Travel Air 2000

The Travel Air 2000 was a biplane built by the Travel Air Manufacturing Company of Wichita, Kansas, between 1925 and 1929. Conceived by the company’s founders—Walter Beech, Clyde Cessna, and Lloyd Stearman—the aircraft embodied the collaborative spirit that defined early American aviation. Powered typically by a 150‑hp Wright J‑5 radial engine, the 2000 featured a sturdy welded‑steel tube fuselage, wooden wings with fabric covering, and a conventional tailwheel undercarriage. Its open‑cockpit layout accommodated a pilot and a passenger, while its relatively simple controls and forgiving handling made it popular with flight schools and barnstorming pilots. The 2000’s 30‑foot wingspan and modest 1,200‑pound gross weight gave a cruising speed of about 85 mph and a range of 350 miles, sufficient for the short‑haul routes and aerial displays of the era. Over 400 units were produced, serving as trainers for the United States Army Air Service and civilian aviation clubs. The aircraft’s reliability and adaptability helped cement Travel Air’s reputation, influencing later designs such as the Travel Air 4000 and contributing to the growth of commercial and military flight training in the interwar period.

Travel Air

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