Service History
No service history available
Walter Innes Junior, Lloyd Stearman, Walter Beech and Clyde Cessna formed Travel Air Mfg. Co in January of 1925. These individuals would become legendary in the aviation community in the years to come.
Known affectionately as “Old Elephant Ears” by a devoted following of old-timers, this was the favorite of all the OX-5 powered aircraft. The Travel Air was a dependable, beautiful, rugged, lively and loveable aircraft. This was a true workhorse, it carried out its chores during the week and on weekends was well suited to “show-off” stunting and giving rides.
The construction was the typical chrome-moly steel tubular frame, wood and fabric. The large ailerons responsible for the nickname and the long tailpipes were an obvious distinction.
Travel Air, then trying to survive the depression, merged into Curtiss-Wright. Curtiss-Wright was formed as the result of a twelve-company merger in 1929; with 75 million in capitol it was the largest aviation company in America.
Acquired by Yanks in 2011, this aircraft exhibits its familiar “Travel Air Blue” fuselage and silver wings.
