The Stinson Reliant is a popular single-engine four- to five-seat high-wing monoplane manufactured by the Stinson Aircraft Division of the Aviation Manufacturing Corporation of Wayne, Michigan.
Reliant | |
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Role | Liaison and training monoplane |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Stinson Aircraft Company |
First flight | 1933 |
Primary users | United States Army Air Corps Royal Navy |
Number built | 1,327 |
Design and development
editThe Reliant is a high-wing, fixed-tailwheel land monoplane powered with a variety of radial engines.[1]
1,327 Reliants of all types were made from 1933 to 1941, in different models, from SR-1 to SR-10. The final commercial model, the Stinson Reliant SR-10, was introduced in 1938. A militarized version was first flown in February 1942 and remained in production through several additional versions (all externally identical) until late 1943 for the US and British armed forces.[citation needed]
Reliant production can be broken into two distinct types – the straight-wing Reliants (all models up to SR-6) and the gull-wing Reliants (all models from SR-7 and after, including the militarized V-77/AT-19), with there being little in common between the two groups of types. The straight-wing Reliant has a wing of constant chord and thickness which is supported by two struts each side with additional bracing struts. In contrast the taper-wing Reliant has the broadest chord and thickness of the wing at mid-span, with the outer wing trailing edge heavily angled forward and a rounded cutout on the leading edge root, all supported by a single strut. The taper wing has a significant step up between the fuselage and the wing, and the changes in wing thickness gave it a distinct gull appearance from the front.[citation needed]
Operational history
editThe Reliant was used by the United States Army Air Forces in World War II as a utility aircraft, designated UC-81, and as trainer designated AT-19. The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force also used Reliants, for light transport and communication duties. After the war they were sold on the civilian market as the Vultee V-77.
The V-77 is a spartan version of the SR-10 with the 300 hp Lycoming R680-E3B, a single door on the left side and the traditional "bump" cowl was replaced with a simpler smooth cowl. Internal structure was beefed up significantly over the commercial models, and a distinctive triangle-shaped counterbalance was added to the rudder.[citation needed]
Variants
editThe SR-10 Reliant was available as a landplane, seaplane and skidplane in the following configurations:[2]
- Ambulance (two stretchers)
- Cargo/Ambulance
- Target Towing
- Firefighting
- Photographic
Civilian variants
edit- SR Reliant: Powered by a 215 hp (160 kW) Lycoming R-680 radial piston engine.[3]
- SR-1: Powered by a 240 hp (180 kW) Lycoming R-680-2 radial piston engine. Two built.[4]
- SR-2: Powered by a 240-hp (179-kW) Lycoming R-680-7 radial piston engine.
- SR-3: Similar to the SR-1, but with minor structural changes.
- SR-4: Powered by a 250-hp (186-kW) Wright R-760-E radial piston engine.
- SR-5: Improved version, powered by a 225-hp (168-kW) Lycoming R-680-4 radial piston engine.
- SR-5A: Powered by a 245-hp (183-kW) Lycoming R-680-6 radial piston engine.
- SR-5B: Powered by a 240-hp (179-kW) Lycoming R-680-2 radial piston engine.
- SR-5C: Powered by a 260-hp (194-kW) Lycoming R-680-5 radial piston engine.
- SR-5E: Powered by a 225-hp (168-kW) Lycoming R-680-4 radial piston engine.
- SR-5F: Powered by a 250-hp (186-kW) Wright R-760-E radial piston engine.
- SR-6: Four-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a Lycoming R-680-6 radial piston engine.
- SR-6A: Four-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a 225-hp (168-kW) Lycoming R-680-4 radial piston engine.
- SR-6B: Four-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a Lycoming R-680-5 radial piston engine.
- SR-7: First gull wing series.
- SR-7B: Four-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a Lycoming R-680-B6 radial piston engine. 47 built.[5]
- SR-7C: Four-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a Lycoming R-680-B5 radial piston engine. Three built.[5]
- SR-8A: Five-seat cabin aircraft.
- SR-8B: Five-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a Lycoming R-680-B6 radial piston engine.
- SR-8C: Five-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a Lycoming R-680-B5 radial piston engine.
- SR-8D: Five-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a Wright R-760-E2 radial piston engine.
- SR-8DM: Utility transport version of the SR-8D.
- SR-8E: Five-seat cabin aircraft, powered by a 320-hp (239-kW) Wright R-760-E23 radial piston engine.
- SR-8DE: Utility transport version of the SR-8E.
- SR-9: 1937 series. Fitted with a curved windshield, unique to this series.[6]
- SR-9A: Proposed version with Lycoming R-680-B4 engine. Unbuilt.[6]
- SR-9B: Powered by a 245 horsepower (183 kW) Lycoming R-680-B6 engine. 35 built.[6][7]
- SR-9C: Powered by a 260 horsepower (190 kW) Lycoming R-680-B5 engine. 65 built.[6][7]
- SR-9D: Powered by a 285 horsepower (213 kW) Wright R-760-E1 engine. 22 built.[6][7]
- SR-9E: Powered by a 320 horsepower (240 kW) Wright R-760-E2 engine. 43 built.[6][7]
- SR-9F: Powered by a 450 horsepower (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior radial engine. 34 built.[6]
- SR-10
- SR-10B: Powered by a Lycoming R-680-D6. One built.[6]
- SR-10C: Powered by a Lycoming R-680-D5 engine. 46 built.[6]
- SR-10D: Wright R-760E-1 engine. 3 built.[8]
- SR-10E: Powered by a Wright R-760E-2 radial piston engine. 21 built.[8]
- SR-10F: Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior SB radial piston engine. 18 built.[9]
- SR-10G: Powered by a Lycoming R-680-E1 radial piston engine. 12 built.[6]
- SR-10J: Lycoming R-680-E3 engine. 11 built.[6]
- SR-10K: Powered by a 450 horsepower (340 kW) Wright R-975E-3 radial engine. 2 built for New York City Police Department; one with conventional landing gear, one seaplane with Edo floats.[6][10]
Military variants
edit- AT-19
- USAAF designation for a training variant of the UC-81 for the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease as the Reliant I, 500 built.[11]
- AT-19A
- Original designation of the L-9A which was a Voyager not a Reliant.[11]
- AT-19B
- Original designation of the L-9B which was a Voyager not a Reliant.[11]
- AT-19C
- Conversions of AT-19s for photo-survey aircraft for the USAAF, 51 conversions.[11]
- UC-81
- Four impressed SR.8Bs.[13]
- UC-81A
- Two impressed SR.10Gs.[13]
- UC-81B
- One impressed SR.8E.[13]
- UC-81C
- Three impressed SR.9Cs.[13]
- XC-81D
- One civil SR.10F operated by the military for the development of glider pick-up techniques.[13]
- UC-81E
- Four impressed SR.9Fs.[13]
- UC-81F
- Seven impressed SR.10Fs.[13]
- UC-81G
- Three impressed SR.9Ds.[13]
- UC-81H
- One impressed SR.10E.[13]
- UC-81J
- Nine impressed SR.9Es.[13]
- UC-81K
- Five impressed SR.10Cs.[13]
- UC-81L
- Two impressed SR.8Cs.[13]
- UC-81M
- One impressed SR.9EM.[13]
- UC-81N
- Two impressed SR.9Bs.[13]
- L-12
- Two SR.5As impressed into service with the USAAF during World War II.[14]
- L-12A
- Two SR.7Bs impressed into service during World War II.[14]
- RQ-1
- One SR-5 Reliant was acquired by the US Coast Guard in 1935, later redesignated XR3Q-1 and decommissioned in 1941.[15]
- XR3Q-1
- One SR-5 Reliant was acquired by the US Navy in 1935.[16]
- Reliant I
- 500 Reliants were supplied to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease. The Reliants were used for light transport and communications, navigation and radio training duties.
Operators
editMilitary operators
edit- United States Army Air Forces – A total of 47 Reliants impressed during World War 2[20]
- United States Coast Guard[15]
- United States Navy[9]
Civil operators
edit- Aeronaves de México – the Reliant was the first aircraft used by Aeronaves, later to become Mexico's largest airline, Aeromexico, on their initial service between Mexico and Acapulco on 14 September 1934[21]
Specifications (SR-10F)
editData from General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Capacity: 3 to 4 passengers
- Length: 27 ft 11 in (8.51 m)
- Wingspan: 41 ft 7 in (12.68 m)
- Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
- Wing area: 256.5 sq ft (23.84 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,045 lb (1,384 kg)
- Gross weight: 4,605 lb (2,093 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior SB nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 400 hp (298 kW)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 154 kn (177 mph, 285 km/h)
- Range: 739 nmi (850 mi, 1,369 km)
- Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,330 ft/min (6.8 m/s)
See also
editAircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Cessna Airmaster
- de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver
- Fairchild 24
- Howard DGA-15
- Monocoupe 90
- Noorduyn Norseman
- Waco Standard Cabin series
Related lists
References
edit- ^ Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model AT-19 Airplanes and British Model Reliant – 15 June 1944
- ^ Stinson SR-10 Specifications – April 1940
- ^ Wegg 1990, pp. 131, 133.
- ^ Wegg 1990, p. 132.
- ^ a b Wegg 1990, p. 135.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wegg 1990, p. 136.
- ^ a b c d Aviation February 1937, p. 36.
- ^ a b Wegg 1990, pp. 136–137.
- ^ a b c d Wegg 1990, p. 137.
- ^ "FAA Aircraft Type Certificate 679" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Andrade 1979, p.79
- ^ "AT-19B – Texas Air Museum". Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Andrade 1979, p.81
- ^ a b Andrade 1979, p.130
- ^ a b Pearcy 1991, p. 317.
- ^ "A38 Stinson Reliant". RAAF Museum. 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
- ^ Halley 1980, p. 306.
- ^ "Memorias del Tiempo de Vuelo / Stinson SR-7A Reliant". www.pilotoviejo.com. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
- ^ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 532.
- ^ Aeromexico – The Story of a Great Company, last accessed on 2012 November 30
Bibliography
edit- Andrade, John (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- Elliot, Bryn (March–April 1997). "Bears in the Air: The US Air Police Perspective". Air Enthusiast. No. 68. pp. 46–51. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Halley, James J (1980). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-083-9.
- Pearcy, Arthur (1991). U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft Since 1916. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-118-4.
- Sapienza, Antonio Luis (June 2000). "Les premiers avions de transport commercial au Paraguay" [The First Commercial Transport Aircraft in Paraguay]. Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (87): 45–47. ISSN 1243-8650.
- "Stinson Restyles". Aviation Week & Space Technology. Vol. 36, no. 2. February 1937. pp. 35–36.
- Swanborough, F. G.; Bowers, Peter M. (1963). United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam.
- Swanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1976). United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 (Second ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10054-9.
- Wegg, John (1990). General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-833-X.