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The 1926 Travel Air 5000 Airplane Restoration is Complete.
The U.S.'s First Passenger Airplane is moving to its permanent location August 2nd.
The campaign we began in 2012 to bring this iconic airplane back to Fort Worth will move into the final phase this month. Cowtown Aerocrafters of Justin have completed the restoration and will move the aircraft to the historic Star-Telegram building at 700 West 7th Street this weekend.
After 83 years of being mostly hidden away, this only existing example of the US's first commercial passenger airplane, will be on display for all to see and appreciate. The aircraft now is owned by MorningStar Partners and will be the centerpiece of a new museum dedicated to Amon G. Carter, Sr.
You can find the story on our Fort Worth Aviation Museum website by clicking here or, visit our Facebook pages for picture and videos. FB Veterans Memorial Air Park or FB Fort Worth Aviation Museum.
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The importance of this Travel Air 5000 cannot be over emphasized. This particular airplane is only one of fourteen ever produced and is the only remaining passenger version still in existence. These airplanes were built in Wichita, Kansas by Clyde Cessna, Lloyd Stearman and Walter Beech. These three pioneers went on to establish their own aircraft manufacturing companies and changed aviation in the United States for years to come.
From this small beginning of carrying only four passengers, the airline industry has grown and flourished. Last year alone, DFW served over 60 million passengers.
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We acquired our A-7B in 2007 as part of what we then called "The Fort Worth Four," four aircraft we wanted for our collection because of their connections to North Texas. The other three, our F-105D, F-111E and our TF-102, were all successfully acquired that year. Our Corsair II has seen increased attention the last couple of years and will start to receive a "scratch" coat of gray paint in preparation of its final gray and white livery. The aircraft's sponsor flew this same airplane as a member of the US Navy's attack squadron VA-304 "Firebirds." We are looking forward to another aircraft dedication soon. To learn more about this aircraft, click here: http://vmap.wikispaces.com/A-7B+Corsair+II
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Last month we acquired a Bell Helicopter Textron OH-58A/C through a GSA auction. The former US Army observation helicopter had been a part of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol since 2006. This is a virtually complete aircraft and as the picture shows, our young visitors love it already. We plan to use this one as a float like we did our previous Kiowa. In addition, as part of our outreach program we plan to take this aircraft to schools and public events. We are still researching its history, but it appears it is a Vietnam and Iraq veteran.
We also wish to thank Bell Helicopter Textron for a grant that helped make this purchase possible.
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