NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The Travel Air Mystery ship is best known for handily winning the September 2, 1929 Cleveland Air Races. That is where it surprised the aviation world by besting the fastest fighter aircraft of the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. The race was open to all aircraft and was flown over a distance of 50 miles.
The aircraft got its name "Mystery Ship" from the media because few people viewed it before the race. It was the creation of the Travel Air Co of Wichita, Kansas. The Travel Air Mystery Ship was flown to Cleveland in secrecy and kept under cover in a hangar before the races.
The idea for the Travel Air Mystery Ship, officially the Model R, was conceived shortly after the 1928 air races which were dominated by military aircraft. Walter Beech, head of Travel Air, felt that his company could produce an aircraft to beat the military. The Mystery Ship was test flown just days before it was to be raced. Luckily the performance of the aircraft during the test flights exceeded all expectations.
The aircraft was a monoplane design, using the latest in streamlining technology. Various engine cowls were tried and a NACA design was found to create the least drag. The all wood wings and plywood over steel tube fuselage, while not unique, when combined with the overall design of the aircraft, proved a winning combination.
After its win in Cleveland, the Travel Air Mystery Ship went on to set a number of speed records. A total of six aircraft were constructed.
RC Travel Air Mystery Ship built by Paul Weigand from a Fred Reese kit. It has a wing span of 70" and a length of 49".
Paul powers his RC Airplane with an AXI 4130/16 motor turning a 16 x 10 prop.
Although the kit has been out of production for a while, you can sometimes find the kits, partially completed or fully completed sold on eBay.
Radio Control Airplanes:
Kit cutters has plans, full kits, and short kits for sale of the Travel Air Mystery Ship rc airplane designed by Jack Swift. It has a wingspan of 69".
You can find plans for sale of the rc Travel Air Mystery Ship from Cleveland Model & Supply. It comes in wingspans of 21", 28", 42", 56", and 84" giant scale.
We have seen some posts to RC Groups about a "fun build" rc Travel Air Mystery Ship. It is from a 24" wingspan short kit for sale by Ozark Model Aviation.
The rc Travel Air Mystery Ship for sale from Lenger Modellbau. The ARF has a wingspan of 37" and a length of 25".
It comes with a geared speed 300 size motor. Ready to fly weight is 20 oz.
Radio Control Airplane
Travel Air Mystery Ship rc airplane scratch built by Dave Grife.
Wingspan of the giant scale radio control airplane is 88". A Hacker C-15 Acro motor powers it. All up weight is 15 1/2 lbs.
Travel Air Mystery Ship
