Page 29 - Volume 15 Number 11

providing for future expansion. During 1926 Beech, in concert with Clyde Cessna, had worked tirelessly to find the necessary financial backing. The two aviators wanted the factory to be built east of the city where the terrain was gentle with little change in elevation and the thick prairie grass was soft and smooth.
Fortunately, a trio of Wichita’s business owners and aviation enthusiasts, Walter P. Innes, Sr., Jack Turner and C.L. Henderson, managed to convince the Booster Building Association to sell Travel Air 6 acres of that sought-after land on East Central Avenue for $30,000. With an eye to the sky and looking to the potential future of aeronautics in Wichita, in 1925 the Association had bought 160 acres at the site, which already served as the city’s unofficial airfield.
With financing in place, Walter and Clyde contracted with the architect Glenn A. Thomas to draw up plans in accordance with their vision for the factory. In December 1926 the site was officially surveyed and construction approved. Plans called for a building 275 feet in length and 75 feet in width made of steel and stressed concrete. Working with others, Walter was busy identifying the location of fireproof workshops for handling dope and fabric, engine installation, final assembly, welding and woodworking as well as flight testing.
Meanwhile, construction of the eight Type 5000 transports for NAT was progressing well, and in March 1927 the first ship was completed. Walter, accompanied by NAT’s Egbert P. Lott, flew the ship south to Ponca City, Oklahoma, to attend a celebration of inaugural air service by NAT. Always the progressive thinker, Walter was well aware that the day of the open cockpit biplane was slowly drawing to a close, and he had no doubt that demand for the Type 5000 proved that monoplanes were the future.
Between attending meetings, answering correspondence from customers and overseeing progress of the new factory, Beech also kept a tight rein on daily activities at the current factory. By May the payroll had grown to 50 men working day, night and weekend shifts to complete the NAT contract on time and deliver biplanes already on order. It would be another 40 days before the transition to the new factory could begin.
Early in June Beech was informed that the factory on East Central Avenue would be ready for occupancy by the middle of the month. President Beech had already supervised installation of special woodworking machines as soon as floor space became available, but more equipment would be added to fully equip the shop. The new building featured large windows to admit sunlight
Break through with Ice Shield® Wing De-Ice Boots
22 29 6
High Quality, Reliable Wing De-Ice Boot. Contact an authorized Distributor today for purchase!
IceShield.com • 800-767-6899 • info@iceshield.com
NOVEMBER 2021
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 27