A Travel Air "Mystery Ship" belonging to Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes (1901-1975) shown at Union Airport (Bob Hope Airport) in Burbank. In 1929, the first sleek little black and red Model-R mono-plane was flown to Cleveland from Wichita just before the National Air Races and was immediately placed in a hangar and covered with a canvas tarp. This secrecy of the plane's identity resulted in it being nicknamed the "Mystery Ship." "Pancho" Barnes, grand-daughter of Thaddeus S. C. Lowe of Mount Lowe fame, was a pioneer of women's aviation and the owner of the celebrated Happy Bottom Riding Club located in the Antelope Valley. After her death, her Mystery Ship shown here was stored in a hangar at Mojave Airport, but was later sold to a private collector and is currently in the United Kingdom waiting to be restored. Photo dated: March 2, 1931.
Bob Hope Airport (Los Angeles County, Calif.) Travel Air aircraft Airplanes--California--Burbank (Los Angeles County) Airports--California--Burbank (Los Angeles County) Hangars--California--Burbank (Los Angeles County) Barnes, Pancho,1901-1975 Burbank (Los Angeles County, Calif.) Travel Air (Firm)
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