Travel Air Centennial (A McIlwaine Quarterly Speaker Series Talk)

Travel Air Centennial

by Edward Phillips

Over two days, Edward Phillips will discuss the Travel Air Manufacturing Company, an aircraft manufacturer established in Wichita, Kansas, United States in January 1925 by Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman.

An early leader in single-engine, light-aircraft manufacturing, from 1925 to 1931, Travel Air was the largest-volume aircraft manufacturer in the United States in 1928 — the principal contributor to Wichita becoming named the “Air Capital City” by the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce.

Saturdays Topics:
- Travel Air Story: Background of the company
- Woolaroc!: 1927 Dole Race and nonstop flight from California to Hawaii.
- Speedwing! : Development of a new wing in 1928

Sundays Topics:
- 1929 Women's Air Derby: Travel Air's participation in the race.
- The Scarlet Marvel: Development and victory of the Type "R" racer at National Air Races, 1929
- Travel Air Factories: Evolution of factories in Wichita to meet customer demand, 1925-1929.

About the Speaker
Edward H. Phillips is an American writer/historian, aviation industry reporter, and aviator who has specialized in the general aviation industry of the central United States—with particular emphasis on the aviation history of Wichita, KS and its aircraft manufacturers. Phillips earned a degree in journalism, with a minor in aviation, from the University of North Dakota. Most noted as an aviation writer and historian, with numerous publications, including nine books and over 1,000 articles on aviation and aerospace topics.

Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum
204 S Main St; Wichita, KS 67202

Saturday & Sunday – July 12th & 13th

Doors open at 1:00pm
Program starts at 2:00pm
Open to the public
Free admission