Page 25 - January 2015 Volume 9, Number1

Air distributors, and the two B6 ships were flown by Walter Beech (Tour number “4”) and Francis Bowhan (Tour number “2”). Bowhan, who earned his nickname “Chief” because of his Osage Indian heritage, was a colorful but competent local pilot who often flew for the company. Campbell was accompanied by S.A. McGinnis and later W.B. Mueller, and Bowhan’s passenger was none other than his wife, Charlotte, and Thomas Day. As for Beech, he carried only one passenger – Charles E. Planck. Total payload for each airplane included 335 pounds for Campbell, 315.5 pounds for Bowhan and 286.5 pounds for Beech.
In addition to pilots representing Travel Air, local pilot Earl Rowland flew an OX-5-powered “Swallow” accompanied by “Jake” Moellendick as passenger. Hart Bowman, John W. Stauffer and Edgar Goff flew in two other Swallow biplanes. The weather did not cooperate for much of the initial route, but overall the tour was deemed a success. The first Ford Tour produced 11 pilots who had achieved “perfect scores,” including Walter Beech and the other two Travel Air entrants. Each participant received a cash award of $350 and had their name engraved on Edsel Ford’s impressive trophy. The next Ford Tour, scheduled for August 7-21, 1926, would prove to be more competitive than the first, but Walter promised Tour officials that he would be back with a new Travel Air and first place in his sights.
Nine months later during the summer of 1926, not only was Wichita awash in a sweltering heat wave, but Walter Beech was feeling the “heat” from his fellow associates regarding construction of a biplane for the upcoming Ford Tour that was only a couple of months away. Clyde Cessna and Lloyd Stearman, while sympathetic with Walter about his desire to compete in the tour, objected to the $10,000 it would take to build the ship. Travel Air’s coffers were always lean and the company could afford to pay only a small portion of the total amount. As a result, Beech decided to contact his financial friends in New York City, which he knew would be receptive to his plans. He sent a telegram describing his situation, and much to his surprise, five minutes later he received a reply stating that the money he requested would be immediately made available.
With the money side of the equation solved, the next hurdle was factory manager William “Bill” Snook, who controlled Travel Air’s production line. Fortunately, Snook enthusiastically agreed to make room in the production schedule for a “Model BW” powered by the then-new Wright J-4 static, air-cooled radial engine. Featuring nine cylinders and a rating of 200 hp, the J-4 represented a major advance in engine technology in terms of weight per horsepower compared with contemporary in-line and V-8 piston powerplants.
JANUARY 2015
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 23