| Tom Dwyer, e-mail, 07.01.2010 21:54 Having once owned a Stinson Reliant, SR-7, built in February of 1936 in Wayne, Michigan, I can state that the plane pictured is a copy of the SR series. This one is a V-77 manufactured in Canada during World War 2 and probably sports a 450hp Pratt and Whitey Wasp engine. Note: No cowl bumps or wheel pants on the V-77. The picture is backwards as noted by the registration lettering under the wind AND it only had one entry door, on the passenger side. The picture, being backwards, makes it look like the door is on the left side when it was actually on the right. The Army Air Corps "drafted" many Stinson Reliants into service to act as observation, VIP transportation and stretcher carriers, my aircraft being the latter. Civilian flying during the war was restricted as was fuel so most owners gladly donated to the war effort. The Air Corps were so impressed with it's performance and ability to carry heavy loads that they contracted an aircraft company in Canada to start up an assembly line to produce more. The name of the company escapes me at the time I'm writing this. At the end of the war, most Reliants were returned to their original owners and the V-77 were sold to any interested buyers. Many V-77 owners waited until the fabric covered aircraft needed recovering and incorporated a second door into the fuselage on the pilots side. When the aircraft became an antique collectors item, wheel coverings, "pants" were also fabricated so it made the V-77 look like an original Stinson. As beautiful as these V-77's were converted and maintained, the owners of the SR series jealously guarded the fact that theirs was the pre-war model. This is not intended to detract from those V-77 owners who put in thousands of hours and thousands of dollars to restore their aircraft. Most are pure examples of the days of round engines and fabric covering. The Stinson Reliant and refurbished V-77's are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful planes to ever fly. reply |
