Page 29 - January 2015 Volume 9, Number1

Back in Wichita, the entire city seemed to be “rooting” for Beech and Goldsborough. One of the city’s leading newspapers, the Wichita “Eagle,” set up a special scoreboard on the east side of the Eagle building downtown and kept track of the Travel Air’s progress during the tour. Beech and Goldsborough were first to land in Kalamazoo and Chicago, and after arriving at Maywood Airport in the “windy city,” Beech was told he had won a $1,000 prize given by local Ford automobile dealers for the first airplane to land. Up to that point the Wright J-4 kept roaring along. Goldsborough was living up to his reputation as a skilled navigator, the instruments were working perfectly and Beech was flying the Model BW with a deft hand on the stick. Throughout the event Goldsborough was able to inform Beech within 45 minutes of their next destination what time they would arrive, and he was never wrong by more than two minutes! It was an impressive feat of precision air navigation whether judged by standards of 1926 or 2015.
When the parade of tour ships arrived at the next destination, St. Paul, Minnesota, the Travel Air still led the pack and had flown the Milwaukee-St. Paul leg at an average speed of 137.4 mph. Although the Model BW was leading the tour, it was only 44 points ahead of the tenacious Louis Meister and his Airster. Next, Walter and Brice won the leg from Lincoln, Nebraska to Wichita at an average speed of 128 mph, winning a silver loving cup from the White Eagle Oil Company.
All of the tour contestants paused for a rest in Wichita during the weekend and were feted royally by the city fathers and local officials. Miss Ruth Richardson, the reigning “Miss Wichita” that year, presented each pilot with a rose and key to the city – a gesture that was well received by everyone.
On Monday, the tour departed Wichita for Richards Field in Kansas City. Once again the Travel Air landed first after a flight of only 1:30. By the end of the tour, Beech and Goldsborough had accumulated an impressive 4,034 points and easily beat all competitors. The Travel Air team earned $3,850 for their efforts and had their names inscribed on Edsel Ford’s expensive and very special trophy. It was shipped to Wichita in October and sat briefly on Walter Beech’s desk before being placed in a guarded case in the city’s Chamber of Commerce building. Later, it was returned to Ford Tour officials to await presentation to the winner of the 1927 event.
JANUARY 2015
Of all the triumphs Beech and Goldsborough had achieved during the tour, they had proven that the airplane was a viable and reliable form of public and private transportation that could be flown between two points with great precision. Walter, however, was quick to give his navigator much of the credit for their victory. He realized that without Brice and his abilities, coupled with Pioneer’s special package of advanced instrumentation, it is doubtful that the Travel Air would have captured top honors. After all the hoopla surrounding the tour celebrations subsided, Beech flew the Model BW to New York City specifically to thank his financial supporters and to let them inspect the ship. He then flew to Philadelphia to attend the “Sesqui Air Meet,” where the Travel Air was delivered to its new owner. KA
END NOTES:
1. These airplanes must have been among the first batch
of ships built, but the lack of any reliable manufacturing records before 1926 precludes identifying them by each airplane’s construction (serial) number.
About the Author: Ed Phillips, now retired and living in the South, has researched and written eight books on the unique and rich aviation history that belongs to Wichita, Kan. His writings have focused on the evolution of the airplanes, companies and people that have made Wichita the “Air Capital of the World” for more than 80 years.
BUY OR RENT
the World’s...
• smallest package
• lightest weight
• least expensive
New!!! FAA TSO Approved Life Rafts Made in USA
Emergency Liferaft
4-6 MAN 4"x12"x14" 12 lbs. $1,510
9-13 MAN 5"x12"x14" 18 lbs.
$1,960
TSO’d & NON TSO’d
Call Survival Products, the manufacturer, for cutomer/distributor/service info
Phone: (954) 966-7329 FAX: (954) 966-3584
5614 SW 25 St., Hollywood, FL 33023
PRODUCTS INC. www.survivalproductsinc.com sales@survivalproductsinc.com
Extend TBO to 8000 hours!
It’s about time for
website
www.morecompany.net
email
info@morecompany.net
phone
(775) 782-3346
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 27