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Posted: November/01/2024 at 9:47am  Quote
 
The Type R "Mystery Ships" were a series of wire-braced, low-wing racing airplanes built by the Travel Air company in the late 1920's and early 1930's. They were so called, because the first three aircraft of the series were built entirely in secrecy. This month's walk-around was taken by a member at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, TN. The walkaround contains 78 high resolution images of close up details of this classic design.


This is an excellent subject to add to your walk-around collection.


If you are not an RCSB Site Supporter you can learn
about the benefits of subscribing (like access to these walkarounds) by clicking on the link below...





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Mike Chilson,
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My R/C Scale Aircraft Over The Years
 
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Avatar User Offline Geezer
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Posted: November/03/2024 at 12:13pm  Quote
 
There are some interesting rumors about this airplane, the one displayed here. There were 5 of them built, the original R614K, then the one that Pancho Barnes ended up with R613K that is the subject of a build here by Dowmer (RCSB handle). It was stored in Lancaster CA for many years amd was bought by a British fellow and the last photos of it showed it to look fully restored but no word on if it was ever flown. One was flown by Frank Hawkes to many point to point records in Texaco colors and it now hangs in the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. One was purchased by Shell and flown in various air races by Jimmy Doolittle who bailed out of it after aileron flutter put him out of control and it is said that his was one of the lowest successful bailouts ever. The last one was built for and delivered to the Italian Government to be a study for a fighter and it disappeared and was never heard of afterward.
Now to the interesting rumors. There was a Mystery ship that appeared, and I will have to dig the article out to say where and when. It is said that enough parts of the original R614K were amassed that the completed airplane was awarded a restoration registration rather than replica status. On the maiden flight (remaiden?) all went well but a hard landing was made at a bit too fast a speed and it bounced, upon coming down it pitched forward far enough with the gear compressed that the wheel pants dug into the runway surface and it flipped over landing upside down. The pilot was killed in the accident. There are photos of it in the article that showed it upside down and then one of it  back on its feet with damaged pants, empennage, and the fin/rudder crushed. After that it disappeared and some time later rumors went around that it was at the Staggerwing museum being restored for display. So This may be the original Mystery Ship though more rumors say its not, but it makes for an interesting story. Dontit?
I'll dig out the article and if anyone is interested PM me I'll send you a copy
I have pulled the article, it was written by DB Matthiews in the July 96 Model Aviation


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Rule 1 Power, Use lots, don't be needy!
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If it was easy everyone would do it!

 
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Avatar User Offline Dowmer
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Posted: November/03/2024 at 12:59pm  Quote
 
Doc makes a great point and there are several modern additions or changes from the original R614K verses the restoration (replica?) above as well. However, this walk around should serve as great supporting documentation for a Travel Air project if one chooses to use this plane as a subject. Whatever the status of its origination or providence, it makes a beautiful plane.  R613K that Doc Geezer mentions above is a unique version different from its sister ship that indeed survives, albeit undisclosed in a private collection and is a subject of my build here on RCSB Travel Air R613K

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Travel Air Mystery Ship 1/4
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FW-190 D9 1/5 Scale
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Avatar User Offline Geezer
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Posted: November/03/2024 at 2:34pm  Quote
 
So odd that it would pop up now and then during the restoration (R613K) and the last photos were of what appeared to be a flight ready airplane and poof! It disappeared! Its in Great  Brittan somewhere or was.

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Rule 1 Power, Use lots, don't be needy!
2 Build light they fly better!
If it was easy everyone would do it!

 
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