FOR SALE

1934 STINSON RELIANT SR-5E

Cover of Sport Aviation, November 1984

The Stinson Reliant is the most iconic and recognizable cabin airplane of the pre-WWII golden era of aviation. This 1934 Stinson Reliant, four-passenger cabin plane with its 225 hp Lycoming engine was designed to provide reliable cross=country transportation for the business man and commercial operator, with airliner safety and at operating cost comparable to motor car travel. In designing this ship, Stinson engineers sought to secure reliability, stability, quick take-off and short landing ability, sedan comforts, wide vision, high cruising speed, quietness,

adequate in-cabin heating and ventilation and low cost maintenance and operation.

The Reliant series rapidly became a sales success. Individuals, corporations and government agencies voted with their checkbooks, and made it the number one seller of all single engine cabin aircraft. Registration records show that it often outsold the rest of the industry combined!

There were numerous reasons for the Reliant’s success. The birdlike grace of line, luxurious finish and cabin comfort were the beginning.

Then there was…quoted from Stinson publications: Wide tread landing gear with long stroke shocks. “Speed Arrestors” now called flaps, a Stinson original that

first occurred on this 1934 Reliant SR-5E model.

These made landing “an ordinary maneuver instead of a trial”. “Easiest to land of all the higher powered airplanes”

The Reliant also had legendary ride and handling attributes. As a monoplane, it had a higher wing loading that leveled

out the bumps in rough air. The handling was precise and balanced. These

characteristics were accomplished over prior design and production of 20 types of aircraft numbering over 1,000.

The cabin comfort was exceptional. They advertised “Motor Car Comfort”. It had a wide back seat to accommodate four people, and…

Opulent leather upholstery. Full insulation. Roll down safety glass side windows. Safety glass windshield. Fresh air inlets from the wings. Spacious…can change seats in flight. Doors both sides. Rear view mirror that cranked up, also serving as an air vent.

For 24 years the name Stinson was prominent in U.S. aviation manufacturing. Founded in 1920 by aviation pioneer, Edwin Stinson, the firm would be merged with the E. L. Cord Corporation shortly after the

stock market crash in 1929, and ultimately, it became a division of Consolidated Vultee (Convair). During this time until the early 1940s, they built & sold over 2,000 aircraft in 11 different models. In January 1949, Convair sold the inventory of the Stinson 108s to Piper Aircraft.

The 1934 STINSON RELIANT SR-5E, NC 14187, Serial No. R-1027

Tom Laurie of Newport Beach, California, spotted this Stinson in the back of a hangar at FlaBob Airport, Rubidoux, California in 1974. Laurie, after 10 years, finished the restoration in 1984 and was awarded the 1984 EAA Grand Champion Antique trophy at Oshkosh against one of the most formidable fields ever assembled at an EEA Convention.

A major stroke of luck that occurred during the restoration was the surprise uncovering of the original 1934 upholstery under an outer layer of plastic upholstery installed sometime in the 1950s. Tom’s original find has come to be recognized as a “historical” of great significance to aircraft restorers. Several people restoring Reliants have traveled to my hangar to take photographs, measure and make sketches.

The quaint old peaked instrument panel, “Y” control wheel yoke, retractable rear view mirror mounted in the cabin roof, and the automotive type windows (with safety glass) and door frames… all were restored so faithfully that the airplane’s cabin is literally a flying museum of early 1930s interior design. Carpeted floor, satin finished hardware, rear cabin side lights, ash receivers, glove box, vanity closure and assist cords are provided. The exterior colors, a basic cream trimmed in orange with brown pin stripping is one of the original color scheme offered by Stinson.

Chrome molybdenum fuselage, I-beam steel compression struts, chrome nickel still drag rods, metal wing ribs and ailerons as well as the control system.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum acquired the Reliant in 1997 following Laurie’ death. I acquired the plane in 2002 and put in radios and navigational instruments using the small Becker console fitted between the seats on the floor leaving the original instrument panel untouched.

Cockpit of the 1934 Reliant SR-5E

The Reliant has been periodically flown, in a hangar all the time and an Annual each year. New Annual in November 2018. New tires. FAA Registry Record. All Maintenance Manuals. Registration good until August 31, 2020. Stinson Engine and Aircraft Logbooks along with lots of photos and literature in a Dropbox to be viewed upon invitation. Sport Aviation, November 1984 with cover feature of the Oshkosh winner 1934 Stinson Reliant SR-5E NC14187.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Aircraft Total Time: 1578 hours. Total Time Since Major Overhaul: 378 hours.

Lycoming R-680-4, 9-cylinder round engine. 225 hp. Serial No. 9279-A. Original engine with the aircraft.

Hamilton Standard propeller 5404-AL. Serial No. 2899 Wing span is 41 feet. Length is 26’-10” Height is 8’-5” Cruising

speed 120 mph. Rate of climb 675 fpm. Service ceiling 14,500’ Landing run 250’

Gross Weight: 3,325 lbs.; Empty Weight: 2,515 lbs.; Useful Load: 809 lbs. Weight & Balance Data Sheet.

Avionics/Equipment: Becker Transponder (JTSO-C74c Class 1B); Becker VHF-Transceiver (AR 4201); P/S Eng. I/COM PM1000II; ASCK Tech A-30 digitizer.

Air Wheels are low-pressure with water-proof disc type hydraulic brakes.

This model, the SR-5E, was the first aircraft to have flaps, known as “Speed Arrestors” which were tied in mechanically with the horizontal stabilizer trim system.

PRICE: $120,000

CONTACT:Milford Wayne Donaldson(916) 532 8004mwdonaldson13@yahoo.com

Aircraft is at Gillespie Field (KSEE)1720 Joe Crosson Dr.El Cajon, CA  92020-1232