hawkeye2an
Staff Sergeant
Can anyone ID this plane for me? It came up in a pile of 20s and 30s A/C from my home town and this one stumped me. If there is any interest, I will share others (all civilian types I'm afraid)
Can anyone ID this plane
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MiTasol
Major
It looks a lot like a Stearman Speedmail, aka Buhl Stearman. but has a skid instead of a tailwheel and what appears to be a cockpit where the two mail holds were. Someone who knows their way around the FAA register should be able to ID from the rego.
I would suspect another model Stearman given I only ever saw structure between the wing and engine on the Buhl Stearman Dave Tallichet had in the 70's.
I would suspect another model Stearman given I only ever saw structure between the wing and engine on the Buhl Stearman Dave Tallichet had in the 70's.
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cammerjeff
Tech Sergeant
I think MiTasol is on the right track, I think it is a Stearman, but not a modified Speedmail but a Stearman C-2 or C-3. Its hard to tell them apart as the difference is the C-3 has a larger oil tank, and a larger baggage compartment,
Stearman C2 - Wikipedia
Stearman C3 - Wikipedia
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hawkeye2an
Staff Sergeant
Thank you so much
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hawkeye2an
Staff Sergeant
Thank you so muchI think MiTasol is on the right track, I think it is a Stearman, but not a modified Speedmail but a Stearman C-2 or C-3. Its hard to tell them apart as the difference is the C-3 has a larger oil tank, and a larger baggage compartment,
View attachment 877892
Stearman C2 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Stearman C3 - Wikipedia
| NC6490 | Stearman C-3MB | 188 | C6490 | American Airways Inc |
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A more complete history of this aircraft:
Stearman C-3-MB Serial #188 powered with Wright J-5-A Motor #B9276, Department of Commerce Identification C-6490.
- Sold by Stearman to Gray Goose Air Lines Inc of Chicago IL 22 January 1929 (trading as Interstate Airlines Inc?)
- Application for Airplane License made by Interstate Airlines Inc of Evansville IN 28 January 1929 for use on CAM 30 Route Chicago to Atlanta.
- Converted to C-3B September 1929
- Sold to Universal Aviation Corporation of St Louis MO 9 September 1929 as NC-6490 (presumably for use on CAM 28 Route)
- Sold to Robertson Aircraft Corporation of Robertson MO 10 April 1931
- Sold to American Airways Inc of Chicago IL 11 July 1931
- Transferred to Embry Riddle Division of American Airways Inc at Lunken Airport OH 23 September 1931
- Modified to blind flying instructional aircraft January 1934
- Restricted License NR-6490 applied 11 January 1934
- Aircraft written off in accident at Hodgkins IL 30 May 1934
