The Mystery of the "Mystery Ship"
Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 04:28 Nick Spark Hits: 1041
It's nearly impossible to think of Pancho Barnes' career in aviation without thinking of her Travel Air "Mystery Ship." This powerfully-built aircraft with its distinctive streamlined wheel pants and NACA cowling seemed to fit Pancho's outsized personality to a 'T'. In many photos the plane seems to be a part of Pancho, in a way similar to the role played by Roy Roger's horse Trigger.Pancho first saw this unique plane back in 1929 at the Cleveland Air Races. Dubbed the 'Mystery' because it's construction was kept under wraps by builder Walter Beech, the plane was an immediate sensation. Aviator Doug Davis won a speed competition against an Army Hawk that year, despite initially missing a pylon and falling nearly a mile behind at the start of the race. Pancho, deeply disappointed at her failure to finish the Powder Puff Derby, wanted a Mystery Ship. The odds did not seem to be in her favor. There were only a few in production, and they seemed destined for only the most skillful — male (it goes without saying) — pilots. Nevermind. Pancho was relentless, and she won out. For just over $13K, an absolute fortune in those days, she bought one. She now had the fastest plane in the world. Just imagine what she'd do with it!