Page 24 - Volume 12, Number 3

In 1925, engineers Lloyd C. Stearman (right) and Mac Short (center) designed and built the Travel Air “Special” that featured a 160-horsepower Curtiss inline engine. The biplane was built for speed and was flown to victory by pilot Walter H. Beech (left) at many air racing events during the autumn of that year. Maximum speed was 125 mph. (TEXTRON AVIATION)
speed. Initially Beech was reluctant because the priority was building biplanes for customers, not air racers, but he had an insatiable thirst for speed and soon gave his approval. Dubbed the “Special” by Short and Stearman, the new ship would be smaller than production airplanes and feature an entirely different empennage. The fuselage and tail section were fabricated from gas-welded, chrome molybdenum steel tubing for strength and durability. The front cockpit could accommodate two passengers with the pilot seated in the aft cockpit.
Spars and wing ribs were made of spruce, with the upper wing panels spanning 31 feet six inches and the lower panels 25 feet two inches. A positive stagger existed between the wings and all fittings for the landing and
flying wires were installed within the wing structure as much as possible to reduce parasite drag. Streamline flying and landing wires, although more expensive than standard wires, were installed. In addition, a small airfoil was fitted between the fixed main landing gear and further reduced air resistance.
The two engineers chose to power the Travel Air with a Curtiss C-6A, inline, six-cylinder engine rated at 160 horsepower. The engine’s narrow width and small frontal area would promote smooth airflow, and as a final touch, the powerplant was fully enclosed in hand-made, sheet metal cowling. The coolant radiator was suspended under the firewall and could be raised and lowered mechanically to control water temperature as well as reducing drag. To make the Special just a little more special, the fuselage was painted a high gloss black while the wings were gold, providing a stunning contrast. To accent these colors, the interplane and cabane struts were given a bright, nickel plate finish.
MARCH 2018
22 • KING AIR MAGAZINE