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Presented by Cobra Entertainment in collaboration with Champion Spark Plugs and created by Adam Robbins, “A Man for the Record” (1970) is a color documentary film detailing pilot Darryl Greenamyer’s quest to beat the world record for fastest flight of a propeller airplane. Narrated by Michael Rye, the film details the history of propeller airplane records beginning with Jimmy Doolittle and ending with Fritz Wendel. The film then goes on to discuss Greenamyer’s many trials and tribulations around acquiring and modifying his Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat called Conquest I in order to beat Fritz Wendel’s 1939 record. After many attempts, Greenamyer accomplished his goal on August 16th, 1969. Today, Greenamyer’s Conquest I is in the museum collection of the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum.
Film opens, opening credits (0:08). Opening sequence: Arid mountainous landscape (likely Reno, Nevada), single pilot propeller plane whizzes through air, close-up POV of Darryl Greenamyer in cockpit (0:16). Man stares out of binoculars, jacket monogrammed with Champion Spark Plugs logo (1:06). Archival B&W footage Jimmy Doolittle setting 1932 record in Granville Gee Bee Model R Super Sportster at Thompson Trophy race (1:19). Hughes H-1 NR258Y 1935 record setting plane, photo Howard Hughes posing next to aircraft (1:39). German Air Force officials gather in airfield to observe Fritz Wendel fly and break record (1939) in German racing plane Messerschmitt Me 209 (2:03). Greenamyer and crew work away fixing up engine of racing plane (2:40). Greenamyer at day job test piloting new aircraft i.e. Lockheed YF-12 (3:10). POV close-up Greenamyer in cockpit of plane, narrates story of his life and career (4:22). Greenamyer and crew attach propeller engine into body of plane (5:32). U.S. Navy Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat propeller fighters take off from aircraft carrier; Shots of airborne Bearcats (6:15). Greenamyer and crew work on modifying his Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat, focused on speed so stripping away all non-essential parts (7:21). Narrator details changes made to Greenamyer’s Bearcat, shots flash between original plane and updated version (8:33). Squadron of propeller planes flying in clear blue skies during Unlimited Class Race of National Championship Air Races Reno; Shot of Greenamyer’s Conquest I Bearcat speeding through sky (9:10). POV race course from inside cockpit, Greenamyer narrates experience of flying during such an air race (11:05). Greenamyer takes plane on final test flight before record braking flight but something is wrong and struggles to make landing; Structural issues with plane (12:33). Sign for Edwards Air Force Base, Mojave Desert, California (15:17). Aerial view of desert landscape, black strips and monitor allow for monitoring speed and record setting, detailed illustration says how tracking plane works (15:23). Greenamyer interviewed ahead of flight (16:15). Final details and fixes on Conquest I: Cleaning wings, American flag decal, fuel; Final calculations made and reviewed for reaching record breaking speed (16:31). Slowed down time-lapse shots of Conquest I flying through monitors on Edwards course; Footage flashes between these images and those of past record breakers (18:57). Post-flight interview with Greenamyer (19:30). Modifications to aircraft exhaust pipes, paint burned off side of aircraft (19:45). Despite engine troubles, Greenamyer sets out on second attempt of day to break record, precision timing cameras set up below (20:48). Post-flight celebrations, Greenamyer takes sip from open champagne bottle, cheers with family and friends, photo-op with crew (24:20). Closing credits (25:20). Film ends (25:32).
Darryl George Greenamyer (1936 – 2018) started his flying career in the Air Force Reserve. He eventually became an SR-71 test pilot for Lockheed. He is the third most successful competitor in Reno Air Race history.
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