A.T.C. #136 (4-29) STINSON "DETROITER", SM-1F

The illustrious Stinson "Detroiter" monoplane had an enviable background of achievements not very often equaled by any one airplane; born in an age of transoceanic flight, endurance flights, and all manner of attempts to seek world-wide recognition, and to give proof of capabilities in contest, the wandering "Detroiter" had finally settled down, soto speak, had taken its bows and now was content to take its place alongside others as a vehicle of commerce. Changing slightly and improving progressively in the past year or so, the "Detroiter" evolved into the SM-1D series (see chapters for ATC 74, 76, 77, 78) which laid the foundation for the development of the SM-1F. The model SM-1F was a high wing cabin monoplane of typical Stinson configuration that seated six with ample room and comfort, and was powered with the 9 cylinder Wright J6 engine of 300 h.p. Whereas the SM-1D series were rather under-powered with the 220 h.p. Wright J5, and were soon converted to the SM-1D300 which mounted the 300 h.p. Wright J6 engine, the lessons learned in this venture brought about the development of the new SM-1F which had performance to spare and certainly asked no favors. Being of ideal size for the small feederline, it was used to transport cargo and passengers from outlying areas into stations of the main airway systems, used by business men as an air-taxi to points of call not served by regular transports, or hauling loads of cargo into areas that were best served by the airplane. Two of this model were serving in Alaska, and four were being used to haul mail in China. The SM-1F was designed to work and was doing it admirably.

The type certificate number for the model SM-1F as powered with the 300 h.p. Wright J6 series engine, was issued in April of 1929 and some 26 or more of this model were built within a years time. The SM-1F was manufactured by the Stinson Aircraft Corp. at Wayne, Michigan in their new plant that was taking shape into one of the finest aircraft producing installations in the land. Edward A. Stinson was the president; Harvey J Campbell was the V.P.; William A. Mara was secretary and in charge of sales; Wm. C. Naylor and Kenneth M. Ronan were engineers; and Randolph Page was the chief pilot in charge of test and development. Though "Eddie" Stinson was the president, he did not conduct much of his duties from behind a desk, he was an ambassador-at-large and more at home behind the control wheel of a Stinson airplane; it was not unusual for him to test-hop an experimental airplane after following it through all stages of its development and manufacture, or fly clear across the country to set up plans for a distributing organization. If paper-work had piled up while he had been busy elsewhere, his loyal staff was always eager to give him a helping hand to get out from under.

Listed below are specifications and performance data for the Stinson "Detroiter" model SM-1F as powered with the Wright J6 engine of 300 h.p.; length overall 32'8"; height overall 9'0"; wing span 46'8"; wing chord 84"; total wing area 292 sq. ft.; airfoil "Modified M-6"; wt. empty 2614; useful load 1686; payload with 100 gal. fuel was 874 lbs.; gross wt. 4300 lbs.; max. speed 132; cruising speed 113; landing speed 56; climb 850 ft. first min. at sea level; service ceiling 16,000 ft.; gas cap. 100 gal.; oil cap. 6 gal.; cruising range at 15 gal. per hour was 680 miles; price at the factory field was $13,500. The fuselage framework was built up of welded chrome-moly steel tubing and was gusseted at every joint with chrome-moly plate stock to make a structure of exceptional strength and rigidity; the framework was faired to shape with formers and fairing strips and fabric covered. The cabin walls were sound-proofed and insulated, and upholstered in tasteful combinations of mohair; the cabin was heated by hot air coming off the exhaust manifold of the engine. All windows were of shatter-proof glass and could be rolled up or down; there was a door and a convenient step on each side for exit or entry into the cabin. The engine was well muffled by a collector-ring and long tail-pipes; this allowed near-normal conversation at all times. The wing framework was built up of heavy-sectioned solid spruce spars; the front spar was routed to an "I-beam" section and the wing ribs were built up of spruce and plywood in a truss-type form. The leading edge was covered with duralumin sheet back to the front spar to preserve the airfoil form, and the completed framework was fabric covered. The ailerons were of a welded steel tube framework and were fabric covered; the fuel supply was carried in two tanks that were mounted in the wing, flanking each side of the fuselage. The fabric-covered tail-group was built up of welded chrome-moly steel tubing; the fin was ground adjustable and the horizontal stabilizer was adjustable in flight. The wing bracing struts were of heavy gauge chrome-moly steel tubes that were encased in balsa-wood fairings; these fairings were shaped to airfoil section to give added lift and stability. The wide-tread landing gear was of the outrigger type and used air-oil shock absorber struts; wheel brakes and a steerable tail-wheel made ground maneuvering an easy task. The wheels were 32x6 and wheel tread was 110". A metal propeller and an inertia-type engine starter were standard equipment. The next development in the "Detroiter" monoplane was the SM-1FS which was typical but was mounted on twin-float seaplane gear; this version will be discussed in the chapter for ATC 212. The next development in the Stinson monoplane, following the SM-1F as described here, was the "Junior" model SM-2AA; see chapter for ATC 145.

Listed below are SM-1F entries that were gleaned from various records; this list is not complete, but it does show the bulk of this model that were built.

NC-9691; SM-1F #500 Wright J6-9-300

NC-9693; SM-1F #501Wright J6-9-300

NC-9692 SM-1F #502 Wright J6-9-300

NC-9698; SM-1F #503 Wright J6-9-300

C-8420; SM-1F #504 Wright J6-9-300

C-8421; SM-1F #505 Wright J6-9-300

C-8424; SM-1F #506 Wright J6-9-300

C-8429; SM-1F #507 Wright J6-9-300

C-8430; SM-1F #508 Wright J6-9-300

; SM-1F #509 Wright J6-9-300

; SM-1F #510 Wright J6-9-300

; SM-1F #511 Wright J6-9-300

; SM-1F #512 Wright J6-9-300

C-8468; SM-1F #513 Wright J6-9-300

C-8436; SM-1F #514 Wright J6-9-300

C-8469; SM-1F #515 Wright J6-9-300

NC-445H; SM-1F #516 Wright J6-9-300

NC-448H; SM-1F #517 Wright J6-9-300

; SM-1F #518 Wright J6-9-300

NC-487H; SM-1F #519 Wright J6-9-300

NC-404M; SM-1F #520 Wright J6-9-300

NC-413M; SM-1F #521 Wright J6-9-300

NC-910W; SM-1F #522 Wright J6-9-300

; SM-1F #523 Wright J6-9-300

NC-961W; SM-1F #524 Wright J6-9-300

NC-966W; SM-1F #525 Wright J6-9-300

Serial # 509-510-511-512 believed to have been delivered to Chinese government for airmail route.

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Last modified: March 23, 2004