooden propeller with a more durable Hamilton metal propeller, adapting the plane for more robust performance. Despite these upgrades, owning the aircraft proved challenging. In January 1931, Silliman candidly wrote, “Owning an airplane is a good deal of a nuisance, I find.”
However, he soon found a practical use for NC7029. Silliman began commuting between his Sheffield estate and New York City, a journey that took just over an hour each way. Over the next several years, the Fokker Universal steadily logged flight hours. By 1933, it had accumulated 160 hours, and by 1939, that number had reached 295 hours. Despite its reliability, the plane saw less use as time went on. By November 1940, its registration was cancelled when its airworthiness certificate expired.
After sitting idle for several years, the aircraft changed hands. In 1944, Samuel Titcomb Howe of Westfield, Massachusetts, purchased NC7029 for a mere $500, a fraction of its original cost. Adjusted for inflation, this is the equivalent of $9,066.16 USD, or $13,052.91 Canadian. Howe, a commercial pilot, sought to restore the plane’s former glory. He applied for an airworthiness certificate and began preparing it for flight. Unfortunately, on April 2, 1944, the Fokker met its end. During a crosswind landing, it struck a soft patch of ground, causing the tail to lift and the plane to nose over. The mishap left the propeller bent, the engine mount damaged, and the fuselage compromised. Repairs proved too costly, and the aircraft’s flying days were over.
Howe attempted to sell the damaged plane to the Canaan Airport Company, but the deal fell through. By 1948, the Civil Aeronautics Administration declared the aircraft untraceable and officially cancelled its registration.
Judge Reuben D. Silliman: The Man Behind the Aircraft
Born on May 17, 1871, in Hudson, Wisconsin, Reuben Daniel Silliman carved out a diverse and accomplished career. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1894, he practiced law in San Francisco, Honolulu, and Duluth before joining the esteemed New York firm of Choate, Larocque, and Mitchell. Silliman’s life reflected a passion for exploration and innovation. In 1928, he purchased a 275-acre estate in Sheffield, Massachusetts, where he built a private airstrip for NC7029.
Despite the challenges of aircraft ownership, Silliman’s enthusiasm for aviation never wavered. He frequently commuted by air between Sheffield and New York, often piloted by Gus Graff, a veteran aviator. Silliman’s adventures in the skies symbolized the pioneering spirit of early aviation enthusiasts.
A Legacy Preserved
After decades of use and a colorful history, NC7029 was eventually recovered by the Connecticut Aviation Historical Society, but ultimately sold the remains to the Canada Sapce Museum in Ottawa in the 1990s to make room for other projects. Ottawa in turn needed space, and reached out to us last year, judging the Alberta Aviation Museum to worthy organization to undertake this major project. This remarkable aircraft stands as a testament to early aviation innovation and the adventurous individuals, like Judge Silliman, who embraced the possibilities of flight.
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