Spirit100
Menu
Join the Spirit100 Crew:Join the Spirit Crew:
Flying Over Timemedia · Donald A. Hall Estate Collection — Page 24 · Rev 6 · 10/11/2026https://flyingovertime.org/media/the-estate/page/24
Aeronautical engineer Donald A. Hall working at his desk
Flying Over Time Collection Donald A. Hall Estate

The Estate

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

The Donald A. Hall Estate Collection contains the definitive, original 1927 engineering blueprints, technical notes, and historical photographic negatives documenting the design and construction of the Spirit of St. Louis (Ryan NYP).

Back to MediaCommercial Licensing

Explore the Estate Collection

948 images from the family-held record. Search captions and descriptions, and open any image to view it in full.

948 images

Looking down a steep, snow-covered mountain slope into a valley densely packed with pine trees.
Steep Snowy Valley (1927)

Capturing the dramatic elevation changes of his wilderness expeditions, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this steep, snow-covered descent into a dense pine valley in 1927.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A snow-covered forest clearing surrounded by evergreen trees with a prominent snow-capped mountain peak in the distance.
Snowy Clearing and Distant Peak (1927)

This breathtaking 1927 landscape frames a pristine, snow-covered forest clearing against the majestic backdrop of a towering, sunlit mountain peak.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Looking past snow-dusted pine trees down into a lower, drier valley and distant hills.
Ridge Overlooking the Valley (1927)

From a snowy, high-altitude vantage point, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this 1927 photograph looking down into a sprawling, lower-elevation valley, highlighting the diverse California terrain.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A bright, sunlit grove of pine trees heavily blanketed with thick winter snow.
Snow-Laden Pine Grove (1927)

The brilliant California sun illuminates a grove of pine trees heavily burdened with fresh winter snow in this spectacular 1927 wilderness photograph by Donald A. Hall Sr.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A dark, flowing stream cutting through a dense winter forest, surrounded by snow-covered rocks.
Winter Stream in the Forest (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. expertly contrasted the dark, flowing waters of a mountain stream against the bright, snow-capped rocks and surrounding winter forest in this beautiful 1927 photograph.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A sunlit snowy embankment in the foreground overlooking a dense, dark evergreen forest in the valley below.
Snowy Embankment Overlooking the Forest (1927)

Standing on a bright, snow-covered embankment, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed the stark contrast of the deep, shadowed evergreen forest filling the valley below in 1927.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A snowy winter forest scene with various trees and a large, sunlit mountain peak looming in the background.
Winter Forest and Mountain Backdrop (1927)

Continuing his documentation of the rugged alpine wilderness, Donald A. Hall Sr. framed this 1927 photograph to highlight the towering, snow-capped mountain peak rising behind the winter forest.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A deep, snow-covered mountain ravine filled with pine trees, backed by a massive, sheer granite peak.
Snowy Ravine and Granite Peak (1927)

A spectacular 1927 view of a deep, snow-covered alpine ravine. Donald A. Hall Sr. captured the sheer scale of the California wilderness, anchoring the shot with a massive granite peak towering in the distance.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
The wooden deck of a large steamship with canvas-covered lifeboats, large black ventilator cowls, and passengers looking over the railing.
Passengers on the Steamship Deck (1927)

Transitioning from the wilderness to maritime travel, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this 1927 photograph on the wooden deck of a large steamship. The image details the canvas-covered lifeboats and large ventilator cowls of early 20th-century vessels.Hall was probably on his way to Catalina Island for his Island photography series.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A person swimming freestyle in a swimming pool, turning their head to breathe.
Freestyle Swimmer (1927)

Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this dynamic action shot of a swimmer practicing the freestyle stroke in a local pool. This 1927 photograph showcases his camera's ability to freeze fast motion in the water. Photo taken at Brooks Field, Texas.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A person swimming freestyle in a pool with water splashing, while another person in a dark swimsuit sits on the edge in the background.
Freestyle Swimming Training (1927)

Capturing a moment of aquatic recreation, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this dynamic shot of a freestyle swimmer in 1927. A companion rests on the edge of the pool in the background, adding depth to this candid sports photograph.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A person swimming freestyle in a large lake or river, with a grassy shoreline, trees, and a small house visible in the background.
Open Water Swimming (1927)

Taking his camera to the water's edge, Donald A. Hall Sr. documented this open-water swimmer navigating a calm lake in 1927. The quiet residential shoreline in the distance provides a serene backdrop to the athletic exertion in the foreground.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A close-up action shot of a Donald A Hall taking a breath mid-stroke in dark open water.
Swimmer Mid-Stroke (1927)

Freezing the rapid motion of the crawl stroke, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this intense, close-up photograph of a swimmer in 1927. The dark, rippling open water beautifully contrasts with the splashing action of the subject's stroke.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
An aerial view looking out past an aircraft wing towards a coastline and city, showing the Dutch Flats area where a plane may be taking off.
Dutch Flats Takeoff View (1927)

An incredibly significant 1927 aerial photograph taken by Donald A. Hall Sr. over San Diego. Believed to show a takeoff from Dutch Flats—the very airfield where the Spirit of St. Louis was tested—this image captures the historic proving grounds of his most famous aeronautical design.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Three carved wooden aircraft models, including an experimental tandem wing design, resting on the textured roof of the aviation factory.
Experimental Wind Tunnel Models (1927)

Photographed on the roof of the factory where the Spirit of St. Louis was built, these carved wind tunnel models represent Donald A. Hall Sr.'s advanced aeronautical research in 1927. Supported by Frank Mahoney, Hall's radical tandem wing designs were later featured in Popular Mechanics and officially patented in 1933.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A dark, sleek wooden wind tunnel model of a single-engine aircraft resting on a textured roof surface.
Low-Wing Wind Tunnel Model (1927)

Continuing his rigorous aerodynamic testing in 1927, Donald A. Hall Sr. photographed this sleek, low-wing aircraft model on the roof of the historic San Diego factory. These precision-carved models were essential for the wind tunnel testing that defined his engineering process.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A low-angle photograph of three experimental aircraft wind tunnel models lined up on a factory roof with distant hills in the background.
Experimental Models on the Roof (1927)

A 1927 lineup of Donald A. Hall Sr.'s experimental wind tunnel models, including his groundbreaking tandem wing concepts. Photographed on the roof of the historic San Diego factory, these designs secured funding from key backers and pushed the boundaries of 1920s aerospace engineering.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A side profile of a wooden tandem wing aircraft model with a forward and rear wing, resting on a rooftop.
Tanim Wing Concept Model (1927)

This 1927 photograph highlights the side profile of Donald A. Hall Sr.'s radical tandem wing concept. Designed for extensive wind tunnel testing, this innovative dual-wing configuration garnered national attention in Popular Mechanics and eventually earned the Chief Engineer a patent in 1933.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A rear view of a dark tandem wing aircraft model mounted on three metal pegs for wind tunnel testing.
Tandem Wing Model on Testing Mounts (1927)

Preparing for rigorous aerodynamic evaluation, Donald A. Hall Sr. mounted this tandem wing model on metal standoffs. This 1927 archival image illustrates the exacting scientific methods he used to prove the stability and lift of his revolutionary twin-wing designs.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A light-colored, smoothly carved wooden model of a tandem wing aircraft with a black propeller.
Carved Tandem Wing Design (1927)

Displaying master craftsmanship, this 1927 light-wood tandem wing model was carved specifically for Donald A. Hall Sr.'s aerodynamic research. Funded by visionary backers like Frank Mahoney, these models represent the cutting edge of post-Spirit of St. Louis aviation engineering.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A side profile of a sleek, dark wooden model aircraft resting on a flat surface.
Sleek Wind Tunnel Model (1927)

Continuing his series of aerodynamic test articles, this 1927 photograph shows another of Donald A. Hall Sr.'s sleek wooden wind tunnel models, demonstrating his relentless pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency. This was meant to be a exceptionaly fast gull wing aircraft yet was never built.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Two men and two women playing a mixed doubles tennis match on an outdoor court.
Tennis Double Date (1927)

Taking a break from his engineering work, Donald A. Hall Sr. captured this fun 1927 photograph of a double date playing a mixed doubles tennis match in the bright California sun.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
A woman preparing to serve a tennis ball during an outdoor mixed doubles match.
Tennis Match Serve (1927)

Another candid 1927 photograph from a weekend double date. Hall documented the action as a player prepares to serve the tennis ball, showcasing the active social life he enjoyed outside the aviation factory.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection
Three men sitting in a canoe on a sandy beach, with one looking through binoculars and a camera trigger string visible.
Timed Self-Portrait in the Canoe (1927)

A brilliant and silly 1927 string triggered self-portrait. Donald A. Hall Sr. and two companions pose in a canoe on the beach. One man looks through binoculars, and the string used to trigger the camera shutter is clearly visible stretching out of the frame.

Donald A. Hall Estate Collection

Research, permissions, and image requests

Contact the collection for credits, rights information, and permission to reproduce images.

Make an image inquiry