Chicago, 2018 (IMTS)
I visit Chicago about once every four years for the International Machine Tool Show to see what's new in my chosen career field. This year I decided to spend a little of my free time visiting the Museum of Science and Technology to see what I could find in the way of aircraft. It's a very large museum on the lakeshore and well worth the visit especially if you have kids as there are alot of interactive exhibits including a tornado generator that lets you walk through it (without getting blown away!). My favourite exhibit has to be the WW11 German U-boat captured during the war and wonderfully displayed in it's own building.
The Type R Mystery Ships were built by the Travel Air company in the 1930's and 40's and were so named because the first three were built entirely in secrecy and flown in races and airshows across the US. Only five were built and this one is probably the most famous, flown by Frank Hawks, one of the most prolific racers of that era with over 214 point to point records. In 1929, a type R aircraft actually beat the best fighters of the US Army and Navy at the National Air Races. In 1930, Frank set a west to east record flight in this plane of 12 hours, 25 minutes, three seconds, the fastest crossing made up to that time! |
One of only two remaining Boeing model 40 aircraft in the world (this one a 40B-2) was the first air carrier to offer transcontinental airmail and passenger service between Chicago and San Francisco in 1927. The company that flew this, later joined with some other small airlines to form United Airlines.