Story and Photography By Jim Roberts
Walter Beech, Clyde Cessna and Lloyd Stearman are three names synonymous with aviation. At EAA AirVenture Oshkosh you can find legions of their aircraft poised proudly under the Wisconsin sun. But did you know that before there was a Beechcraft, Cessna or Stearman aircraft company, these three pioneers joined in a venture that would ultimately manufacture nearly 1,700 aircraft?
Founded in Wichita, Kansas, the “Air Capital of the World,” the Travel Air Manufacturing Co. operated from 1925 to 1931, producing models ranging from the Model A, a 3-place biplane powered by a 90-hp Curtis OX-5 engine, to the sleek Type R Mystery Ship, a low-wing monoplane that won the Thompson Trophy in the 1929 National Air Races. Though best known for its biplanes, Travel Air also produced the model 5000 and 6000 cabin monoplanes.
The most often sighted Travel Air today is the Model D-4000 biplane. Apart from its use in general aviation and as a mail plane, the Model 4000 was flown competitively; Louise Thaden flew a D-4000 to win the inaugural Women’s Air Derby at the 1929 National Air Races.
A new restoration of a D-4000 flown by Charles Lindbergh is making its public debut at AirVenture 2025. To spot the aircraft, go to the Theater in the Woods and walk south. You’ll find it nestled in with a flock of its sister ships, marking a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Travel Air.
The restoration of Lindy’s Travel Air, N4264, was a collaboration between Frank Schelling and Mark Lightsey. Frank recalls that he bought a “rusted out fuselage and a pile of parts” in 1985. Over the years he acquired a Wright J-5 engine and original instruments, then put the project in the capable hands of Mark and his Tennessee company, Aerocraftsman.
When Frank dug into the history of the airplane he discovered it had flown the mail with Robertson Aircraft Corp. After earning fame in 1927 as the first person to make a nonstop flight from New York to Paris, Lindbergh carried the mail between St. Louis to Chicago on a 1928 promotional flight for Robertson, flying NC4264. With these facts in hand, Frank set about to make the restoration as original as possible.
Mark got to work in 2013, and having restored several other Travel Airs, says: “It’s just fun to do one that has all the bits and bobs on it, that the owner really wanted to do original: instruments, flare tubes, landing lights, mechanical brakes. Not trying to do a custom, just trying to do a true restoration.”
Near the end of the project in April 2024, Frank turned over custody of the Travel Air to Walt Bowe, who first saw the aircraft years ago when it was in Frank’s shop, then in California. Walt recalls: “I would go over and visit Frank and his Jenny project, and Frank was such a historian, making sure that the instruments were perfect. Luckily, he contacted me when he thought about letting it go.”
Once finished. Frank recalls watching Mark make the first flight, thinking that it was nice to see it fly. Mark says: “The planes are great, but it’s the owners that are the real treat. You start with customers and wind up with friends.” Walt adds, “I think Mark and Frank made a great team and I’m just lucky to have stepped in at the end.”
Another notable Travel Air onsite is a blue and orange model S6000B that’s been in service since 1929. The aircraft, NC9084, was first bought by Phillips Petroleum as an executive transport, essentially a “limousine of the air.” Over the years the plane changed hands before going to work transporting smoke jumpers in 1956 for Johnson Flying Service in Missoula, Montana.
In 1969 the plane went to Homer, Alaska, flying for Bill de Creeft at his Kachemak Air Service. Bill later did two restorations on the aircraft, eventually installing a 450-hp Wright Whirlwind R-975.
In 2008, aviation enthusiast and businessman Howard Wright bought NC9084 and flew it down the Alaska Highway to its new home in Washington State. This year, Howard left Seattle for Oshkosh on July 7, and on day four landed at Lloyd Stearman Field in Wichita, Kansas to join a Travel Air 100th anniversary gathering at the aircraft’s birthplace. Then, following stops at Antique Airfield in Blakesburg, Iowa and Brodhead Airport in Wisconsin, he arrived at AirVenture on July 18
Howard says: “The airplane is just a sweetheart to fly. In 17 years I’ve put 800 hours on it and in one year took it on a trip to six countries — 11,000 miles, 12 months, 40 fuel stops, 125 hours of flying. The airplane has a very long landing gear and shock absorbers, so it’s very forgiving. The airplane’s been very good to me and I’ve tried to be very good to it.”