Travel Air Restorers Association

The Travel Air Restorers Association (TARA) is an independent, nonprofit organization, formed in 1990, dedicated to the preservation of Travel Air aircraft, their history, engineering drawings, related artifacts, photographs and documentation with the objective to keep these aircraft flying for today's and future generations to enjoy and appreciate. To this end TARA will seek to promote the exchange of information and data among it's members and the public through it's newsletter, it's website and through both national and regional Fly-In's. Learn More

New items in Classified Section

Jim Miller of Spokane is selling his Travel Air 4000

We just added Compass Correction Card Holders in the Classified Section and we added Travel Air Data Plates, and Instrument Panel Brass Plates and have the Brass Oval Plates again in our Gift Shop.

Click on the item to see a picture or click here to visit the Gift Shop for details!

Travel Air News
  • Travel Air progress report from Richard Zeiler

    Do not know if Mark Lightsey has communicated on his and our achievements in moving forward on our Travel Air?  Actually last week we fired the old girl up for the first time and taxied it around a little. It ran smooth and has lots of power. There were no leaking or squirting and we were both particularly pleased. We are installing the seat belts, the pilot windscreen, and the lower wing fairings. We'll drain the fuel and do a weight and balance and hope to get the Form 337(s) completed in the next three weeks. We may actually get this plane to leave terra firma soon. If we can work the logistics, Mark wants us to take it to Oshkosh this year, but we shall see how things line up.

    Pictures

    • Richard, Dan, Mark & Crew

     

  • Travel Air DER

    Phil Wyels has received an appointment as FAA Consultant Designated Engineering Representative (DER) from the Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) limited to Travel Air model aircraft. Delegated functions are within the technical areas of structural, power plant installations, mechanical and electrical systems and equipment, piston engines, and major repairs and alterations.

    Phil will be happy assist any Travel Air owner or restorer in the certification process for their aircraft.

    He can be reached at 562-881-6711 (8AM to 6PM Pacific Time) or by E-Mail


2012 Travel Air Reunion, Flabob

This year's Reunion is now history and I think we all had a good time seeing old friends, touring Mark Lightsey's shop (Travel Air Factory West), being a part of the Flabob Flying Circus event and all the other little adventures we had. Doc Smith from Torrance, CA flew his green and silver Travel Air 4000 while Bruce McElhoe brought his blue and cream model 4D Travel Air. In addition, there were four Travel Air's undergoing restoration in Mark's shop for inspection and getting ideas. See some photos from the event by clicking here.
 
We had special T-shirts made up for this 30th Annual event which are now available in our gift store at a discount price... get one before they are gone.
 
The Flabob Flying Circus event was very successful with a great variety of aircraft participating, including a full scale Wright Flyer and Schelling's 1918 Jenny as well as our Travel Air's, Waco's and many others. This was all great fun but now we are thinking of next year's Reunion..... does anyone have suggestions? Send them to me and lets talk them over.