Page 26 - January 23

Beery and Walter Beech strike a pleasant pose beside the actor’s factory- fresh monoplane. Beery was an accomplished pilot and held a Transport license. He began flying in 1925 and previously owned a Travel Air Model BW biplane. By 1929, demand for open cockpit biplanes was waning as more pilots, especially business owners, preferred enclosed cabin mono- planes. Celebrities such as Wallace Beery were no exception.
(Edward H. Phillips)
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not “invent” the cabin monoplane, Walter Beech was among the first to foresee the growth of business aviation and the need for a modern airplane designed specifically to meet the unique requirements of that market. These included a spacious cabin capable of accommodating up to six occupants, the ability to mount office equipment such as a desk, typewriter and dictation machine, and above all, lend itself to customization.
In 1927 Beech had orchestrated an extensive market survey of Travel Air clientele and found that a ma- jority would gladly trade their open cockpit biplanes for an enclosed cabin monoplane. As a result of the survey, company engineers created the Type 6000 that flew for the first time in April 1928. It later formed the basis for larger, more powerful versions such as the Type 6000B and the A6000A. Engineers Herb Raw- don, Walter Burnham, Cecil Barlow and Howard Bacchus redesigned the airframe to accept engines up to 300 hp. In addition, the forward cabin width was increased 4 inches and length increased by 5 inches; the throttle quadrant was relocated to the center of the instrument panel and the crank mechanism for the windows was improved.
The 6000B was powered by a nine-cylinder Wright J6-9 static, air-cooled radial engine rated at 300 hp while the larger A6000A boasted a massive, 425-hp Pratt & Whitney radial powerplant. Although built in much smaller numbers than the dominant 6000B, the A6000A offered customers more power and utility than was available with the standard airplane.2
When the company received Beery’s order for an A6000A, it spec- ified a list of custom appointments worth $1,000. These included seats upholstered in velour, a specially- built divan installed in the cabin so Beery could nap on long flights, a folding card table was built and installed and the actor paid an addi- tional $195 for the optional lavatory
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24 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2023