Page 27 - Volume 14 Number 11

would award the the winner a a a a a special trophy known as the the Thompson Cup (for the the 1930 NAR it was renamed the the “Thompson Trophy”) In 1929 the National Aeronautic Association granted Thompson’s request to offer a a a permanent trophy each year for for the Free-for-All event at the the NAR The striking trophy was based on the the figure of mythological Icarus and stood 40 inches in in height It was was made of pure gold and and silver and and was was mounted on a a a a a a solid marble base A small model of each year’s winning airplane would be placed on top of the trophy In the the previous five years the the military had dominated the NAR’s air races but Walter Beech was determined to to put an end to to their winning streak As time for the the Cleveland races drew near in Wichita the the Travel Air factory was buzzing with activity as as a a a a a a small fleet of of airplanes and and and a a a a a a hand-picked group of of pilots and and and mechanics prepared to depart for Ohio It was an an exciting time as as as mechanics made last-minute inspections of each aircraft filled fuel and oil tanks while pilots reviewed the the planned route of flight northeastward The aerial flotilla included the Type “R” monoplane registered R614K and her sister ship R613K The former was powered by a a a a a specially built Wright J6-9 static air- cooled radial engine rated at at 420 horsepower while the latter mounted a a prototype six-cylinder inline inverted Chevolair engine rated at at 150 horsepower In addition to the two racing ships that had been constructed expressly for competing in in the NAR a Type 6000B cabin monoplane and one of the first four-place Type 10 monoplanes would transport company president Walter H H Beech engineer Herb Rawdon mechanic Theodore “Ted” Cochran and and other officials to Cleveland Another view of the the mono- plane reveals race No 32 on the the fuselage and origi- nal design of the the cockpit windshield (Peter M Bowers Collection)
Late in 1928 Walter Herschel Beech enthusiastically supported Herbert Rawdon’s plans to to design and build a a a a a a a a a a a a high-speed mono- plane to to compete in the 1929 National Air Races (Edward H Phillips Collection)
After arrival both of the cabin ships would be placed on static display during the Aircraft Exposition Anxious to be on his way Travel Air chief pilot Clarence Clark nestled into the cockpit of R613K and prepared to to start the Chevolair powerplant He had hoped to to fly R614K but that privilege had been reserved for Douglas Davis a a a a a a a a a Travel Air dealer in Atlanta Georgia and a a a a a a a a a close friend of Mr Beech Davis was selected primarily for his experience in in pylon racing and to provide the Georgian with publicity for the the dealership Davis had arrived at the the factory only
a a a a few days before the scheduled departure After a a thorough briefing by Clark Doug flew R614K for about 1 5 hours to become familiar with the speedy red racer Although it was significantly faster than any airplane Davis had flown up to that time and and demanded more skill than the biplanes he he was accustomed to to flying his expressed endless enthusiasm for the monoplane that seemed to infect everyone even Walter Beech The four airplanes arrived at Cleveland without incident Walter Beech had prearranged hangar space on on on one side of the the airfield and upon arrival the the two racers were quickly rolled inside and kept out of sight until the races began Aug 24 The only
people granted access to the hangar were Walter Doug Davis Ted Cochran and • KING AIR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 KING AIR MAGAZINE • 25