Page 22 - May 25

an option). The main cabin door was enlarged to better
facilitate cabin entry and egress and the loading and
unloading of cargo.
Cabin chairs featured steel frame and wicker
construction and could be richly upholstered and padded
to meet customer preferences. An optional divan was
also offered, as was a lavatory in the aft cabin equipped
with hot and cold running water and a non-flushing toilet
(a $195 option). The standard cabin could be quickly
reconfigured to carry cargo. The window cranks were
improved to make raising and lowering the glass easier,
and the size of the six cabin windows increased to 32 x
15 inches for improved visibility for the passengers. A
full-swiveling (but non-steerable) tailwheel was mounted
on a shock strut and greatly improved maneuverability
on the ground compared to the fixed tailskid installed
on the prototype airplane.
Meanwhile, the factory had been equipped with jigs
and fixtures to manufacture the 6000B and its more
powerful cousin, the mighty A6000A powered by a
420- to 450-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial
engine. The first production Type 6000B was constructor
number 732, delivered to Flyers, Inc., followed by C/N
790, registered NC6469, delivered in November to Wilbur
D. May. The next airplane was custom-built for Hollywood
actor Wallace Beery, who arrived at the factory on Dec.
14, 1928, to take delivery of Type A6000A (C/N 816),
registered NC9015. After flying the new monoplane,
Beery informed Walter Beech that he was pleased with
his purchase. The cabin featured custom installations
with all chairs upholstered in special velour fabric, and
the divan was finished with a special, mauve-colored
velour. In addition, a folding card table completed the
cabin options that cost Beery an additional $1,000.
The A6000A featured additional bracing in the wings
and the wing area was increased by 60 square feet to
allow installation of fuel tanks with a total capacity of
130 gallons to feed the thirsty Wasp Junior compared to
80 gallons for the more economical Whirlwind-powered
6000B. Before taking off for California, Beery paid Miss
Mellor a visit to her office. The airplane cost $18,000
(an enormous sum for a small airplane at that time)
and he still owed Travel Air $10,000. He reached into
his overcoat and handed Olive Ann a wad of 10 $1,000
bills and demanded a receipt!
In addition to Hollywood elites like Beery who flew
Travel Air monoplanes, so did Lindbergh, who by now
was America’s favorite aviator. He and Walter knew each
other well, and in 1929 when Lindy needed an airplane to
fly down to Mexico to visit his future wife, Ann Morrow,
daughter of United States Ambassador Dwight Morrow,
Walter happily provided a Type 6000B. While in Mexico,
22
29
6
20 •
­ KING AIR MAGAZINE MAY 2025