Page 34 - Volume 10 Number 10

In early 1929, Walter Beech was reportedly heard to lament that the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Navy dominated air racing with biplanes powered by liquid-cooled, in-line, and air-cooled, static radial engines. At that time, the best Travel Air could offer was the Type 4D (shown) powered by a 225-horsepower Wright radial engine. Although it could be equipped with “speed wings” that increased maximum speed to 150 mph, it was no match for the military ships. (EDWARD H. PHILLIPS COLLECTION)
wealthy pineapple magnate in Hawaii offered $25,000 to the first commercial airplane to fly nonstop from California to the Territory of Hawaii, he decided to take an enormous risk. At his direction, Travel Air workers built two modified Type 5000 monoplanes for the flight, which came to be known as the “Dole race.” One of those airplanes named the “Woolaroc” and sponsored by oilman Frank Phillips, was first to land at Wheeler Field after a flight lasting more than 24 hours. During 1928 Walter Beech spent a majority of his energy on the daily task of guiding Travel Air to new heights in
sales. By that year, the modern factory on East Central Avenue boasted two buildings, and Beech had plans to build three more in an effort to increase manufacturing space and meet growing demand for Travel Air ships.
Although Walter’s appetite for air racing had to take a back seat to running a major aircraft company, in 1929 he would become directly involved with a top- secret project to build the fastest Travel Air ever built – a racer that promised to fulfill his dream of victory at the National Air Races. KA
NOTES:
1. Laird, a self-taught designer from Chicago, had relocated to Wichita in 1919 to build a three-place biplane that was sold as the Laird Swallow.
2. The “Immelmann turn” was a maneuver developed by World War I German ace, Lieutenant Max Immelmann. It was executed by performing a half loop with a roll to level flight at the top of the loop. It was used in aerial combat to change direction and gain altitude against an opponent.
3. The idea for a national air tour began with Harvey Campbell, a member of the Detroit Board of Commerce. He recognized the publicity value of automobile tours (such as the “Glidden Tour” in 1904) that had centered on developing a highway system in the United States, and believed an aerial version would do the same
for aviation.
Ed Phillips, now retired and living in the South, has researched and written eight books on the unique and rich aviation history that belongs to Wichita, Kan. His writings have focused on
the evolution of the airplanes, companies and people that have made Wichita the “Air Capital of the World” for more than 80 years.
OCTOBER 2016
32 • KING AIR MAGAZINE