This is the 6th in a series of aircraft designed, built and flown by more than 25 aircraft companies that called Wichita, the Air Capital of the World, “home.” Some of these early aircraft companies are world famous today, while most are nearly all but forgotten. However, their history should be recorded and aviation aficionados will find great pleasure in seeing these aircraft. Thanks to the photographic artistry of pioneer aviation photographer, Edgar B. Smith (1896-1966), excellent photographs exist today of most of these early day aircraft.
The photos in this series were printed from Edgar B. Smith’s original 8X10-inch negatives of the Robert J. Pickett Collection. Additional photographs are from Boeing Military Airplane Co., Beech Aircraft Co., and the Peter M. Bowers Collection. All are furnished by and are at the courtesy of the Kansas Aviation Museum.
MODEL AW (1928)
Cessna Aircraft Company, First and Glenn St., Wichita, KS.
MODEL SSP “BABY ACE” (1930)
Ace Manufacturing Co., 1016 S. Santa Fe, Wichita, KS.
MODEL 2000 (1927)
Travel Air Manufacturing Co., East Central, Wichita, KS.
MODEL 18 (1937)
Beech Aircraft Corporation, East Central, Wichita, KS.
MODEL C-165 (1929)
Swallow Aircraft Company, 2701 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS.
MODEL LT-1 “LIGHT TRANSPORT” (1929)
Stearman Aircraft Company, 610 E. 35th North, Wichita, KS.
MODEL SL “SKYLARK” (1930)
Watkins Aircraft Company, 2300 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS. Note “Wichita The Air Capital” on the hanger building in the background.
MODEL E-4000 (1929)
Travel Air Manufacturing Co., East Central, Wichita, KS.
MODEL 17D “STAGGERWING” (1938)
Beech Aircraft Corporation, East Central, Wichita, KS.
CESSNA MONOPLANE (1926)
Clyde V. Cessna, West Douglas, Wichita, KS.
MODEL M-2 “SPEEDMAIL” (1929)
Stearman Aircraft Company, 610 E. 35th North, Wichita, KS.
MODEL C-165 “AIRMASTER” (1939)
Cessna Aircraft Company, 5800 E. Franklin Road, Wichita, KS.
MODEL 10 “WHIPPOORWILL” (1928)
Laird Aircraft Corporation, 471 W. First, Wichita, KS.
MODEL XOSS-1 “CONVERTIBLE OBSERVATION SCOUT” (1938)
The Stearman Aircraft Division of Boeing Airplane Company in Wichita.