Flight, February 1926

THE "TRAVEL AIR SPECIAL"
An Efficient American General Purpose Machine

   IN order to meet an exceedingly popular demand that exists in America for a small, medium-powered machine, for fast passenger or express-carrying cross-country work, several of the aircraft constructing firms in America have concentrated their efforts in this direction. One such machine, described herewith through the courtesy of our American contemporary, Aviation, is the "Travel Air Special," which put up an excellent performance in last year's Ford Reliability Aeroplane Tour.
   This machine, which is produced by the Travel Air Manufacturing Co., of Wichita, Kan., was designed by Lloyd Stearman and MacShort, engineers of the company. Perhaps one of the most interesting, and certainly very significant, features of the design is the fact that the designers have kept their production within strict accord with the specifications laid down by the Aeronautical Safety Code.
   It is worthy of note that six weeks after the decision was arrived at by the executives of the company to construct the machine, it had been flight tested and entered in the Air Meeting held at Tulso, Oklahoma, during the first week of September last. As an example of rapid construction of an entirely new design, the accomplishment is remarkable, especially when it is recalled that production of the standard model was not licensed during this period.
   In some respects the "Travel Air Special" possesses several of the characteristics of the standard OX model produced by this firm. The fuselage is of welded steel tubing with bracings of tubing and wire. The engine mounting, also of steel tubing, is made a detachable unit.
   The wings are of wood and fabric construction with box spars and built-up ribs, and interplane bracing is secured by X struts of streamline steel tubing, together with streamline bracing wires. The upper plane, which is larger in span and chord, is straight, and is supported above the fuselage by two pairs of X struts. It is in three sections - two outer ones attached to a small centre panel. The ailerons, mounted in the top wings only, are operated by the standard Travel Air method of push and pull rods carried in the lower plane, thence through bell cranks and aileron struts. By this means the elimination of pulleys in the control system has been made possible.
   The tail surfaces are of steel tubing and stamped steel ribs, the horizontal surface being adjustable as to incidence from the cockpit - a refinement, desirable, but not usually found on machines of this type.
   A total seating capacity for four persons is provided on this machine, the rear cockpit being very large, with dimensions, that permit the seating of the pilot and a passenger. The controls are so arranged that they can be off-set to allow for the lateral shifting of the pilot's position.
   The forward cockpit - located at the trailing edge of the top plane - seats two persons, and entrance to it is effected by a convenient door in the fuselage. If required, this cockpit can readily be converted into an express goods or mail compartment of 22 cub. ft. capacity. Furthermore, if dual control is desired, forward cockpit controls can be installed quickly. Luggage is accommodated in a compartment located directly back of the pilot's cockpit.
   A Curtiss C 6A (160 h.p. at 1,750 r.p.m.) engine is installed, well cowled in. A free air radiator is mounted under the engine, and water temperature is controlled by retracting the radiator into the engine compartment and shuttering the exposed surface.
   The cleanness of design throughout is apparent from the accompanying illustration - the streamlining of the landing gear and exposed fittings having been carried out in detail.
   The excellent performance of the "Travel Air Special" has been demonstrated at the Tulso meeting, and in the Ford Reliability Tour. Walter Beach, manager of the Travel Air Co., piloted the machine in these events, and it may be mentioned that this was one of three Travel Air machines that finished the Ford Tour with a perfect score.
   The principal characteristics of the "Travel Air Special" are :-
   Span (top) 31 ft. 6 in.
   Span (bottom) 25 ft. 2 in.
   Chord (top) 5 ft. 0 in.
   Chord (bottom) 4 ft. 0 in.
   Height 8 ft. 8 in.
   Total wing area 240 sq. ft.
   Weight, empty 1,460 lbs.
   Weight of pilot, fuel, oil, &c. 582 lbs.
   Normal pay load 500 lbs.
   Weight, fully laden 2,542 lbs.
   Weight, per sq. ft. 10-6 lbs.
   Weight, per h.p. 15-9 lbs.
   Speed range 48-120 m.p.h.
   Cruising range (100 m.p.h.) 5 hours.
   Fuel capacity 57 gals.
   Oil capacity 5 gals.