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Stinson Reliant

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Reliant
General information
TypeLiaison and training monoplane
National originUnited States
ManufacturerStinson Aircraft Company
Primary usersUnited States Army Air Corps
Number built1,327
History
First flight1933

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.

Design and development

[edit]

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.[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

[edit]
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.[citation needed]

Variants

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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

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  • 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: 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 of the Texas Air Museum in Slaton, Texas.[12]
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

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Stinson V77 Reliant
Stinson V77 Reliant

Military operators

[edit]
 Argentina
 Australia
 United Kingdom
 United States
 Uruguay

Civil operators

[edit]
 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[21]
 Norway
 Paraguay
 United States

Specifications (SR-10F)

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3-view line drawing of the Stinson AT-19 Reliant
3-view line drawing of the Stinson AT-19 Reliant

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

[edit]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

[edit]
  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. ^ a b Wegg 1990, p. 135.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wegg 1990, p. 136.
  7. ^ a b c d Aviation February 1937, p. 36.
  8. ^ a b Wegg 1990, pp. 136–137.
  9. ^ a b c d Wegg 1990, p. 137.
  10. ^ "FAA Aircraft Type Certificate 679" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Andrade 1979, p.79
  12. ^ "AT-19B – Texas Air Museum". Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Andrade 1979, p.81
  14. ^ a b Andrade 1979, p.130
  15. ^ a b Pearcy 1991, p. 317.
  16. ^ Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 469.
  17. ^ "A38 Stinson Reliant". RAAF Museum. 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  18. ^ Halley 1980, p. 306.
  19. ^ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 532.
  20. ^ "Memorias del Tiempo de Vuelo / Stinson SR-7A Reliant". www.pilotoviejo.com. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  21. ^ 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.
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