travel air 4000 specs

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1929 Travel Air E-4000 - NC648H

Location: pioneer airport, recent articles.

April 25, 2017

November 03, 2016

September 15, 2016

August 11, 2016

EAA’s 1929 Travel Air E-4000 open-cockpit biplane (NC648H, serial number 1224) is among the last flying examples of the aircraft that launched American aviation and earned Wichita, Kansas, the title of “Air Capital of the World.”

The Travel Air Company was formed January 1925 in Wichita, Kansas by former employees of the Swallow Aircraft Manufacturing Company. Starting with a 900 square foot factory and six employees, the company grew by 1929 to 650 employees working two shifts in a state-of-the-art aircraft production facility. About 1,800 Travel Air aircraft were built in less than half a decade. Most were biplanes, using 16 basic designs. The company was unable to survive the Great Depression and was absorbed into the Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical Corporation. Travel Air officers included Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman, who later formed their own well-known aircraft companies.

The Travel Air E-4000 model was designed to compete with inexpensive World War I surplus Standards and Curtiss “Jennies.” Its major feature was a forward cockpit wide enough to accommodate two passengers (at least by 1929 standards!). Its rugged landing gear used rubber “bungee” shock cords, allowing landings on unimproved fields.

EAA’s Travel Air was among the last produced. Built in July of 1929, it sported a Wright “Whirlwind” J-6, five-cylinder engine, producing 165 horsepower. Bill Shank, one of America’s first civilian airmail pilots, was the plane’s first owner and the Shank family operated it from Indianapolis, Indiana for almost 30 years.

The aircraft was later donated to EAA and fully restored by EAA staff and many volunteers, including Gene Chase and Jim Barton. A more reliable, seven-cylinder, 220 horsepower Continental R670-4 engine was installed with a ground adjustable Hamilton Standard propeller. This engine/propeller combination was used on thousands of Stearman trainers during World War II. The aircraft was fitted with Schweizer release hooks for banner towing. Its original, narrow wheels were replaced with wider ones, offering better flotation on soft ground.

The airplane is now in regular flight service at EAA’s Pioneer Airport. Each flying season it delights Aviation Museum visitors with the sights, sounds and thrills of open-cockpit biplane flight.

Aircraft researched by EAA volunteer Fred Stadler.

Curtiss-Wright CW-A14D (Travel Air 4000) Single-engine Two-seat Biplane, U.S.A.

Archive Photos 1

1927 Curtiss-Wright "Travel Air 4000" (NC3242) at the 1995 Hawthorne Air Faire, Hawthorne, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1929 Curtiss-Wright "Travel Air 4000" (NC8700) at the 1995 Hawthorne Air Faire, Hawthorne, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

1929 Curtiss-Wright "Travel Air 4000" (NC8700) at the 2000 Torrance Airshow, Zamperini Field, Torrance, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

• Travel Air 2000
• Role: Biplane aircraft
• Manufacturer: Travel Air, Curtiss-Wright
• Designer: Lloyd Stearman
• First flight: 13 March 1925
• Introduction: 1925
• Primary user: Private owners, aerial sightseeing businesses
• Produced: 1925-1930
• Number built: Approx 1,300

The Travel Air 2000/3000/4000 (originally, the Model A, Model B and Model BH and later marketed as a Curtiss-Wright product under the names CW-14, Speedwing, Sportsman and Osprey), were open-cockpit biplane aircraft produced in the United States in the late 1920s by the Travel Air Manufacturing Company. During the period from 1924-1929, Travel Air produced more aircraft than any other American manufacturer, including over 1,000 biplanes (some estimates range from 1,200 to nearly 2,000).

Design and Development 2

Primary Design and Development

The original Travel Air Model A was engineered chiefly by Lloyd Stearman’with input from Travel Air co-founders Walter Beech, Clyde Cessna, and Bill Snook’largely as a metal-framed improvement of his immediately previous design of the wood-framed, metal-cowled Swallow New Swallow biplane, with elements of the best fighter aircraft of World War I, the metal-framed German Fokker D-VII. Most subsequent Travel Air biplanes were derived, directly or indirectly, from the original Model A.

An interim design, the Winstead Special was derived by the Winstead brothers from an initial metal fuselage frame developed at Swallow by Stearman and Walter Beech, and subsequently discarded by Swallow. The rejection of the metal frame concept, by Swallow president Jake Moellendick, triggered the departure of Stearman and Beech, and the creation of Travel Air. The types shared a common structure of a conventional single-bay biplane with staggered wings braced by N-struts. The fuselage was of fabric-covered steel tube and included two open cockpits in tandem, the forward of which could carry two passengers side-by-side.

In common with the Fokker D-VII, the rudder and ailerons of first Travel Air biplanes had an overhanging "horn" to partially aerodynamically counterbalance the aerodynamic resistance of the controls when deflected, to provide a lighter control feel, and a more responsive aircraft. This gave Travel Airs their distinctive "elephant ear" vertical tails, and the similarly counterbalanced ailerons were also referred to as "elephant ear" ailerons’leading to the airplane’s popular nicknames "Old Elephant Ears" and "Wichita Fokker." Some subsequent models were offered without the counterbalance, providing a cleaner, more conventional appearance and less drag. Elevator forces were trimmed out by use of an inflight-adjustable horizontal stabilizer.

Like other aircraft in the Travel Air line, it was available with a variety of different, interchangeable wings, including a wing shorter and thinner than the rest known as the "Speedwing" designed, as the name suggests, for increased cruise speed. Travel Air entered a specially-modified Model 4000 (designated 4000-T) in the Guggenheim Safe Aircraft Competition of 1930, but it was disqualified.

Compared to other civilian ("commercial") open-cockpit biplanes of the era, Travel Airs were noted for their quality of construction, reliability, durability, speed, efficiency, payload and passenger capacity (two passengers in a small bench seat in the front cockpit, plus pilot in the rear cockpit’versus most biplanes of the era, which could only accommodate a single passenger in the front cockpit). They were also noted for superior comfort and easy flying. These various distinguishing characteristics led Travel Air to outsell all rivals by 1929.

Steam-powered

In 1933 a Travel Air 2000 was modified by George and William Besler where the usual inline or radial gasoline piston engine was replaced by an oil-fired, reversible 90° angle V-twin angle-compound engine of their own design, which became the first fixed-wing airplane to successful fly using a steam engine of any type. The Beslers are thought to have sold the plane to the Japanese in 1937.

Curtiss-Wright Production

Following Travel Air Manufacturing Company purchase in August 1929 by Curtiss-Wright, the Model 4000 continued in production into the early 1930s as the CW-14, and the range was expanded to include a military derivative dubbed the Osprey. This was fitted with bomb racks, a fixed, forward-firing machine gun, and a trainable tail gun. These aircraft were supplied to Bolivia and used during the Gran Chaco War, which eventually led to Curtiss-Wright’s successful prosecution for supplying these aircraft in violation of a U.S. arms embargo.

Operational History 2

In addition to a wide range of normal aircraft applications, and conspicuous use in a minor South American war, Travel Air biplanes also saw extensive use in early motion pictures.

Normal Operations

During the 1920s and very early 1930s, Travel Air biplanes were the most widely used civilian biplanes in America (not counting war-surplus military trainers re-purposed for civilian use) ’ with the arguable exception of their chief competitors, WACO biplanes. Travel Air production ended in the mid-1930s, under the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.

Initially, Travel Air biplanes were very widely used for executive transport, wealthy-sportsmen adventures, air taxi and air charter service, light air cargo transport, and some bush flying. Many were also used in barnstorming: exhibition and stunt flying, selling recreational rides, and early air racing.

Commercial operators found the Travel Air biplanes very versatile and useful, owing to their substantial payload, simple and reliable systems, rugged construction and (for the times) substantial speed and efficiency.

Towards the end of their useful lives (the late-1930s through the early 1970s), they were heavily used for the harsh work of bush flying and cropdusting, and Travel Air biplanes were among the most heavily used cropdusters in America’perhaps second only to the World War II surplus Stearman Kaydet biplanes also designed by Lloyd Stearman.

Today, most remaining Travel Air biplanes are regarded as treasures, having been carefully restored at substantial cost, and are used sparingly and carefully for personal recreation and/or modern-day barnstorming (exhibition flying and selling rides).

Military Operations 2

The Osprey, a Travel Air biplane variant by Curtiss-Wright, was armed with bomb racks and machine guns, and supplied to Bolivia, who used them in the 1933 Gran Chaco War with Paraguay (in violation of a U.S. arms embargo, for which Curtiss-Wright’s was eventually successfully prosecuted). Numerous plane-makers attempted to get their aircraft into the war, for publicity, and the Osprey initially benefited the most from this international competition. Fitted with single machine guns fore (fixed) and aft (moveable), and bomb racks, the rugged, reliable Ospreys were the preferred mounts of the Bolivian pilots’of several competing aircraft supplied. The resulting heavy use led to high losses’half of the original 12 units being lost in accidents or action, another five or so were employed, though precise outcomes are unclear, owing in part to repairs on some of the "lost" aircraft, which were returned to service. However, the action brought favorable publicity and credibility to Curtiss-Wright aircraft.

Movie Industry 2

Travel Air biplanes were widely used in 1920s/1930s war movies, particularly to represent the airplanes they were patterned after: Germany’s Fokker D-VII fighter, the top fighter of World War I. In the motion picture industry, they were known as "Wichita Fokkers." In fact, Hollywood’s demand for Travel Air biplanes was so intense that Travel Air’s California salesman, Fred Hoyt, coaxed Travel Air co-founder and principal airplane designer, Lloyd Stearman, to come to Venice, California in 1926 to exploit the movie industry demand for his aircraft by starting a short-lived independent Stearman Aircraft Company which re-opened back in Wichita in 1927.

Some of the many movies using Travel Air biplanes (2000 and 4000, in particular) included:

• Wings (1927) (Lauded for its technical accuracy, it won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture)
• Flying Fool (1929) (Pathè film, one of the early leading roles for William Boyd, later famous as Hopalong Cassidy)
• Hell’s Angels (1930) (Howard Hughes’ extravagant war epic)
• The Dawn Patrol (1930)
• Heartbreak (1931)
• Ace Of Aces (1933) featured five Travel Air Model Bs, and numerous other planes.
• Hell in the Heavens (1933)
• Flying Devils (1933)
• Murder in the Cloudsquick (1934) featured NC406N
• Model B: Travel Air Model A fitted with a Wright J-6 piston engine.

Like other Travel Air aircraft, Model 4000 variants were distinguished by letters prefixed (or occasionally affixed) to the basic designation to denote different engine and wing fits. These letter codes included:

Engine Codes

• A: original wing with "elephant-ear" ailerons
• A: Axelson engine
• B: "Standard wing" with Frise-type ailerons and three fuel tanks
• C: Curtiss engine
• D: "Speedwing"
• E: Revised "standard wing" with a single fuel tank
• K: Kinner engine
• L: Lycoming engine

Travel Air Models

• Travel Air 2000: first production model
• SC-2000: Powered by a 160-hp (119-kW) Curtiss C-6 engine
• Travel Air 3000: Powered by a 150-hp / 180-hp (112-kW / 134-kW) Hispano-Suiza Model A or Model engine.
• Travel Air 4000: Powered by a 220-hp (164-kW) Wright J-5 engine
• A-4000: Powered by a 150-hp (112-kW) Axelson engine
• B-4000: Powered by a 220-hp (164-kW) Wright J-5 engine
• BC-4000: Floatplane version
• B9-4000: Powered by a 300-hp (224-kW) Wright J-6-9 engine
• C-4000: Powered by a 170-hp (127-kW) Challenger engine
• E-4000: Powered by a 165-hp (123-kW) Wright J-6-5 engine
• K-4000: Powered by a 100-hp (75-kW) Kinner K5 engine
• SBC-4000: Floatplane version
• W-4000: Powered by 110-hp (82-kW) Warner Scarab engine
• Travel Air 8000 (aka 4000-CAM): Powered by a 120-hp (89-kW) Fairchild-Caminez 447 engine
• Travel Air 9000 (aka 4000-SH): Powered by a 125-hp (93-kW) Ryan-Siemens engine
• Travel Air 11: D-20000 powered by a Wright J-6 engine

Curtiss-Wright Models

• CW-14C Sportsman: Version with 185 hp (138 kW) Curtiss Challenger engine (1 built).
• CW-A14D Deluxe Sportsman: Three-seat version with 240 hp (180 kW) Wright J-6-7 engine and NACA cowling (5 built).
• CW-B14B Speedwing Deluxe: Version with 300 hp (220 kW) Wright J-6-9 engine (2 built).
• CW-B14R Special Speedwing Deluxe; Single-seat racer built for Casey Lambert with supercharged Wright R-975 engine (1 built)
• CW-C14B Osprey: Militarized version with Wright R-975E engine
• CW-C14R Osprey: Militarized version with Wright J-6-9 engine
• CW-17R Pursuit Osprey: CW-B14B with uprated engine; possibly not built

Military Operators 2

• Bolivia: 20 purchased 1933-34.
• Colombia: 3 CW-C14R Osprey from 1932.
• Ecuador: 2 CW-14Rs purchased 1931.
• Panama: 2 acquired 1931.
• El Salvador: 3 from 1933.
• Venezuela: 3 CW-14Rs purchased 1932.

Curtiss-Wright CW-A14D (Travel Air 4000) Specifications 3

General Characteristics

• Capacity: 2 passengers
• Length: 23 ft 6½ in (7.17 m)
• Wingspan: 31 ft 0 in (9.44 m)
• Height: 9 ft 1½ in (2.78 m)
• Wing area: 248.0 ft² (23.03 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,772 lb (804 kg)
• Gross weight: 2,870 lb (1,302 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright J-6-7, 240 hp

Performance

• Maximum speed: 155 mph (249.44 km/h)
• Range: 600 mi (966 km)
• Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,877 m)
• Initial climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.08 m/s)
• Shupek, John. The Skytamer Photo Archive , photos by John Shupek, copyright © 1995, 2000 John Shupek
• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Travel Air 2000

The Travel Air 2000, 3000 and 4000

Travel air 2000 specifications, travel air 3000 specifications, travel air 4000 specifications, travel air e-4000 specifications.

.

• May 8, 2019

Photograph:

Travel Air 4000 NC174V (c/n 1365) at an EAA event at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA in 2007 (David C Eyre)

Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Three-seat touring biplane

Power Plant:

One 164 kw (220 hp) Wright J-5 Whirlwind nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine

Specifications:

• Wingspan [upper]: 10.60 m (34 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan [lower]: 8.77 m (28 ft 8 in)
• Length: 7.16 m (23 ft 6 in)
• Height: 2.77 m (9 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 27.49 m² (296 sq ft)
• Max speed: 209 km/h (130 mph)
• Cruising speed: 177 km/h (110 mph)
• Landing speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)
• Rate of climb: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
• Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
• Max range: 925 km (575 miles)
• Fuel capacity: 227 litres (50 imp gals)
• Empty weight: 748 kg (1,650 lb)
• Useful load: 346 kg (762 lb)
• Payload: 154 kg (340 lb)
• Loaded weight: 1,094 kg (2,412 lb)

Following the success of the Curtiss OX-5 powered Model 2000, Travel Air moved on to the Model 3000, a three-seat open cockpit variant powered by a 112 kw (150 hp) Hispano-Suiza Model A engine or the high-compression Model E which produced 134 kw (180 hp).  Further development lead to the Model 4000 fitted with a Wright Whirlwind engine, which became very popular in the United States.  This also was a three-seat open-cockpit biplane that was described as ”thrilling and very responsive performance, a ship just made to order for the true sportsman-pilot.”

A total of 14 examples of the Model 4000 was built in 1927 and a number of modifications were made to it during its production life before the Company moved to the Wright J-6 engine in 1929.  A number of other engines were installed in the Model 4000, including the 75 kw (100 hp) Kinner five-cylinder radial and the 224 kw (300 hp) J-6 Whirlwind. Eventually further models appeared, as noted below up to and including the 8000 with a 90 kw (120 hp) Fairchild-Caminez engine; and 9000 with a 93 kw (125 hp) Ryan Siemens engine, a licence-built variant of the nine-cylinder Siemens-Halske radial engine of German origin.

Construction, like earlier models, was a fuselage of chrome steel tubing, shaped with wood fairing strips and fabric covered.  The wing panels were built of laminated spruce spars and plywood ribs, the panels then being covered with fabric.  The interplane struts were of steel tube and there was interplane bracing with steel wires.  The tail was of steel tube construction with fabric covering, the fin was adjustable on the ground, and the horizontal stabilizer was adjustable in flight.  An inertia type engine starter, metal in lieu of wooden propeller, and wheel brakes were available as options.

Further variants in the Model 4000 series were the W-4000 which was fitted with an 82 kw (110 hp) Warner Scarab seven-cylinder radial; B-4000 with a nine-cylinder Wright J-5 engine; BM-4000 a variant of the B-4000 operated by Michigan Air Express with a Wright J-5; A-4000 with a seven-cylinder Axelson air-cooled engine; C-4000 with a 127 kw (170 hp) Curtiss Challenger radial engine; E-4000, the most numerous of the models, with a five-cylinder 123 kw (165 hp) Wright J-6 engine; the BC-4000, of which only one was built [C-9821] with a 127 kw (170 hp) Curtiss Challenger engine and which was later fitted with floats; and the K-4000 with a Kinner K5 engine.  One was flown by Walter Beech in the 1926 Ford Air Tour and won the event.  Most Model 4000s were similar except for the engine installed.  Many were used by flying schools to train pilots.

In 1999 a New Zealander, who had been based in the United States for some years returned to New Zealand with his collection of vintage aircraft.  Amongst this collection were four Travel Air 4000s, including two airworthy examples (N8134 – c/n 895; and N8192 – c/n 894). The other two (N1592 – c/n 176; and N901 – c/n 181) are expected to be restored in the future at their base at Pokeno.  Another Model 4000 N688K (c/n 1323) is awaiting restoration in Christchurch.

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Travel Air 4000

Project description.

Role:  Biplane aircraft

National Origin: United States

Manufacturer: Travel air, Curtiss-Wright

First Flight: 1925

Primary User: Private Owners, aerial sightseeing businesses

Number Built: 1300

The Travel Air 2000/3000/4000 (originally, the Model A, Model B and Model BH and later marketed as a Curtiss-Wright product under the names CW-14, Speedwing, Sportsman and Osprey), were open-cockpit biplane aircraft produced in the United States in the late 1920s by the Travel Air Manufacturing Company. During the period from 1924–1929, Travel Air produced more aircraft than any other American manufacturer, including over 1,000 biplanes (some estimates range from 1,200 to nearly 2,000).

Travel Air biplanes were widely used in 1920s/1930s war movies, particularly to represent the airplanes they were patterned after: Germany’s Fokker D-VII fighter, the top fighter of World War I. In the motion picture industry, they were known as “Wichita Fokkers.” In fact, Hollywood’s demand for Travel Air biplanes was so intense that Travel Air’s California salesman, Fred Hoyt, coaxed Travel Air co-founder and principal airplane designer, Lloyd Stearman, to come to Venice, California in 1926 to exploit the movie industry demand for his aircraft by starting a short-lived independent Stearman Aircraft Company (re-opened back in Wichita in 1927).

Some of the many movies using Travel Air biplanes (2000 and 4000, in particular) included:

• Wings  (1927) (Lauded for its technical accuracy, it won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Picture)
• Flying Fool (1929) (Pathè film, one of the early leading roles for William Boyd, later famous as “Hopalong Cassidy”)
• Hell’s Angels  (1930) (Howard Hughes’ extravagant war epic)
• The Dawn Patrol  (1930)
• Heartbreak  (1931)
• Ace Of Aces  (1933) featured five Travel Air Model Bs, and numerous other planes.
• Hell in the Heavens  (1933)
• Flying Devils  (1933)

General characteristics

• Capacity:  2 passengers
• Length:  23 ft 7 in (7.19 m)
• Wingspan:  31 ft 0 in (9.45 m)
• Height:  9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
• Wing area:  248.0 sq ft (23.04 m2)
• Empty weight:  1,772 lb (804 kg)
• Gross weight:  2,870 lb (1,302 kg)
• Fuel capacity:  58 US gal (48 imp gal; 220 L)
• Powerplant:  1 × Lycoming R-670, 22hp

Performance

• Maximum speed:  155 mph (249 km/h; 135 kn)
• Cruise speed:  132 mph (212 km/h; 115 kn)
• Stall speed:  56 mph (90 km/h; 49 kn)
• Range:  530 mi (461 nmi; 853 km)
• Service ceiling:  18,000 ft (5,500 m)
• Rate of climb:  1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)

1927 Travel Air 4000

Travel Air introduced the “4000 type” in 1926 with a Wright “Whirlwind” J4 9-cylinder radial engine. By 1927, the upgraded J5 version of the Whirlwind was featured on the Travel Air 4000, which was rated at 220 hp. This same engine was used on the Spirit of St. Louis, made famous by Charles Lindbergh on his trans-Atlantic flight of 1927. Popular with sportsmen as well as advanced flight schools, the Whirlwind-Travel Air was also used as a mail hauler with the removal of the two seats in the front cockpit. The museum’s Travel Air 4000 depicts one flown by Charles Lindbergh for Robertson Airlines, a mail carrier between Chicago and St. Louis. It is partially restored with plans to bring it to full flying condition in the next few years.

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Fantasy of Flight

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• 1929 Travel Air 4000

In 1924, Lloyd Stearman, Clyde Cessna, and Walter Beech formed the Travel Air Manufacturing Company in Wichita, Kansas. Their first effort was the Travel Air 1000, which was designed along the lines of the famous Curtiss Jenny.

A later model, the Travel Air 2000, was built with horn-balanced control surfaces, which were copied from the famous Fokker D-VII fighter from World War I. Because of the close resemblance to the Fokker, the 2000 was used in many 1930s war movies and became known as the “Wichita Fokker.”

The Travel Air 4000 was introduced in 1929 and is similar in design to the model 2000 but without the horn-balanced control ailerons. The pilot sits in the rear cockpit with room for two in the front. It represents a classic example of the round-engine biplane: slow-flying and graceful. A beautiful aircraft from a romantic era.

In 1930, the Curtiss Wright Corporation purchased the Travel Air Company. After the final model 6000 was developed, Stearman, Cessna, and Beech would go on to contribute much to American aviation history with their own individual companies.

Specifications

• Year Built — 1929
• Wingspan — 34’8″
• Cruise Speed — 85 mph
• Top Speed — 130 mph
• Gross Weight — 2,412 lbs
• Engine — Wright J-5 Whirlwind (223 hp)

Kermit’s Comments

This aircraft was built in 1929 and was restored by Kelly Mason in Washington State with a lot of attention to detail. I acquired it in 1996. Due to the long distance it had to travel, the aircraft was shipped by truck to Florida, where it was re-assembled and flown here at Fantasy of Flight. It is powered by a Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine, which was the same famous engine-type that powered the “Spirit of St. Louis” and Lindbergh across the Atlantic.

In 1997, this aircraft was used by the US Postal Service to help commemorate the first day issue of a series of airplane stamps. With the local Postmaster on board, I delivered the first ever airmail in the history of Polk City! Probably the last as well.

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Aircraft Walkthrough: Magic Air Tours 1929 Travel Air 4000 Biplane

Published on September 15, 2012 by Mike Singer in Aircraft Walkthroughs

After our interesting discussion about flying scenic tours over the San Juan Islands, Magic Air Tours owner Rod Magner gave us a detailed look at the aircraft that makes it all possible: his 1929 Travel Air 4000 biplane.

In this 25-minute video Rod shares his deep knowledge of the Travel Air 4000–gleaned from more than 6,000 hours in the cockpit of this particular airplane (including more than 6,000 landings at the Eastsound Airport). You’ll learn about:

• The history of this particular Travel Air.
• The aircraft’s specs and performance.
• The engine, brakes, electrical system, and fuel system.
• The instrument panel (which includes many original instruments).
• The modifications Rod has made.
• The challenges of taxiing the Travel Air.
• The unexpected health hazards of flying an open cockpit biplane.

One Response to “Aircraft Walkthrough: Magic Air Tours 1929 Travel Air 4000 Biplane”

As a CFI, it is hard enough to teach people to treat every prop as it may be hot, when professionals are hanging onto the blades and even moving the blade. Please set an example for students and new pilots.

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s/n 185 Reg: N2937 // Pending

s/n 185 Reg: N2937 Pending

1927 Travel Air 4000

Aircraft faq.

• 2864.7 Hrs. TTSN
• 264.7 Hrs. since restoration
• Continental W-670
• 264.7 Hrs. SMOH

Propeller(s)

• Hamilton Standard J5404
• 264.7 Hrs. SPOH
• King KX-155 Comm
• King KT-76A Transponder
• Last annual 1/2019
• Spokane, Washington

Additional Info

This 1927 Travel Air 4000 s/n 185 left the factory with a temperamental OX-5 engine.  It was flown in Texas for 10 years before crash landing and was stored in a farmers barn for over years.  It was purchased and restored by Jim “Speed” Williams in 1995 and restored over a seven year period flying again for the first time in 65 years in 2002.  The restoration incorporated many improvements including the installation of an air-cooled Continental R-670.

N2937 is the oldest Travel Air flying in the United States and Is painted to commemorate the 1927 National Air Races from New York to Spokane which were attended by over 100,000 people.

Sales may be subject to local Sales Tax / V.A.T. / G.S.T.

Aircraft maybe subject to prior sale, lease, and/or removal from the market without prior notice.

Specifications subject to verification upon inspection.

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1929 Travel Air 4000

N9872 s/n 1059

1929 Travel Air 4000 Features

• Airframe total time: 1700 Hours
• Engine time SMOH: 25 Hours
• Time since restoration completed: 25 Hours
• Last annual inspection completed in April 2013

Additional Equipment

• Completely restored in 1996 with all new wood, fabric and paint.
• 2 passengers in front seat.  Continental W-670 engine with Hamilton Standard ground adjustable prop.
• N3N Original style 30 X 5 wheels and tires with Hayes hydraulic brakes.
• Ceconite fabric installed in 1996.
• 3 fuel tanks with 80 gallon total capacity.
• Logs back to 1952.  Paperwork all complete with appropriate 337 forms.
• Paint and fabric condition is near perfect.
• Cockpits in near perfect original condition.
• No radios installed.
• Always hangared.

Asking Price: SOLD

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Arnold, Rudy, 1902-1966

National Air and Space Museum Archives

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Rudy Arnold Photo Collection, Acc. NASM.XXXX.0356, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Travel Air Model B Family

Archival materials

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