Stinson Detroiter

National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Stinson Aircraft Syndicate Stinson Aircraft Company
First flight: 1926
Number built: 100+
Variants: Stinson Junior

The Stinson Detroiter was a six-seat cabin monoplane for passengers or freight designed and built by the Stinson Aircraft Syndicate, later the Stinson Aircraft Corporation.

Development

The first design from the Detroit based Stinson Aircraft Syndicate was the Stinson SB-1 Detroiter a four-seat cabin biplane which had novel features such as cabin heating, individual wheel brakes and electric starter for the nose-mounted 220hp (164kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine. This was soon developed into the six-seat Stinson SM-1D Detroiter a braced high-wing monoplane version which made its first flight on 25 January 1926. The aircraft was soon a success and it enabled Stinson to get $150,000 in public capital to incorporate the Stinson Aircraft Corporation on 4 May 1926.

Seventy-five of the Wright J-5 powered versions were built followed by 30 Wright J-6 powered aircraft. From 1928, SM-1 aircraft were used on scheduled services by Paul Braniff's Braniff Air Lines and by Northwest Airways.

In 1930 a SM-1FS with a crew of three reached Bermuda from New York City, the first time a flight had been made to the islands. Getting there the aircraft had to land twice, once because of darkness and later after running out of fuel. With a wing strut damaged, it was shipped back to New York.

In 1928 Stinson developed the smaller SM-2 Junior model to appeal to private owners.

Variants

SB-1 Detroiter
Original biplane version with a 220hp (164kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine.
SM-1D
High-wing monoplane version with a 220hp (164kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine.
SM-1DA
As SM-1D with detailed improvements.
SM-1DB
As SM-1D with minor improvements
SM-1DC
As SM-1D with detailed improvements.
SM-1DD
Freighter variant with two-seats and cargo-carrying interior, one built.
SM-1DE
Freighter variant with two-seats and cargo-carrying interior, one built.
SM-1F
Variant from 1929 with a 300hp (224kW) Wright J-6 engine.
SM-1D300
SM-1Ds modified with a 300hp (224kW) Wright J-6 engine.
SM-1FS
Floatplane variant of the SM-1F.
SM-6B
A larger capacity six-seat variant with a 450hp (336kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp C1 radial engine, two were built followed by eight more with eight-seat interiors.

Operators

United States

Braniff Air Lines
Northwest Airways

Honduras

Three planes of this model, were bought ​​by Honduran Air Force (1933)

Specifications (SM-1F)

General characteristics

Crew: 1 pilot
Capacity: 6 passengers
Length: 32 ft 0 in ( m)
Wingspan: 46 ft 8 in (14.22 m)
Powerplant: 1 x— Wright J-6, 300 hp (224 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 132 mph (212 km/h)

Related development

Faucett F-19

Bibliography

Davies, R.E.G. (1998). Airlines of the United States since 1914. Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 1-888962-08-9.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1 85310 104 X.

Stinson Detroiter Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia