Page 26 - Volume 11 Number 11

Goebel told Lippiatt that he wanted to enter the Dole race and was considering a Type 5000 Travel Air Transport for the flight. The big monoplane would be well suited to such a task and possessed more than enough space in its broad wings and voluminous cabin to mount multiple fuel tanks – tanks that would have to carry at least 450 gallons (including a 15 percent reserve) of aviation gasoline to make the 2,400-mile flight to Honolulu.
Lippiatt was quick to inform Art that Walter Beech already had 16 potential orders in hand for Type 5000 ships to be built expressly for the race, and the chance that his order would be accepted were, at best, very slim. He made it clear that Walter Beech and Travel Air’s board of directors would be looking closely at every order, paying particular attention to who would be flying and navigating the airplanes. The final decision would be heavily influenced by Mr. Beech.
Undaunted, Goebel set about acquiring two things as quickly as possible: A $5,000 deposit and a financial supporter with deep pockets who could afford to pay off the balance due on a Travel Air racer. He would have to work fast. It was already early June and less than two months remained before the race was scheduled to take place.
neighborhood of Beverly Hills where Mr. Chandler operated real estate and publishing businesses.
By June 17, 1927, Beech had received Goebel’s order along with the deposit. The 31-year old pilot now faced the toughest part of his dream to fly in the race to Hawaii: interrogation. Art was summoned to the Travel Air factory in Wichita, Kansas, where he met Beech and other company officials. For the next five days Goebel was subjected to a barrage of questions about flying, navigation, engine operation, preparation for the race and who would be his navigator. A navigator was required for every entrant because an error of only two or three degrees across 2,400 miles of ocean could spell the difference between victory and death. It was serious business, and James Dole had given the National Aeronautic Association complete responsibility to oversee the race to ensure it would be conducted in the safest manner possible.
After grilling Goebel for five days, Beech announced that the company agreed to build Art a Type 5000 for the race. Relieved, he returned to California and began to make further preparations. He chose Cal Chandler as his manager, and Beech promised support from Travel Air throughout the preparation phase. At the same time Goebel was under scrutiny by Beech, two other fliers who managed to plunk down $5,000 were receiving the same in-depth examination by Beech and other officials.
Bennett H. Griffin and Al Henley were a year older than Art and both were experienced pilots. Griffin was a flight instructor during the Great War and later flew bombers over the Italian front. Henley had been flying for 10 years and learned the science of aerial and celestial navigation from the U.S. Army. Both men eventually passed muster with Mr. Beech and set about making their preparations to enter the competition. Griffin and Henley had secured their down payment from friends and businessmen in Oklahoma, namely George Henshaw, Fred Copshaw, William Armstrong and James Wilson.
Beech quickly authorized construction of the two monoplanes and hand-picked work crews began a race against time to build, test and deliver the airplanes to Goebel and Griffin in a matter of weeks, not months. Engineer Horace Weihmiller was in charge of designing and installing the fuel tanks (manufactured locally) in both ships. Although both monoplanes were identical, important modifications had to be made for the race.
Beech did not agree with some of the modifications stipulated by Griffin, who insisted that the airplane be stripped of everything but its essential airframe structure in order to accommodate as much fuel as possible. The airplane featured a different window arrangement below the cockpit and the Wright Whirlwind radial engine used a standard exhaust manifold.
Goebel celebrates being the first to land and claim the $25,000 prize money. He was, however, quick to recognize Davis’s navigation skills as a major factor in the victory. Walter Beech’s great gamble had paid off.
(FRANK PHILLIPS MUSEUM)
Fortunately for Art, four of his best friends agreed
to provide the $5,000 down payment he desperately
needed in hope of securing a Travel Air. Of these
four friends, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Knechtel resided
in Hollywood where Mr. Knechtel worked as a
movie camera man. The other couple, Mr. and Mrs.
Cal Chandler, lived in the up-and-coming posh construction progressed, Beech and his engineers
In addition, the standard cupola-type cockpit canopy was lengthened to cover the aft navigator station. As
24 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
NOVEMBER 2017