This Travel Air 4000 was flown by the legendary racer and Travel Air employee Louise Thaden. Thaden flew this plane in a 1929 women’s air race now known as The Powder Puff Derby. The cross country air race started in Santa Monica, California and ended in Cleveland, Ohio eight days later. Thaden came in first place with a time of 19 hours and 35 minutes over 2,800-mile course. This plane is on loan from the Ninety-Nines, an international group of women pilots that was started by 99 women including Thaden after the conclusion of the race. Tragically, there was a fatality in the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, and race organizers were hesitant to hold another Women’s race. However, in 1936 women entered the National Air Races known as the Bendix Cup. Thaden and her female copilot Blanche Noyes flew a Beechcraft model 17 donated to them by Olive Ann Beech. The two women piloted the plane to victory and beat all the men in the race. Their win has inspired generations of women and girls to learn to fly. Thaden is a member of the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame.