nx869

Alvin Knechtel (1901-1929) was a Hollywood cinematographer, and helped sponsor Art Goebel's and navigator Lt. William Davis's (USN) winning entry in the 1927 Dole Air Race, "Woolaroc" (registration: NX-869) See: www.kingairmagazine.com/article/walter-beech-dole-race-ha... "Fortunately for Art, four of his best friends agreed to provide the $5,000 down payment he desperately needed in hope of securing a Travel Air. Of these four friends, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Knechtel resided in Hollywood where Mr. Knechtel worked as a movie camera man. The other couple, Mr. and Mrs. Cal Chandler, lived in the up-and-coming posh neighborhood of Beverly Hills where Mr. Chandler operated real estate and publishing businesses." Knechtel would tragically perish two years later along with stuntman and pilot William Hauber, as their aircraft crashed while aerial scouting for locations for the movie "The Aviator" (1929).

Woolaroc, the winner of the 1927 Dole Air Race to Hawaii en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dole_Air_Race

Travel Air 5000 Special NX869 c/n 1000 'Woolaroc' Oakland-Honolulu Dole Air Race winner May 25, 1927 2,439miles in 26 hr 17 min, Arthur Goebel Jr. pilot, William V. Davis Jr., navigator.