Travel Air Model 11
 | This article is actively undergoing a major edit for a little while. To help avoid edit conflicts, please do not edit this page while this message is displayed. This page was last edited at 10:47, 29 July 2024 (UTC) (3 months ago) – this estimate is cached, . Please remove this template if this page hasn't been edited for a significant time. If you are the editor who added this template, please be sure to remove it or replace it with {{Under construction}} between editing sessions. |
| Model 11 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Racing aircraft |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Travel Air |
| Number built | 2 |
| Developed from | Travel Air 2000 |
The Travel Air Model 11, also known as the Travel Air Model 11000 or the Curtiss-Wright Travel Air CW-11, was an American racing biplane developed from the general-purpose Travel Air 2000, and its derivative the Model 4-D.[1] Two examples competed in different events during the 1929 National Air Races, including the inaugural Women's Air Derby.[1] Pioneering woman aviator Marvel Crosson was killed flying a Model 11 in the latter event.[1]
Design and development
The two Model 11s built differed considerably,[1] but shared the same general configuration as other Travel Air biplanes of the era. They were single-bay, staggered biplanes of conventional design, with open cockpits and fixed, tailskid undercarriage. They had conventional tails and were powered by nose-mounted radial engines driving tractor propellers.[2] The fuselages were built from welded steel tubes, and the wings from wood.[3]
The first was a re-manufactured Travel Air 2000.[1] This aircraft (construction number 794,[1] registered X-6473[4]) was built in September or October[4] 1928 as a D-2000 subtype, with shorter-span and thinner "speedwings", a narrowed fuselage, and a new tail fin design.[4] It was nicknamed "The Bug" at the factory,[4][5] and its aerodynamic improvements while retaining its standard Curtiss OX-5 engine made it competitive in the 90-horsepower (67 kW) racing class.[5] Ira McConaughey flew it to a race victory at Newton, Kansas in early October.[5] Art Goebel raced it in Jackson, Mississippi in November, naming it The Chaparral.[5] A plan existed to re-engine it with a Warner Scarab, but it is now uncertain whether this was carried out before it was rebuilt into a Model 11.[5] The rebuild gave the aircraft new, thicker wings, different strut and aileron arrangements, new undercarriage, and a 240-horsepower (180 kW) Wright J-6-7 engine enclosed by a NACA cowling.[1]
The second was a new-build aircraft, based on the Model 4-D fuselage design, albeit shortened and narrowed.[1]
Specifications (variant)
General characteristics Performance
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Pelletier, Alain J. (1995). Beech Aircraft and their Predecessors. London: Putnam Aeronautical.
- Phillips, Edward H. (1994). Travel Air: Wings over the Prairie. Eagan, Minnesota: Flying Books International.
[[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]] [[Category:]]