The Mid America Flight Museum Team was presented with the Gold Lindy as the Antique Grand Champion for its restoration of the museum’s 1929 Travel Air 6000.
“This is an amazing accomplishment and a win not only for the Mid America Flight Museum but for Mount Pleasant,” said City Manager Ed Thatcher. “Under the leadership of Scott Glover, the owner and curator of the museum, the restoration team put in 30,000 hours of work to bring this beauty back to its full glory, and we can’t be prouder of their success.”
The base price of the Travel Air 6000 was $12,000 in 1929. There were 150 manufactured, and only six flyable aircraft remain. This airplane was purchased new by Pittsburgh Airways in 1929 and flew scheduled passenger service connecting Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to New York City.
The Travel Air 6000 was later purchased by Johnson Flying Service in Missoula, MT. Records indicate that SN 844 was the first airplane that carried “smoke jumpers.”
It is now owned & operated by Mid America Flight Museum with locations in Texas and Ohio. The Travel
Air was restored by a talented team of volunteers led by award-winning, master craftsmen, Doug Smith and Bill Knisley.
According to the AirVenture website, hundreds of gorgeous, striking airplanes arrive at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh every year in hopes of winning a Lindy Award. Only a handful come away with any sort of award. Fewer still come away with a Lindy.
Awards are given out across six categories: Homebuilts, Warbirds, Vintage, Ultralights, Seaplanes, and Rotorcraft. Entrants can only be considered for one category each year and are not eligible for the same or any lower-tier awards if they have won in the past.
Looks are considered in award judging, but the quality of craftsmanship in the aircraft is a crucial factor as well. Careful construction and/or restoration, as well as tireless maintenance, is essential in winning a Lindy.
Glover started the Mid America Flight Museum in 2013, which now boasts a stunning collection of aircraft from a 1925 Waco Nine to the 1951 Grumman Albatross. And everything at the museum flies or is being restored to fly. The museum is open free of charge to the public on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., so come see the Gold Lindy Award Winner yourself, soon!
For a gallery of photos from the full restoration, visit https://www.travelair6000.com/restoration/. More information can also be found at midamericaflightmuseum.com