The Story of
Early Wichita Aviation, 1910 - 1930
Every now and then one is asked to explain how it came about that Wichita, Kansas, (pop. 114,000), has produced approximately one-fourth the commercial airplanes manufactured within the United States.
With one eye, figuratively speaking, on the fact that the building of airplanes, like the production of automobiles, furniture, shoes or clothes, machine equipment, etc., is a manufacturing process rather than a direct reaping of natural resources, and with another eye on the fact that, except for airplanes, Wichita is not generally known as a manufacturing center, the inquisitor usually wants to know something about the "industrial evolution" leading to the effect involved.
How is it, the inquisitor asks, that this comparatively small mid-plains city ranks alongside of New York, Detroit, or Los Angeles in the manufacture of the world’s newest vehicle of transportation? How is it the mighty millions of Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, St. Louis and Kansas City have been surpassed by the 114,000 of Wichita? Why is it that Wichita has had 16 or more airplane factories, at least four of which have been leaders in commercial aviation? Why does this Kansas town have more than 1,640 acres devoted to flying fields, one of the 11 fields being a 640-acre tract operated by the City of Wichita as one of the finest airports in this country? How come that Wichita has been able to boast of six airplane engine factories, even though still in the experimental stage? What created the city’s 13 schools teaching flying, or some allied trade? How do you account for nine air transport concerns, 25 or more firms either manufacturing or handling aeronautical accessories or supplies, seven firms devoted to airplane or airplane engine service, five aeronautical investment houses, the $5,000,000 or more it
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Travel Air 4000, NC5427, of 1928
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