Operated by Kachemak Bay Flying Service Inc. offering a range of local area scenic flights in this "Fully Restored 1929 Classic". I took a spectacular flight in it, spiralling up towards the top of the steep mountain range which shelters Kachemak Bay. The six passenger seats were wicker chairs. Flew on floats in Alaska in summer and on wheels in California in the winter from a Santa Barbara address.

Cracking shot of a Travel Air 5000, probably brand new. Fleet number 21 of National Air Transport. The company began to work the Chicago - Dallas air mail route, CAM-3, in May 1926. N registration numbers were not assigned until 1927. NAT's house colour was sky blue. Photo from: Hagley Museum and Library

Compass calibration for Woolaroc, the eventual winner of the Dole Air Race. Pilot Art Goebel and navigator William Davis took 26 hours to reach Honolulu. Woolaroc - woods, lake, rock - is the name of the Oklahoma ranch of Frank Phillips, of Phillips Petroleum, who owned the aircraft. It is preserved on the ranch since 1929. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

The Travel Air 5000 was designed as a small airliner. Ernest Smith succeeded in flying the prototype from Oakland to Hawaii in July 1927, despite crashing into a thorn tree on arrival. One month later the Travel Air 5000 Special, NX869 Woolaroc, won the disastrous Dole Air Race over the same route. Seen here just before take-off, sister aircraft Oklahoma was not successful - pilot Bennett Griffin aborted the race with a technical problem and returned to Oakland. Reg not painted on race day. Photo from: California State Library

Built in 1929. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia