Travel Air NC8842 is not among the archives of the National Air & Space Museum. The reason is that it is still registered with the FAA and is being restored in Texas.

Below, we have a bright sunny day for an unusual action shot of NC8842. The photographer, standing at the end of the runway, caught it during takeoff towing three gliders.

NC8842 Towing Three Gliders, Date & Location Unknown

Below, I pushed the contrast of the image to show that, indeed, there are three tow ropes extending from this workhorse Travel Air.

NC8842 Contrast-Enhanced

Our Travel Air landed at Tucson once on Tuesday, March 10, 1930 at 4:42 PM. It arrived flown solo by A.T. Whiffen. Based at Milwaukee, WI, he was westbound from El Paso, TX to Yuma, AZ.

Contributor Bowden says about the airplane, "The airplane owner/restorer is [...] of Robinson, TX.  He purchased the airplane from the estate of the late Sid Hess (Waco TX), who collected several TA projects and built up one of the Pespi-Cola Travel Airs in the 1970's.  Sid also built several Travel Air fuselages on a jig he manufactured.  I doubt [...] has a whole lot of information about the history of 8842, but I will ask him.  The photograph 8X10 print was purchased in a flea market by another friend of mine, [...].  I think he gave it to [...].  The location and photographer is unknown.  The engine is clearly a Curtiss-Challenger 185 hp.  Perhaps some of your readers or maybe you can identify the location when you look at the photo...."

I cannot identify the place. From the mountains, tanks and buildings in the background, does anyone KNOW the location of this event, and maybe an approximate date?

NC8842 is also logged in the Clover Field Register, Santa Monica, CA. It was flown by William T. Blaufuss. Blaufuss also landed and signed the Davis-Monthan Register four times as a military pilot.

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UPLOADED: 04/17/08 REVISED: