RE: Cannot identify this aircraft

[brad kaste]

Hi All,
I borrowed my brother's latest 'Reminisce' magazine to post the front cover photo. It surely captures the era of the 1930's quite well. For the life of me, I'm not sure what type of aircraft Miss Cutie-Pie mechanic is working on. With the bit of the windshield showing and the way the wing connects into the fuse plus the support struts too,....I'm guessing its a Ryan of some sort. But not sure. Anyone care to take a guess?
Checking the young lady out one cannot help to notice the white buck shoes she's wearing,...plus the grease gun she's lubing into the radial engine. But she's wearing goggles too. Maybe these were just props. No info was given about the photo in the inside cover.
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh418/1944bradkaste/scan0001-1.jpg

[boxcar]

.
Am saying your thought is correct, Brad. A Ryan STA perhaps (sans engine cowling).

http://members.tripod.com/Airfields_freeman/PA/Ryan_DickBircher.jpg

Maybe modded too.
.

[srgalahad]

1929 Travel Air "R" Mystery Ship
Note the two upper struts, wire-braced landing gear with the distinctive third strut at the rear of the gear.
I can't find a Type R with that particular paint, but Paul Mantz bought NR613K that was owned by Pancho Barnes and used it for a lot of movie work so it may be a Hollywood Special paint.
4011

4008
http://www.airrace.com/1930NatAirRace.htm
also:
http://www.1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Brink/2636.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kensaviation/2660601734/in/set-72157606115607600/
http://www.swannysmodels.com/Mystery.html (small photo shows gear)
http://beechcraftheritage.com/cgi-bin/photo_viewer.pl?dir=gallery/mystery_ship&picshown=mystery_ship_replica.jpg&pagetitle=Mystery_ship_Photos

[brad kaste]

Thanks guys for your replies. Yes,...it does look like the Travel R 'Mystery' Ship. The struts and the big pants covering the wheels match exactly.