Stinson Detroiter

The Stinson Detroiter was a six-seat cabin airliner for passengers or freight designed and built by the Stinson Aircraft Syndicate, later the Stinson Aircraft Corporation. Two distinct designs used the Detroiter name, a biplane and a monoplane.

Detroiter
Stinson SM-1F
Role Utility monoplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Stinson Aircraft Syndicate
Stinson Aircraft Company
First flight 25 January 1926
Number built 100+
Variants Stinson Junior

Development

The first design from the Detroit-based Stinson Aircraft Syndicate was the Stinson SB-1 Detroiter, a four-seat cabin biplane with novel features such as cabin heating, individual wheel brakes and electric starter for the nose-mounted 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine. It made its first flight on Jan 25th, 1926.[1] The Harley Davidson brakes were demonstrated on a snowy maiden flight requiring wheel chains to be added to prevent skidding.[2] This aircraft was soon developed into the six-seat Stinson SM-1D Detroiter, a braced high-wing monoplane version which ultimately made quite a number of significant long-range flights.[3][4] 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.[4]

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.[5]

In 1930 a SM-1FS with a crew of three reached Bermuda from New York City, the first flight ever 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.[6]

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

Variants
A Stinson SB-1 Detroiter biplane as originally built
SB-1 Detroiter
Original biplane version with a 220hp (164kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine. 26 units built. Prototype sold to Horace Elgin Dodge, first production model sold to John Duval Dodge of Dodgeson.[7]
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-1DX
variant powered with a 225hp Packard DR-980 Diesel engine, one built and first diesel powered aircraft to fly.
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.
SM-7B
Originally powered by a 300hp (220kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engine, five were built each year in 1928, 1929 and 1930. E.L. Cord's personal plane was operated for several years during/after World War II by Western Air Express with (illegally) a 450hp (336kW) Pratt; subsequently restored in 1980-2020 with a legal 300hp Lycoming R-680.[8]
SM-8A
Five-seat model, originally powered by a 300hp (220kW) Lycoming R-680 radial engine. Cruise 100 mph.[9]

Operators
 Republic of China
 Peru
 United States
 Honduras

Specifications (SM-1F)
Stinson SM-1 3-view drawing from L'Aérophile September,1927

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Capacity: 6 passengers
  • Length: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
  • Wingspan: 46 ft 8 in (14.22 m)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Wright J-6 , 300 hp (224 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 132 mph (212 km/h, 115 kn)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
Notes
  1. Juptner, Joseph (1962). U. S. Civil Aircraft Series, Vol 1. AERO Publishing, Inc. p. 74.
  2. John A. Bluth. Stinson Aircraft Company. p. 26.
  3. Juptner, Joseph (1962). U. S. Civil Aircraft Series. Vol 1. AERO Publishing,Inc. p. 53.
  4. "Stinson Aircraft Corporation". Archived from the original on 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  5. Davies, 1998, p. 734
  6. UNUSUAL PLACE – UNUSUAL STORY – HEROIC CREW
  7. John A. Bluth. Stinson Aircraft Company. p. 27.
  8. Blancolirio, Juan: "1930 Stinson 'Detroiter' Maiden Flight after 40 Years," August 2020, YouTube, retrieved May 20, 2023
  9. "About the Stinson SM8A 'Detroiter'," Port Townsend Aero Museum, retrieved May 20, 2023
  10. "CNAC History".
  11. "Stinson Detroiter". 12 December 2010.
  12. "Airlines of the World: The Americas – Cia de Aviacion Faucett" (PDF). Flight: 420. 28 April 1938. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  13. "Airliners of North America". Aerofiles. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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 1-85310-194-X.
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