December Mystery Airplane Contest

Designed by Doug Webber and Noel Hockaday, the two seat Model 6000 Speedster was delayed in production due to not being able to meet government spin regulations. The first two Speedsters, including NC15865 in this photo, were powered by a 95 hp four cylinder inverted A.C.E. Cirrus Hi-Drive air cooled engine. Cirrus engines, produced in Marysville, Michigan, from 1928 to 1935, were used mostly as power for the Fairchild 22 and Great Lakes Trainers. When the company folded, Menasco picked up the spare parts service.

The Model 6000C finally met the spin requirement and received Approved Type Certificate #653 on 28 September 1937. Due to A.C.E.'s demise, Rearwin had to revise the Speedster to take the 125 hp Menasco C-4 inline. Under ATC #661 of 31 October 1937, the revised Model 6000M was produced in small numbers. Aerofiles says 16 were built. With the Menasco engine, the Model 6000M had a top speed of 166 mph compared to the Cirrus model's 144 mph.

Built with a wooden two spar fabric covered wing and a steel tube fuselage with metal panels forward and fabric aft, the Speedster weighed in at between 1060 pounds empty to almost 1700 loaded. Juptner, Volume 7, lists the price at the Fairfax Field factory in Kansas City for the Menasco version as $4,390.00. Remember, this was during the Great Depression. Rearwin sold out to Commonwealth in 1942. The later Skyranger, which was produced after WWII by Commonwealth disappeared from production in 1947, the last of the Rearwin airplanes.

This Oshkosh 2011 photo shows NC15865, c/n 302, the second Cirrus Hi-Drive model. At the time I took the picture, it was registered to Aircraft Guaranty Corporation in Texas.

Blue skies and tail winds to everyone. Fly safe.

Somehow, I thought this would be a tough one. Nope! This month's winner is Bill Ingvoldstad of Nisswa. Others who nailed the Rearwin include Graydon Carlson, George Jevnager, Bob Heavirland, John Clark, Michael Johnson, Joe Connell who knew it was NC15865, John Mertsdorf, Dave Lundgren, and Bob Eckstein who recognized it was c/n 302. No fooling these experts!