The Stinson Detroiter was a six-seat cabin airliner for passengers or freight designed and built by the Stinson Aircraft Syndicate, later the ''Stinson Aircraft Corporation''. Two distinct designs used the Detroiter name, a biplane and a monoplane.

Development

The first design from the Detroit-based Stinson Aircraft Syndicate was the Stinson SB-1 Detroiter, a four-seat cabin biplane with novel features such as cabin heating, individual wheel brakes and electric starter for the nose-mounted 220 hp (164 kW)

Wright J-5 Whirlwind The Wright R-790 Whirlwind was a series of nine-cylinder air-cooled radial aircraft engines built by Wright Aeronautical Corporation, with a total displacement of about and around . These engines were the earliest members of the Wright Whirlwin ...

engine. It made its first flight on Jan 25th, 1926. The Harley Davidson brakes were demonstrated on a snowy maiden flight requiring wheel chains to be added to prevent skidding. This aircraft was soon developed into the six-seat Stinson SM-1D Detroiter, a braced high-wing monoplane version which ultimately made quite a number of significant long-range flights. The aircraft was soon a success and it enabled Stinson to get $150,000 in public capital to incorporate the Stinson Aircraft Corporation on 4 May 1926. Seventy-five of the Wright J-5-powered versions were built, followed by 30 Wright J-6-powered aircraft. From 1928, SM-1 aircraft were used on scheduled services by Paul Braniff's Braniff Air Lines and by Northwest Airways. In 1930 a SM-1FS with a crew of three reached

Bermuda Bermuda is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. The closest land outside the territory is in the American state of North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. Bermuda is an ...

from

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, the first flight ever to the islands. Getting there the aircraft had to land twice, once because of darkness and later after running out of fuel. With a wing strut damaged, it was shipped back to New York. In 1928 Stinson developed the smaller SM-2 Junior model to appeal to private owners.

Variants

;SB-1 Detroiter :Original biplane version with a 220 hp (164 kW)

engine. 26 units built. Prototype sold to

Horace Elgin Dodge Horace Elgin Dodge Sr. (May 17, 1868 – December 10, 1920) was an American automobile manufacturing pioneer and co-founder of Dodge, Dodge Brothers Company. Early years and business He was born in Niles, Michigan, on May 17, 1868.Burton, Claren ...

, first production model sold to John Duval Dodge of Dodgeson. ;SM-1D :High-wing monoplane version with a 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine. ;SM-1DA :As SM-1D with detailed improvements. ;SM-1DB :As SM-1D with minor improvements ;SM-1DC :As SM-1D with detailed improvements. ;SM-1DD :Freighter variant with two seats and cargo-carrying interior, one built. ;SM-1DE :Freighter variant with two seats and cargo-carrying interior, one built. ;SM-1DX :variant powered with a 225 hp

Packard DR-980 The Packard DR-980 is an American nine-cylinder air-cooled aircraft Diesel engine first certificated in 1930. The engine was unpopular despite its economy and reliability due to the unpleasant nature of its diesel exhaust fumes an ...

Diesel engine, one built and first diesel powered aircraft to fly. ;SM-1F :Variant from 1929 with a 300 hp (224 kW) Wright J-6 engine. ;SM-1D300 :SM-1Ds modified with a 300 hp (224 kW) Wright J-6 engine. ;SM-1FS :Floatplane variant of the SM-1F. ;SM-6B :Also known as the Stinson Wasp — a larger capacity six-seat variant with a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp C1 radial engine, two were built followed by eight more with eight-seat interiors. ;SM-7B :Originally powered by a 300 hp (220 kW)

Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior The Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior is a series of nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial aircraft engines built by the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company from the 1930s to the 1950s. These engines have a displacement of ; initial versions produced ...

radial engine, five were built each year in 1928, 1929 and 1930. E.L. Cord's personal plane was operated for several years during/after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Western Air Express Western Airlines was a major airline in the United States based in California, operating in the Western United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and western Canada, as well as to New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Miami and to Mexi ...

with (illegally) a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt; subsequently restored in 1980–2020 with a legal 300 hp

Lycoming R-680 The Lycoming R-680 is a nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, the first aero engine produced by Lycoming. The engine was produced in two types, the E and B series; both are essentially the same. The B4E was available in a trainer version wi ...

.Browne, Juan (blancolirio channel)
"1930 Stinson 'Detroiter' Maiden Flight after 40 Years,"
August 2020,

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

, retrieved May 20, 2023 ;SM-8A :Five-seat model, originally powered by a 300 hp (220 kW)

radial engine. Cruise 100 mph."About the Stinson SM8A 'Detroiter',"

Port Townsend Aero Museum Port Townsend Aero Museum is an aviation museum located at Jefferson County International Airport in Port Townsend, Washington. History The museum was founded in 2001 by Jerry and Peggy Thoutte with six flyable aircraft. The museum was initial ...

, retrieved May 20, 2023

Operators

; *

China National Aviation Corporation The China National Aviation Corporation () was a Chinese airline which was nationalized after the Chinese Communist Party took control in 1949, and merged into the People's Aviation Company of China () in 1952. It was a major airline under the ...

China Airways Federal The China National Aviation Corporation () was a Chinese airline which was nationalized after the Chinese Communist Party took control in 1949, and merged into the People's Aviation Company of China () in 1952. It was a major airline under the ...

Shanghai-Chengtu Airways The China National Aviation Corporation () was a Chinese airline which was nationalized after the Chinese Communist Party took control in 1949, and merged into the People's Aviation Company of China () in 1952. It was a major airline under the ...

(1920s–30s) ; * Faucett *

Peruvian Air Force The Peruvian Air Force (, FAP) is the branch of the Peruvian Military of Peru, Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of aerial warfare, air power. Additional missions include assistance in safeguarding i ...

; * Braniff Air Lines * North American Airways * Northwest Airways ; *Three aircraft of this model were bought by

Honduran Air Force The Honduras Air Force (, sometimes abbreviated to FAH in English) is the air force of Honduras. As such it is the air power arm of the Honduras Armed Forces. History The first Honduras military flying took place on 18 April 1921 in a Bristo ...

(1933)

Specifications (SM-1F)

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * * * *

External links