Stinson Reliant

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
Role Liaison and training monoplane
National origin United States
Manufacturer Stinson Aircraft Company
First flight 1933
Primary users United States Army Air Corps
Philippine Army Air Corps
Number built 1,327

Design and development

The 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.

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.

Operational history
A Stinson (Vultee) V-77

The 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.

Variants
SR-6 Reliant at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum, Dauster Field, Missouri in 2006

The 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
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
Jimmy Doolittle's Shell Stinson Reliant SR-10, restored
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
Wright R-760E-3. Two built.[6]

Military variants
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.[10]
AT-19A
Original designation of the L-9A which was a Voyager not a Reliant.[10]
AT-19B
Original designation of the L-9B which was a Voyager not a Reliant.[10]
AT-19C
Conversions of AT-19s for photo-survey aircraft for the USAAF, 51 conversions.[10]
UC-81
Four impressed SR.8Bs.[11]
UC-81A
Two impressed SR.10Gs.[11]
UC-81B
One impressed SR.8E.[11]
UC-81C
Three impressed SR.9Cs.[11]
XC-81D
One civil SR.10F operated by the military for the development of glider pick-up techniques.[11]
UC-81E
Four impressed SR.9Fs.[11]
UC-81F
Seven impressed SR.10Fs.[11]
UC-81G
Three impressed SR.9Ds.[11]
UC-81H
One impressed SR.10E.[11]
UC-81J
Nine impressed SR.9Es.[11]
UC-81K
Five impressed SR.10Cs.[11]
UC-81L
Two impressed SR.8Cs.[11]
UC-81M
One impressed SR.9EM.[11]
UC-81N
Two impressed SR.9Bs.[11]
L-12
Two SR.5As impressed into service with the USAAF during World War II.[12]
L-12A
Two SR.7Bs impressed into service during World War II.[12]
RQ-1
One SR-5 Reliant was acquired by the US Coast Guard in 1935, later redesignated XR3Q-1 and decommissioned in 1941.[13]
XR3Q-1
One SR-5 Reliant was acquired by the US Navy in 1935.[14]
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
Stinson V77 Reliant
Stinson V77 Reliant

Military operators
 Argentina
 Australia
 United Kingdom
 Uruguay
 United States

Civil operators
 Brazil
 El Salvador
 Mexico
  • 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[18]
 Norway
 Paraguay
  • Líneas Aéreas de Transporte Nacional (LATN)
 United States

Specifications (SR-10F)
A Stinson SR-10 Reliant (black) and a De Havilland DH-4B (wood) hanging from the ceiling at the National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.

Data 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

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model AT-19 Airplanes and British Model Reliant – 15 June 1944
  2. Stinson SR-10 Specifications – April 1940
  3. Wegg 1990, pp. 131, 133.
  4. Wegg 1990, p. 132.
  5. Wegg 1990, p. 135.
  6. Wegg 1990, p. 136.
  7. Aviation February 1937, p. 36.
  8. Wegg 1990, pp. 136–137.
  9. Wegg 1990, p. 137.
  10. Andrade 1979, p.79
  11. Andrade 1979, p.81
  12. Andrade 1979, p.130
  13. Pearcy 1991, p. 317.
  14. Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 469.
  15. "A38 Stinson Reliant". RAAF Museum. 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  16. Halley 1980, p. 306.
  17. Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 532.
  18. Aeromexico – The Story of a Great Company, last accessed on 2012 November 30

Bibliography
  • 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.
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