Stinson Reliant

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Reliant
AT-19flightConcord.jpg
General information
TypeLiaison and training monoplane
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Stinson Aircraft Company
Primary users United 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.

Contents

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 V77.jpg
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

SR-6 Reliant at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum, Dauster Field, Missouri in 2006 Stinson SR-6 NC15112 Creve Coeur MO 10.06.06R.jpg
SR-6 Reliant at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum, Dauster Field, Missouri in 2006

All versions of the Reliant were powered with radial piston engines, and could be operated on wheels, floats and skis, and in the following configurations: [2]

Civilian variants

Jimmy Doolittle's Shell Stinson Reliant SR-10, restored N21104-1 Doolittle Reliant 2.jpg
Jimmy Doolittle's Shell Stinson Reliant SR-10, restored

Military variants

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. AT-19B Flying.jpg
AT-19B of the Texas Air Museum in Slaton, Texas.
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

Stinson V77 Reliant Stinson V77 Reliant CF-CAJ 01.JPG
Stinson V77 Reliant
Stinson V77 Reliant Stinson V77 Reliant CF-CAJ 02.JPG
Stinson V77 Reliant

Military operators

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay

Civil operators

Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Flag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Specifications (SR-10F)

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

Data from General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors [9]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  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. 1 2 Wegg 1990, p. 135.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Wegg 1990, p. 136.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Aviation February 1937, p. 36.
  8. 1 2 Wegg 1990, pp. 136–137.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Wegg 1990, p. 137.
  10. ↑ "FAA Aircraft Type Certificate 679" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration . Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Andrade 1979, p.79
  12. ↑ "AT-19B – Texas Air Museum" . Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Andrade 1979, p.81
  14. 1 2 Andrade 1979, p.130
  15. 1 2 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

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