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
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
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]
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.
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]
^"AT-19B – Texas Air Museum". Retrieved November 8, 2022.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m nAndrade 1979, p.81
^ a bAndrade 1979, p.130
^ a bPearcy 1991, p. 317.
^Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 469.
^"A38 Stinson Reliant". RAAF Museum. 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
^Halley 1980, p. 306.
^"Memorias del Tiempo de Vuelo / Stinson SR-7A Reliant". www.pilotoviejo.com. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
^Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 532.
^Aeromexico – The Story of a Great Company, last accessed on 2012 November 30
Bibliography
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.