Harry Schaare (New York, Arizona, 1922 - 2008) "Wiley Post in High Altitude Suit" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. Flying celebrated its golden age between the two World Wars. Hordes of enthusiastic amateurs entered government sponsored competitions, creating excitement for their barnstorming antics. During this period, Wiley Post, himself a young barnstormer, became determined to fly around the world. On June 23, 1931, Post and his navigator, Harold Gatty, left New York's Roosevelt Field in the Winnie Mae. This Lockheed Vega, powered by a 550 horsepower, supercharged Wasp engine, soared into the sky. The flight went smoothly through England, Germany and along the Trans-Siberian route to the USSR. Here, in the muddy airfield of Blagovyeschensk, the Winnie Mae bogged down. After wasting fourteen hours grappling with the plane, Post and Gatty were finally rescued by a detachment of American soldiers with a tractor. Dirty, but not damaged, the Winnie Mae once again soared through the sky. In Khabarovsk, USSR, the Winnie Mae was grounded for several hours while mechanics inspected the engine. Luckily, the Winnie Mae was in perfect running order, and the around-the-world flight continued. After eight days, fifteen hours and fifty-one minutes, Post landed his plane back at Roosevelt Field, establishing a new long-distance flying record that stimulated aeronautics throughout the world. Image Size: 15.75 x 13.25 in. Overall Size: 20.25 x 16.25 in. Unframed. (B05708)