The Stearman 4 is an American commercial biplane that was manufactured in the 1920s by Stearman Aircraft. They were marketed at the time as fast and luxurious executive transports and mail planes for about US$16,000.[1][2]
Stearman Aircraft developed the Model 4 from the C3, adding a deeper fuselage and offering a range of more powerful engines. These features enabled the Model 4 to carry heavier cargo loads. Being larger than the C3, but smaller than the M-2 and LT-1 models, it filled a gap in the Stearman product line. Heaters were provided for both cockpits.[3]
Operational historyedit
Stearman sold the Model 4 to commercial operators in the United States, building 41 before ending production. Users of the type included Varney Air Lines and American Airways (later American Airlines). Standard Oil operated three Junior Speedmails for product promotion. The aircraft was produced in Wichita, Kansas from September 1929 to August 1930.[4]
In Canada, Trans-Canada Air Lines (later Air Canada) bought three Stearman for pilot training and surveying new routes and were used from 1937 to 1939. One of them was sold in March 1939.[5]
The aircraft's rugged construction helped it survive heavy handling and loads, and thirteen remained on the U.S. Civil Register in 1965.[7] Several were operated as crop dusters, with their forward mail compartment converted into a hopper. Many later passed to private owners of veteran planes and are airworthy or in museums.[8]
Variantsedit
Stearman 4-C Junior Speedmail CF-CCH showing characteristic front manifold exhaust of the Wright J6 radial.Stearman Model 81 photo from L'Aerophile July 1933
The first letter of the designation refers to the engine while an M indicates that it was intended as a mailplane, with the forward compartment covered. Minor modifications were made to the design which were reflected in the use of -1 after the designation. Reference: Simpson[9]
1933 one-off custom two-seater with dual controls and an enclosed canopy for the rear cockpit, with a 420 hp (313 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior T3A engine.[20]
One built as a trainer variant of the 80 with enclosed canopy over both cockpits.[13] Sold to the Mexican government after a tour of South America while on floats.[13]
Operatorsedit
Northern Airways Stearman 4-EM CF-ASF with crop dusting attachment under the fuselage
c/n 4005 4-E Junior Speedmail N663K - privately owned, in National Air Tour markings.[26]
c/n 4007 4-E Junior Speedmail NC667K - delivered in 1929 to the Richfield Oil Company as the "Jimmie Allen Flying Club" flagship and used until 1937. Following a 2007 restoration, it flies on the North American air show circuit[2] and in 2013 won the Sun 'n Fun Grand Champion - Antique award.[27]
Bowers, Peter M. (1998). Wings of Stearman: The Story of Lloyd Stearman and the Classic Stearman Biplanes (Historic Aircraft Series). Flying Books. ISBN978-0911139280.
Cupido, Joe (Spring 1994). "Return of the Bull: Stearman 4E Junior Speedmail". Air Enthusiast. No. 53. pp. 20–21. ISSN 0143-5450.
Davies, R.E.G. (1998). Airlines of the United States since 1914. Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN1-888962-08-9.
Green, William (1965). The Aircraft of the World. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. OCLC 2641875.
Juptner, Joseph P. (1966). US Civil Aircraft: Vol. 3 (ATC 201 - 300). Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers. pp. 261–263. LCCN 62-15967.
Juptner, Joseph P. (1993). US Civil Aircraft: Vol. 4 (ATC 301 - 400). Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Aero. pp. 19–24, 80–82, 89–94. LCCN 62-15967.
Juptner, Joseph P. (1974). US Civil Aircraft: Vol. 6 (ATC 501 - 600). Aero Publishers, Inc. pp. 20–22. ISBN0-8168-9170-2.
Ogden, Bob (2007). Aviation Museums and Collections of North America. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN978-0-85130-385-7.
Phillips, Edward H. (2006). Stearman Aircraft: A Detailed History. Specialty Press. ISBN978-1580070874.
Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN1-84037-115-3.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stearman 4.
Stearman 4-EM Senior Speedmail July 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
The Stearman 4-D Jr. Speedmail May 24, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
Stearman 4-C ATC
Stearman 4-D ATC
Stearman 4-E ATC
January 01, 1970
stearman, american, commercial, biplane, that, manufactured, 1920s, stearman, aircraft, they, were, marketed, time, fast, luxurious, executive, transports, mail, planes, about, restored, junior, speedmail, role, mailplane, transport, national, origin, united, . The Stearman 4 is an American commercial biplane that was manufactured in the 1920s by Stearman Aircraft They were marketed at the time as fast and luxurious executive transports and mail planes for about US 16 000 1 2 Stearman 4 Restored Stearman 4 CM 1 Junior Speedmail Role Mailplane transport National origin United States Manufacturer Stearman Aircraft Designer Lloyd Stearman First flight 1930 Status Several currently fly in private ownership Primary user Commercial air carriers Number built 41 1 Developed from Stearman C3 A Stearman 4 EM Senior Speedmail in the Canada Aviation Museum Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Survivors 6 Specifications 4 E 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Citations 8 2 Bibliography 9 External linksDevelopment editStearman Aircraft developed the Model 4 from the C3 adding a deeper fuselage and offering a range of more powerful engines These features enabled the Model 4 to carry heavier cargo loads Being larger than the C3 but smaller than the M 2 and LT 1 models it filled a gap in the Stearman product line Heaters were provided for both cockpits 3 Operational history editStearman sold the Model 4 to commercial operators in the United States building 41 before ending production Users of the type included Varney Air Lines and American Airways later American Airlines Standard Oil operated three Junior Speedmails for product promotion The aircraft was produced in Wichita Kansas from September 1929 to August 1930 4 In Canada Trans Canada Air Lines later Air Canada bought three Stearman for pilot training and surveying new routes and were used from 1937 to 1939 One of them was sold in March 1939 5 1930s socialite aviator Aline Rhonie flew NC796H which still exists but is now registered as NC774H out of Long Island New York before later joining the British war effort with the Air Transport Auxiliary 6 The aircraft s rugged construction helped it survive heavy handling and loads and thirteen remained on the U S Civil Register in 1965 7 Several were operated as crop dusters with their forward mail compartment converted into a hopper Many later passed to private owners of veteran planes and are airworthy or in museums 8 Variants edit nbsp Stearman 4 C Junior Speedmail CF CCH showing characteristic front manifold exhaust of the Wright J6 radial nbsp Stearman Model 81 photo from L Aerophile July 1933 The first letter of the designation refers to the engine while an M indicates that it was intended as a mailplane with the forward compartment covered Minor modifications were made to the design which were reflected in the use of 1 after the designation Reference Simpson 9 4 C C 4 C 4A Junior Speedmail Approved Type Certificate ATC 304 10 powered by 300 hp 224 kW Wright J6 9 radial 10 built 11 4 CM Senior Speedmail ATC 325 12 Single seat mailplane version of the 4 C 15 built including three converted from 4 Cs 12 4 D Junior Speedmail ATC 305 13 First certified aircraft with the then new 300 hp 224 kW Pratt amp Whitney Wasp Junior 13 8 were built including 1 as 4 DX 4 DX Junior Speedmail ATC 2 406 14 One built 15 with a 400 hp 298 kW Pratt amp Whitney Wasp S1A and a canopy over both cockpits 14 4 DM Senior Speedmail ATC 326 16 Single seat mailplane version of the 4 D Two built both converted from other models 16 4 E C4W Junior Speedmail ATC 292 17 420 hp 313 kW Pratt amp Whitney C 1 Wasp or 450 hp 336 kW Pratt amp Whitney Wasp 1 11 built 18 4 EX Senior Speedmail ATC 2 279 One customized 4 E built for Standard Oil with a 450 hp 336 kW Pratt amp Whitney Wasp SC 14 4 EM Senior Speedmail ATC 322 19 Single seat mailplane version of the 4 E 4 RM Special no ATC issued One 4 CM was converted into a four seater and powered by a 450 hp 336 kW Ranger GV 770 14 Model 80 Sportster ATC 504 20 1933 one off custom two seater with dual controls and an enclosed canopy for the rear cockpit with a 420 hp 313 kW Pratt amp Whitney Wasp Junior T3A engine 20 Model 81 ATC 504 20 One built as a trainer variant of the 80 with enclosed canopy over both cockpits 13 Sold to the Mexican government after a tour of South America while on floats 13 Operators edit nbsp Northern Airways Stearman 4 EM CF ASF with crop dusting attachment under the fuselage nbsp Canada Canadian Airways 4 21 Northern Airways 22 nbsp United States American Airlines 21 Department of Commerce Airways branch 4 C 10 Fenstra Steel 4 C 10 Pratt amp Whitney 4 D 13 Richfield Oil Company 2 Texaco 4 D as number 14 13 23 Varney Air Lines 24 Western Air Express 4 D 13 25 Survivors edit nbsp Stearman 4 E NC667K at 2013 SUN n FUN fly in c n 4005 4 E Junior Speedmail N663K privately owned in National Air Tour markings 26 c n 4007 4 E Junior Speedmail NC667K delivered in 1929 to the Richfield Oil Company as the Jimmie Allen Flying Club flagship and used until 1937 Following a 2007 restoration it flies on the North American air show circuit 2 and in 2013 won the Sun n Fun Grand Champion Antique award 27 c n 4021 4 EM Senior Speedmail CF AMB displayed at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa Ontario 21 c n 4022 4 CM Junior Speedmail NC785H privately owned flown in Standard Oil Stanavo colors 28 c n 4025 4 D Junior Speedmail NC774H privately owned flown in Western Air Express colors 29 c n 4026 4 E Junior Speedmail N11224 displayed at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino California 30 c n 4027 4 D Junior Speedmail NC563Y displayed at the Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita Kansas in Texaco markings 23 c n 4033 4 DM Senior Speedmail NC485W built as a 4 CM and re engined privately owned flown in American Airways colors 31 c n 4036 4 CM 1 Senior Speedmail NC488W privately owned flown in Standard Oil Stanavo colors 32 c n 4037 4 CM 1 Junior Speedmail NC489W privately owned flown in Standard Oil Stanavo colors 33 c n 4040 4 C Junior Speedmail N11722 privately owned 34 Specifications 4 E editData from Green 1965 p 298General characteristicsCrew one Capacity two passengers Length 26 ft 4 in 8 0 m Wingspan 38 ft 0 in 11 6 m Height 10 ft 2 in 3 2 m Empty weight 2 426 lb 1 100 kg Gross weight 3 936 lb 1 785 kg Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney Wasp 450 hp 336 kW Performance Maximum speed 158 mph 256 km h 137 kn Cruise speed 128 mph 206 km h 111 kn Stall speed 53 mph 85 km h 46 kn Range 645 mi 1 045 km 560 nmi Service ceiling 18 000 ft 5 490 m Rate of climb 1 400 ft min 7 1 m s See also editRelated development Stearman LT 1 Stearman M 2 Speedmail Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Avro 627 Mailplane Boeing Model 40 Douglas M 1 Pitcairn Mailwing Pitcairn PA 4 Fleetwing II Swallow New Swallow Waco MailplanesReferences editCitations edit a b c Thomas E Lowe Kennith D Wilson Summer 1982 Saga of a Square Tail Stearman AAHS Journal a b c Vintage Time Machine The Resurrection of the Jimmie Allen Junior Speedmail Archived from the original on December 15 2013 Retrieved December 15 2013 Phillips Edward 2006 Stearman Aircraft A Detailed History North Branch MN specialtypress pp 102 103 ISBN 9781580070874 Thomas E Lowe and Kennith D Wilson Saga of a square tail stearman Journal of AAHS Historical Fleet Stearman Air Canada url http www opencockpit net spedmail html accessdate March 2016 Green 1965 p 298 Ogden 2007 p 604 Simpson 2001 p 521 a b c Juptner 1993 p 19 Juptner 1993 p 21 a b Juptner 1993 p 89 a b c d e f g Juptner 1993 p 22 a b c d url http www aerofiles com stear html accessdate March 2016 Juptner 1993 p 24 a b Juptner 1993 p 92 Juptner 1966 p 261 Juptner 1966 pp 262 263 Juptner 1993 p a b c Juptner 1974 p 20 a b c Canada Aviation Museum 2016 Stearman 4 EM Senior Speedmail Archived from the original on July 3 2016 Retrieved March 3 2016 url http www airhistory org uk gy reg CF 1 html accessdate March 2016 a b url http www antiqueairfield com articles show 1536 a rare stearman returned home accessdate March 2016 Davies 1998 p 78 79 Davies 1998 p 143 url http www airport data com aircraft N663K html accessdate March 2016 Sun n Fun Fly In and Expo Facebook Page Award Album Facebook Retrieved December 15 2013 url http www airport data com aircraft N785H html accessdate March 2016 url http www airport data com aircraft N774H html accessdate March 2016 url http www airport data com aircraft N11224 html accessdate March 2016 url http www airport data com aircraft N485W html accessdate March 2016 url http www airport data com aircraft N488W html accessdate March 2016 url http www airport data com aircraft N489W html accessdate March 2016 url http www airport data com aircraft N11722 html accessdate March 2016 Bibliography edit Bowers Peter M 1998 Wings of Stearman The Story of Lloyd Stearman and the Classic Stearman Biplanes Historic Aircraft Series Flying Books ISBN 978 0911139280 Cupido Joe Spring 1994 Return of the Bull Stearman 4E Junior Speedmail Air Enthusiast No 53 pp 20 21 ISSN 0143 5450 Davies R E G 1998 Airlines of the United States since 1914 Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN 1 888962 08 9 Green William 1965 The Aircraft of the World Macdonald amp Co Publishers Ltd OCLC 2641875 Juptner Joseph P 1966 US Civil Aircraft Vol 3 ATC 201 300 Fallbrook CA Aero Publishers pp 261 263 LCCN 62 15967 Juptner Joseph P 1993 US Civil Aircraft Vol 4 ATC 301 400 Blue Ridge Summit PA Tab Aero pp 19 24 80 82 89 94 LCCN 62 15967 Juptner Joseph P 1974 US Civil Aircraft Vol 6 ATC 501 600 Aero Publishers Inc pp 20 22 ISBN 0 8168 9170 2 Ogden Bob 2007 Aviation Museums and Collections of North America Air Britain Historians Ltd ISBN 978 0 85130 385 7 Phillips Edward H 2006 Stearman Aircraft A Detailed History Specialty Press ISBN 978 1580070874 Simpson Rod 2001 Airlife s World Aircraft Airlife Publishing Ltd ISBN 1 84037 115 3 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stearman 4 Stearman 4 EM Senior Speedmail Archived July 3 2016 at the Wayback Machine The Stearman 4 D Jr Speedmail Archived May 24 2017 at the Wayback Machine Stearman 4 C ATC Stearman 4 D ATC Stearman 4 E ATC Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stearman 4 amp oldid 1179451787, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
