Used For The Air Lines

This aircraft is a Stinson SM-1B Detroiter, manufacturer’s serial number M-251 (ATC #16). It was manufactured July 1928 by Stinson Aircraft Corporation, Northville, MI. It left the factory with a 220 HP Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine, S/N B 8546. It weighed 3,485 pounds. It was sold on 7/9/28 to John A. Love of St. Louis, MO for $12,500. Love was an operative in Love, Bryan & Co. Investment Securities.

Our airplane comes to Tucson on 9/20/1928, piloted by Earl F. Baskey. He carried H.E. Barber as his passenger on their flight from El Paso to Pasadena, CA. According to the NASM record, Mr. Barber was president of Egyptian Airways Co. of Marion, IL. The airplane was purchased a month later by Egyptian on 10/17/28.

As of December 1928, the airplane was owned by “Universal Air Lines, Inc., Egyptian Airways Division, Marion, IL, all owned by Universal Aviation Corp. and constantly interchanging equipment.” In late 1929, it was in use at Universal Flying School in Memphis, TN.

On 4/10/31, it sold to American Airways, Inc. of Robertson, MO. It then moved north into Wisconsin and Minnesota via a series of eight owners, finally being sold to its ninth and final, Willis Snyder of Wayzata, MN, on 4/13/40 for $385. The record ends with the registration cancelled on 9/15/40. No indication of the final disposition of the airframe or engine.

UPLOADED: 07/09/05 REVISED: