Page 28 - Volume 14 Number 11

IN HISTORY
Herbert Rawdon was chief designer of the Travel Air Type “R” monoplane in in concert with fellow engineer Walter Burnham (Textron Aviation)
company pilot Newman Wadlow News of the “mystery ships” being hidden away quickly spread and during the next few days Beech skillfully worked the press giving reporters tantalizing tidbits of information without revealing key details about the airplanes Aug 24 the the first day of the the NAR witnessed thousands of people paying for tickets and crowding onto the Soon after completion in mid-August 1929 the Wright-powered airplane registered R614K began a a a a a a a series of flight tests to determine its performance With the the NACA cowling installed the the ship attained a a a a a a maximum speed of 227 mph in in in in in level flight (Clarence Clark)
grandstands to watch more than 40 racing events unfold throughout the week In addition to people one aviation journalist estimated that more than 400 aircraft of all types were on the the airfield each day Pilots from the the Air Corps and Navy which Walter suspected would be the only serious competition against Davis and the Wright- powered Travel Air were were busy attending to their mounts both modified versions of existing biplane fighters then in service The Army’s contender was a a a Curtiss XP-3A Hawk featuring a a a a a a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine that developed 450 horsepower and special fuselage fairings to reduce drag With an empty weight of 1 955 pounds the the XP-3A was about 500 pounds heavier than the the 1 475-pound Travel Air Type “R ” It would be flown by Captain R G Breene The Navy however brought a a a a Curtiss F6C-6 Hawk to the NAR that was powered by a a a 12-cylinder Curtiss “Conqueror” rated at at 435 horsepower The landing gear and and airframe received minor streamlining that that was less exquisite than that that of the the XP-3A The F6C-6 was placed under the the command of Lieutenant Commander J J J J Clark As for Walter Beech he was keeping his two racers out of the public eye One day however he he did allow Davis to to take the ship aloft to to perform a a a short but impressive aerobatic routine that raised eyebrows of both the crowds
26 • KING AIR MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NOVEMBER 2020 KING AIR MAGAZINE •