(1901-1986) National Competition; Sailplane Financier
Silver #22 1939
Harvey Stephens was a well-known movie star who loved soaring. His first glider flight was in 1933 with Ted Jenks over the cliffs of Palos Verdes near Los Angeles. He also served as the first Vice President of the Southern California Soaring Association.
In 1936 Stephens joined with Don Stevens and Speed Westphal in flying a Franklin Utility. He had several flights over an hour at Palos Verdes.
Later he flew the Briegleb BG-1 at Palos Verdes for an hour and 30 minutes reaching an altitude of 3,300 feet.
In 1936 he and Harland Ross began construction on the Ross-Stephens R.S.-1, a sailplane designed by Ross after the best German sailplanes. Stephens supplied funding for the Ross-Stephens Aircraft Company of Montebello, CA which built the sailplane. The R.S.-1 had a wing span of 46 feet and a wing area of 125 psf with aspect ratio of 17. Empty weight was 280 lbs with gross weight of 470 lbs. Glide angle was 23 to 1 with a sinking speed of 2.5 fps. This sailplane became known as the Zanonia.
In 1937 several members of the SCSA went to Arvin in the San Joaquin Valley north of Los Angeles for the first gathering of pilots and sailplanes at this popular soaring site. Among them were Harland Ross and Harvey Stephens with the Ross-Stephens R.S.-1.
Both Ross and Stephens flew the R.S.-1 at Elmira in the 1937 Nationals where Ross placed fifth and Stephens last.
By 1938, Stephens had redesigned the tail surfaces and flown the ship at various locations in Southern California including Torrey Pines and Hemet.
Harvey Stephens earned Silver Badge # 22 in 1939.
As is not surprising, Harvey Stephens is best known for his acting career. He was known initially for his performances in Broadway productions, and thereafter for his work in film and on television. He was most active in film beginning in the 1930s and through the mid-1940s. Beginning in the mid-1950s, he transitioned to television and enjoyed success there through the 1960s. His movies include The Cheat (1931), Swing High, Swing Low (1937), The Texans (1938), The Oklahoma Kid (1939), many Western films and he appeared with Gary Cooper, Joan Leslie and Walter Brennan in Sergeant York (1941). His television credits include 77 Sunset Strip, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, multiple episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Wagon Train, Perry Mason and Bonanza. (Wikipedia)
Information from the book by Gary Fogel: Wind and Wings