Travel Air Type R 'Mystery Ship' by debbielove

Photography • Aviation • posted on Aug 27, 2017

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Description

Hi, So, why 'Mystery Ship'? Built at Wichita, Kansas in total secrecy, no-one saw it until it was unveiled. Thus the name. Much to shock and worry of both Navy and Army chiefs it soundly beat their fasted aircraft by flying at 194mph!! It won the 50 Thomson Cup Pylon Race. 1929 Cleveland National at Ohio. (beating all military aircraft in the event). It was at the time, the most advanced aircraft out. Sadly only one is at present left (in Chicago Science Museum). One is being restored here in the U.K. Ans this is a replica, but has some original parts. It has NO flaps and apparently needs allot of runway and 100mph approach! Bill, looks the one in Chicago museum doesn't it? Rob

Comments (8)

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Scrib

10:59AM | Sun, 27 August 2017

Awesome shot! You should do an Aviation photo book. Interesting story too, thanks for the info. It's definitely more fun, to watch those airplanes in their context. :-)

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Buffalo1

1:19PM | Sun, 27 August 2017

A beauty, and it does look like the original at the Museum of Science and Industry. Great shot, Rob

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tallpindo

4:39PM | Sun, 27 August 2017

These throw me a bit. In my mind the "mystery ship" was a biplane drawn in chalk on a hangar floor. These air racers were all little plastic models in boxes about the size of a post card and about 1/2 inch thick. No pins on seams and care was required to make a wing top and bottom joint. Geared or direct prop drive? Moving on from V-12's even as the float planes kept them.

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