TWA Boeing Stratoliner

 

Jack Frye explains in a letter to Look Magazine the involvement Howard Hughes had with the Constellation airliner (even to the end of the Constellation as developed for TWA). Very interesting to hear Jack's side of things.....

This is Google blog is to promote Jack & Helen Frye and their Sedona Smoke Trail Ranch and images of their lives. The narrative appears in the adjoining book "the Jack & Helen Frye Story - the Camelot Years of TWA" available on Amazon. Background on their lives: Let's start with Jack Frye, longtime president, and one of the original founders of TWA (1930). Trans World airlines and their success is due to one man, Jack Frye, anyone who tries to dispell this accomplishment is short-sighted. That said, TWA's Round-the-World launch is due to the Constellation Airliner 049 (the first model of this incredible airliner which enabled TWA to fly trans-atlantic). Jack Frye was at the forefront development this revolutionary transport, with Howard Hughes' financing. And no, Howard Hughes, although many give him all credit for the Constellation, did not design or implement it, this rests with Jack Frye (please see next post). As for Helen Varner Vanderbilt Frye, the novel cited gives a complete overview of her life from Clarksburg West Virginia to Sedona Arizona. What a journey to be sure.

"Jet aircraft line the tarmac at the Sedona Airport on Friday, May 18 2018. Aviation executives, owners of major corporate airlines, aircraft manufacturing companies, suppliers and other corporate officials met in Sedona over the weekend for the annual 3-day Conquistadores del Cielo aviation club gathering. Founded in 1937, by Transcontinental & Western Air President, William John 'Jack' Frye, a Sedona resident, the private club meets around the country twice a year, but the attendees are not allowed to discuss business during the friendly gathering." This from a Sedona Legend friend-- likely originated in the Sedona Red Rock News.

(Image) Jack (President/Founder of TWA) & Helen Frye shown at Sedona waiting for ride to their private airport to board Jack's Lockheed 12A for Kansas City and Washington D.C. (1942)

Jack & Helen Frye shown in 1942 on their Deer Lick Ranch which adjoins Red Rock State Park (now as Cross Creek Ranch Estates)

The photo (left) of Jack and Helen was used in a Fortune magazine profile on Jack from 1945. The image was a Frye photo sent to Fortune to use with the article (similar) to previous post image which features Helen with her horse at the neighboring Smoke Trail Ranch (1960). Fortune Magazine features following caption:

"Jack and Helen Frye like best the life on their 22,000-acre ranch near Flagstaff, Arizona. With a weeping willow in the front yard, mauve cliffs in the background, and 1,200 cattle, the ranch reminds Frye of his Texas boyhood. When international routes are settled, Frye would like to take less active part in T.W.A., and spend more time at the ranch." First time ever I have seen in print that Frye indicated a desire to semi-retire from TWA. Please note 22,000 acre ranch was at Sunshine Arizona just north or Flagstaff. This image was taken at the Deerlick Ranch (now Cross Creek Ranch Estates)

Background information from the original indepth sedonalegendhelenfrye website (presently being redeveloped)

The Frye Deer-Lick main house (one of three on-site residences) seen below with a nearby small barn in 1945. On the right rear of the stone main house is what appears to be a white framed addition or perhaps the edge of the assistant ranch foreman's residence (long since demolished)

In mid-1941 Jack and Helen Frye bought a substantial amount of ranch property in Sedona Arizona. Jack Frye, long-time president and one of the original founders of Transcontinental & Western Air (Trans World Airlines or TWA), purchased the property for use as a working cattle ranch and TWA get-a-way. The property was also utilized throughout the years to entertain many Frye guests to include associates of Transcontinental & Western Air, Hollywood celebrities, and the "Who's Who" of our government. Helen named the first parcel of the new Frye property "Deer-Lick Ranch" and the second parcel "Smoke Trail Ranch". Eventually the Fryes sold a 120-acre parcel (per Helen Frye interview) which included the Deer-Lick Ranch buildings in 1947. This parcel was part of the original 320-acre Frye purchase from 1941. This 1947 sale (which did not close and record until 2-9-1948) was misleading; however, as Frye actually increased the size of his Sedona holdings rather than decreased them, Jack Frye merely shuffled his property a bit. The Deer Lick sale was in conjunction with other land trades and purchases. As an example of Frye National Forest Service land trades, I cite just a couple:

Initiated by Jack Frye February 20 1946

Initalized- November 6 1947 (110 acres)

Initiated by Jack Frye February 20 1946

Finalized- November 6 1948 (52.50 acres)

Initiated by Jack Frye 1950

Finalized- April 9 1952 (32.5 acres)

Wonderful image of Helen Vanderbilt Frye at the entrance to her Wings of the Wind home overlooking the Frye Smoke Trail Ranch (at one time nearly 800 acres) currently as Red Rock State Park. Also shown are Helen's dear friend Rosie Targhetta Armijo and unidentified friend

 

Red Rock State Park Entry Station (former Frye Ranch at Sedona)

Current views from Helen's Wings of the Wind showplace out to Cathedral Rock and Smoke Trail Ranch  

Helen Frye riding on Smoke Trail Ranch in about 1960