John Gilbert "Tex" Rankin (January 20, 1894 – February 23, 1947) was an aerobatic pilot, barnstormer, air racer, and flight instructor from the 1920s to the 1940s.

[citation needed] On January 10, 1930, Rankin established a National Aeronautic Association flying record, for executing and completing 19 consecutive aerial outside loops.

Rankin performed daily aerobatic flights to the delight of the crowds at the San Francisco World's Fair.

After extensive examination of weather chart conditions, among other factors, Rankin found that the small agricultural town of Tulare, located in the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley was the perfect spot for his flying school.

Years worth of weather condition statistics, reflected that the San Joaquin Valley had the best flying conditions weather-wise in the U.S. Tulare's site itself also proved ideal as it was located 12 miles (19 km) east of general use airways and 6 miles (9.7 km) from the heart of town, and initially was a large tract of farm land, which held no undesirable obstructions on it.

[7][3] A portion of Rankin Field is still in operation, since 1996 it has been used as a firing range for the Tulare County Deputy Sheriff's Association.

Tex Rankin was killed in an aviation accident on February 23, 1947, in Klamath Falls, Oregon, when the Seabee he was piloting suffered a power failure upon takeoff and struck a 70-foot-high tension line which overturned the airplane.