Travel Air Type R Mystery Ship (replica)

Designed by Herbert Rawdon, the Travel Air Type R were a series of racing aircraft built by Travel Air in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The name “Mystery Ship” was given following the first three aircraft in series being built in secrecy.

Air racing in the 1920s was dominated by the military. This was simply down to the fact that they already had access to the fastest and most advanced aircraft available and would simply up the horsepower upon entering a race.

About this aircraft

This aircraft is a replica of the Type R and came to fruition following a meeting between Ron Souch of Aero Antiques and Richard Seeley in late 2007. The aircraft was hand built from scratch principally by Ron and Phil Kimber from Herbert Rawdon’s original design drawings which were located in a museum in California. The propeller, engine and instruments are correct to the originals. The only concessions to modernity are a radio and disc brakes. The aircraft’s first test flight was at Boscombe Down airfield on the 16 August 2012 in the very capable hands of Dan Griffith. Still owned by Richard Seeley, the aircraft arrived at Old Warden in June 2022.

Specification