Indian Summer

Description

It’s a magnificent view! Waco UPF-7 and Travel Air 3000 biplanes wait patiently for their pilots as they face Mt. Ranier. Everything comes together beautifully in this visually stunning, colorful and balanced print reproduction of a painting by Sam Lyons.

What is a biplane?

A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. It was the first powered, controlled airplane to fly. Aircraft in the early years of aviation used this biplane wing arrangement. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage over a monoplane, it produces more drag than a monoplane wing. Eventually the early biplanes gained improved structural techniques, better materials and higher speeds. These are reasons that made the biplane configuration obsolete by the late 1930s.

The Travel Air biplanes

The Travel Air biplanes were noted for their good flying qualities which may have helped Travel Air outsell all rivals by 1929.

An interesting sidenote is that the Travel Air saw extensive use in early motion pictures. They often stood in for the increasingly scarce Fokker D.VII. They were also popular as executive transports. Many were purchased by wealthy-sportsmen adventurers who entered them in the competitions and air races that were frequently held during that era. Like many aircraft of the period, they also operated as air taxis carrying passengers and light cargo. Later some worked as bushplanes. As the supply of war-surplus aircraft declined, they became available on the used aircraft market. Many were also used for barnstorming, which included exhibition and stunt flying. Commercial operators found the Travel Air biplanes to be versatile. They had a useful payload, rugged construction and (for the times) speed and efficiency.

The 17.5″ x 26″ prints are available in Limited Edition sizes of 300 Signed & Numbered and 30 Artist Proofs (SOLD OUT). Also available as a loose 8″ x 10″ Open Edition.