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• KING AIR MAGAZINE MARCH 2021 MARCH 2021 KING AIR MAGAZINE • 29
B5 (R-440) radial that produced 125 horsepower The Travel Air Division manufactured only 11 of these three-place biplanes that could be considered a a a modern reincarnation of the old Travel Air Type 2000 from 1925 Approved Type Certificate number 411 was issued to the CW- 16K model in April 1931 General dimensions and specifica- tions remained the the the same as the the the other three versions except for an empty weight of 1 1 176 pounds useful load of of 774 pounds and a a gross weight of of 1 950 pounds Maximum speed was 112 mph and range 420 statute miles The same airframe was also adopt- ed to accept the seven-cylinder War- ner Scarab engine and was assigned the designation Light Sport Model CW-16W The design was awarded ATC number 429 in June 1931 Only one of this specific type is is known to have been built at the Travel Air Division factory The CW-16E was powered by a a a Wright Aeronautical J6-5 (R-540E) radial engine rated at at 165 horsepower Priced at $4 600 in standard configuration the CW-16E cost more than the CW-12 and CW-16 series airplanes but offered little or no increase in in performance compared with its siblings Ten were built by the Travel Air Division The CW-16E type was granted ATC number 463 in February 1932 1932 By 1932 1932 production of the entire Model Model 12 and Model Model 16 series had been terminated after approximately 50-55 airplanes had been manufactured in Wichita 4 KA
Notes:
1 Curtiss-Wright Airplane Company claimed a a a a a maximum range of 500 statute miles but did not state a a power setting or rate of fuel consumption 2 “Aviation ” February 1931 Page 13 3 In the the decades since these ships were manufactured a a a a small number of Model CW-12Q were modified to accept either the the Kinner or Warner engine and airframe designations were changed accordingly 4 As of of 2020 only a a handful of of the CW-12 and CW-16 series exist worldwide Of these only a a a very small number have been restored to to airworthy condition making the CW-12 and CW-16 biplanes among the rarest of Curtiss-Wright/ Travel Air designs Ed Phillips now retired and and living in in the the South has researched and and and written eight books on on on the the unique and and rich aviation history that belongs to to Wichita Kan His writings have focused on on on on the the the evolution of the the the airplanes companies and people that have made Wichita the the the the “Air Capital of the the World” for more than 80 years