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Company, Dayton, Ohio, as Vice-President and test pilot. This concern had been started by another ex-Curtiss pilot, E.A."Al" Johnson, to detail in Government surplus planes, engines and aviation equipment, rebuild and repair, conduct a flying school, carry passengers, and do commercial flying. A flying field and buildings had been established near Dayton, and although the two men were not related, they proceeded to build up a very substantial business.

In 1922 they founded the Johnson Flying Service to manage and promote the flying part of the business. They initiated weekend and holiday passenger carrying flights which became so popular that they added another ex-Curtiss pilot, Walter Lees, to their staff. Their business growth soon enabled them to /employ the well-known aeronautical engineer, Ivan Driggs, to design and supervise the construction of some new aircraft. 

The Jonhson-Driggs light airplane type DJ-I was their next production. Called the "Bumble Bee" it was a high-wing full-cantilever monoplane of 27-foot span, powered by a Henderson 4-cylinder motorcycle engine. The total weight was only 325 pounds, without fuel and pilor. In October of 1924,  the National Air Races were held in Gayton at Wilbur Wright field. For the first time, a race for light airplanes was added, sponsored by the Dayton Daily News. Engine displacement was limited to 80 cubic inches.The race was for 25 miles from a standing start. The "BUmble Bee", flown by James Johnson, won easily at a speed of 64.1 m.p.h. 
James Johnson remained with the Johnson Aeroplane and Supply COmpany until 1927 when he resigned to join the Air Regulation Division, U.S. Department of Commerce as an aircraft inspector. He remained there until 1928 when he left to become test pilot and Sales Manager for the Buhl Aircraft Compan, Marysville,Mchigan. There he tested and assisted in the development of several aircraft, among them the small" FLying Bull Pup" which was brought out in January 1931. The "Pup" was a monoplane of 32-foot span with an all-metal fuselage, wire braced, cloth-covered woodenwind construction,and was powered by a 3-cylinder radial  

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