Marshall, Missouri, was once a hotbed of flight innovation. It’s home of the historic Nicholas-Beazley Airplane Company, founded in 1921 by two flight visionaries who started their business by upselling airplane propellers and other parts. Eventually, Russell Nicholas and Howard Beazley’s company expanded into plane production. The company also had the best-equipped and world’s largest civilian flying school of its time, with over 3,000 students. Parts for the Spirit of St. Louis, the aircraft made famous by Charles Lindbergh for the first solo transatlantic flight, were purchased from Nicholas-Beazley.
At the Nicholas-Beazley Aviation Museum, important planes and other artifacts showcase the history of the company and its lasting legacy in aviation.
Displays include the Barling NB-3, a black-and-yellow craft once called the “new day” plane. Designed by Walter Barling in 1927, the plane was the company’s first in-house craft and showcased the cutting-edge technology of its time. It broke records for altitude, speed, fuel efficiency, and more.
The NB-8 was also ahead of its era, with its lightweight and foldable wing design, which made it towable by road. Once you’re done exploring the aircraft, you can climb into an actual cockpit to simulate the flying experience.
The Nicholas-Beazley Airplane Company closed because of the economic stressors of the Great Depression, but it has left a lasting mark on aviation history.
