Travel Air D4000 Speedwing

The Travel Air 4000 was an open-cockpit executive transport aircraft and was often used for the various air races and aerobatic competitions of the 1920’s and 1930’s. The Travel Air series was chiefly designed by Lloyd Stearman with input from Travel Air co-founders Walter Beech, Clyde Cessna and Bill Snook. During the period between 1924 and 1929, Travel Air produced more aircraft than any other American manufacturer.

About this aircraft

Built in 1928, this particular aircraft is a D4000 and was designated a Speedwing due to the wings being shorter and thinner which improved speed. The aircraft was operated as a barnstormer in the hands of the famous Mike Murphy, worked as a skywriter, competed in the US National Air Races in Cleveland, won a US National Aerobatics Championship and for a short time was used for civilian pilot training at Perdue University. 

Stored from 1941 to 1974, the aircraft made its post restoration debut in 1976 as the opening act at Oshkosh in the hands of ‘Big Mike’ Rezick and opened every annual EAA show at Oshkosh until 1980. 

Subsequently, the aircraft went through a number of hands before ending up in Canada where, after a minor landing accident, it was put into storage. The aircraft was located by Ron Souch and Richard Seeley who purchased it and brought it back to the UK where it remained in storage until refurbishment started in late 2017. The aircraft came to Old Warden in 2020 and is still owned by Richard Seeley and the Souch family.

Specification