In
1926 the Brevard Aircraft Corporation was created to engage in commercial
flying, including aerial photography, surveys, maps, advertising and smoke
writing.  They also planned to sell
airplanes and operate a first class flying school. 

The
corporation was organized by Lt. M.A.C. Johnson, U.S. Air Reserve, Walter Hart
and Jerry Jerome.  Officers of the
corporation were J.S. Bromfield, president; M.A.C. Johnson, vice-president; and
Jerry Jerome, secretary-treasurer. The other directors were Walter Hart, A.H.
Kizer, S.M. Macfie and C.S. Osborne.

M.A.C. Johnson in Brevard Aircraft Corporation’s Waco Nine plane. Notice the large camera for taking aerial photographs mounted behind Johnson.

They purchased
a three-passenger Waco Nine for $2740 and built a hangar and airfield near the
Davidson River.  On Sunday, March 21,
1926 local residents were given an opportunity to learn about the aircraft and
flying first hand.  Several hundred
people turned out to watch as others took a short flight themselves. 

A
March 16, 1926 special edition of the Asheville Citizen featured aerial photographs
of Western North Carolina, including downtown Brevard, Carr Lumber Company in
Pisgah Forest and Transylvania Camp for Boys. 
Locations in Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson counties were also
pictured.

The
company contracted to take aerial views of Asheville’s south district water
shed and several miles of railroad right of way for mapping purposes.  Aerial photographs were made for real estate
development properties through Western North Carolina. 

In
addition, Johnson regularly flew businessmen to and from the Asheville vicinity
and conducted a general passenger business all over the country as requested.

Johnson
had learned to fly during the war in 1917 and 1918.  He served as acrobatic and aerial combat
instructor during his final year in the military.  After the war he worked in the air mail
service and operated a flying school.  In
addition he barnstormed—walking on wings and changing from one plane to another
in mid-air.  He was the second pilot ever
to fly below the rim of the Grand Canyon. 

In May
1927 Johnson was involved in a mishap when a tire blew out while landing in
Greenwood, South Carolina causing the plane to swerve and tip, breaking the
propeller.  Although the company was
reported to be highly successful and earning good dividends no additional information
could be located.

By the
early 1930’s Johnson and his wife, the former Mabel Miller of Brevard, were
living in Florida where he was a pilot with Eastern Airlines.  According to an October 24, 1938 Life magazine
article Capt. Johnson, now living in New Jersey, often took photographs of
unusual geographic shapes from his open cockpit window.

Photographs
and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina
Room, Transylvania County Library. Visit the NC Room during regular library
hours (Monday-Friday) to learn more about our history and see additional
photographs. For more information, comments, or suggestions contact Marcy at [email protected]
or 828-884-1820.