Monday, May 6, 2013

"Another Nixon Galloway United Airlines Collector Series Watercolor!"




A Hollywood Star...
Apparently, according to the informative card I attached to Nixon's watercolor, the Travel Air BM 4000 was a perfect actor in many World War One movies like, "Wings." It resembles a Fokker D-7 because of the extended "elephant ear" ailerons on the upper wing tips. The BM-4000 was powered by a nine cylinder Wright J-5. When air mail was opened to commercial interests, the plane was modified to carry cargo. Pacific Air Transport adopted the three seater sport version to carry mail and cargo in the front cockpit, instead of passengers on its Los Angeles-Seattle route.

The Travel Air series of planes owed its success to many designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Misters Beech, Stearman, and Cessna collectively added their best to help cast the die for the aircraft that today is incorporated into all aircraft. Pacific Air Transport, founded in January 1926 by Vern Gorst. purchased Claude Ryan's Model 2 to launch its CAM route. Two years later Pacific Air Transport and Boeing Air Transport joined and became United Airlines.

For further info on this aircraft, checkout: http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/timeline/between/Travel%20Air%204000.htm



Copyright 2013/Ben Bensen III

No comments:

Post a Comment