This is the 10th 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) and other pioneer aviation photographers, excellent photographs exist today of most of these early day aircraft.
The photos in this series were printed from Jack Clark, Glen Neuforth, via The Territorial magazine, Edgar B. Smith., Pickett collection, Walt House, Harry Ragland, Lloyd Townsend Family and Earl Sayre. All photographs are furnished by and are at the courtesy of the Kansas Aviation Museum.
Okay Model SK-1 (1929). Okay Airplane Company. Union National Bldg., Wichita, Ks. (Factory) Okay, OK.
Laird Swallow (1929). E. M. Laird Company, 2500 N. Hillside, Wichita, Ks.
Model 1000 “Super Midwing” (1929). Hilton Aircraft Company, 621 W. Douglas, Wichita, Ks.
KN-1 (Modified to 180HP Hisso) (1929). Cessna Aircraft Company, 471 W. First, Wichita, Ks.
Model C-3 (1933). Cessna Aircraft Company.
Swift Sport (1928). Swift Aircraft Corporation, 3301 S. Oliver, Wichita, Ks.
Model A2 (1948). Allied Aircraft Company, Maple and West St., Wichita, Ks.
Model A-129 “American Eagle” (1929). American Eagle Aircraft Corporation, Fairfax Airport, Kansas City, Ks.
Model R (“Mystery S”) (1929). Travel Air Manufacturing Company, 9500 E. Central, Wichita, Ks.
“Whippoorwill” (1928). Laird Aircraft Corporation, 471 W. First St., Wichita, Ks.
Model 18 (1943). Beech Aircraft Corporation, 9709 E. Central, Wichita, Ks.
Model SSP “Baby Ace” (1930). Ace Aircraft Mfg. Corporation, 1016 S. Santa Fe, Wichita, Ks.
Swallow Mail Plane (Varney Air Lines) (1926). Swallow Airplane Manufacturing Co., 2500 N. Hillside, Wichita, Ks.
The Leighnor Special “Mirage,” a Goodyear Class racer, was built by Bill Leighnor of Hutchinson, Kansas in 1948-1949. The sleek little racer was taken to the 1949 National Air Races at Cleveland, Ohio. After qualifying at 159.4MPH, Mirage placed third in each of the three Goodyear Trophy events. Mirage was flown by Harry Raglund of Wichita.