Mystery Airplane contest

The Stinsons were early American aviators. Sisters,

Katherine and Marjorie, were exhibition pilots before WWI

and the brothers, Eddie and Jack, ran a flying school in Texas

before American entry into The Great War. Eddie (1893-1932)

moved to Detroit and produced his first commercial aircraft,

the biplane Detroiter in 1926. Northwest Airlines began with

three SB-1 Detroiters. By 1927, with a need for more space,

Stinson moved to Wayne, Michigan.

Of the pre-WWII Stinsons, the SR series was produced in the

greatest numbers. Appearing in 1933, over 1300 were manufactured.

The most popular of the SR series was the 245 hp

Lycoming R-680 powered SR-5A built under Approved Type

Certificate #536 of 5 May 1934. With appeal to businesses,

sport flyers, airlines, and government agencies, the SR-5A,

capable of wheel, ski, or float operations, was versatile, possessed

good performance, and was right for the market.

The SR-5A and the 225 hp Lycoming SR-5E (ATC #537), were

purchased by oil companies like Shell, Gulf, and Pure, the

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, newspapers, and Hollywood

elite. One Hollywood star, actress Ruth Chatterton (1892-

1961), bought SR-5A NC14595 in 1935. A close friend of

Amelia Earhart, Chatterton flew across the United States solo

many times, was involved in air racing, and sponsored

cross-country flights. She was associated with Hollywood

pilots Wallace Beery, Andy Devine, Jimmy Stewart, Robert

Taylor, and Robert Cummings. Northwest Airlines bought an SR-5B (NC14170) and an SR-5C

(NC138732) in 1936. In 1946, NWA sold NC14170 to Max

Conrad, who was known as the "Flying Grandfather."

The SR-5A, NC14572, in this 2019 Oshkosh photo was built as

an SR-5E and sold to Harry Ballance, Sr., of Atlanta in 1934.

Over time, engine changes, and other owners, it returned to

Harry Ballance, Jr., a retired Delta Airlines captain, of

Atlanta, the original owner's son. Nicknamed Miss Scarlet, it is

a multiple award winner at Sun 'N Fun and Oshkosh.

Eddie Stinson did not live to see much of his company's pre-

WWII successes. He died in January 1932 from injuries

received in the crash of the prototype Model R. At the time of

his death, he had logged over 16,000 flight hours. The

Stinson name disappeared after WWII when the company

was absorbed by Cord Corporation, AVCO, and Consolidated

Vultee. In 1948, it was sold to Piper. Although Piper produced

the classic Stinson 108 for a time, the later Twin

Stinson morphed into the Piper Apache. With that, the

Stinson line ended.

David Johnson, who knows his Stinsons, is this month's winner,

nailing the SR-5A. As always, thanks to our great Flyer

readers. Blue skies and tail winds for the Holidays!