Ryan STA-Special

Many of the old timers will remember seeing the STA (N17532)on display in the Nut Tree Resturant in Vacaville, CA. After the place closed, I was fortunate to be able to aquire the airplane from Ed Power and bring it to North Georgia where it was totally restored by Barnstormer's Workshop in Williamson, GA (my brother's place) and is flown regularly today. This experience partially satisfied a life long goal I had set when I was a 6 yr. old kid (62 now) watching my father licsens an STA in an old T-Hanger (1953). Unfortunately, the desk doctors in Okla. City one fine day decided that they did not like my medical condition, so I never actually got to fly the plane. But, just to own it and be able to slip into the cockpit and sit for a while was an experience I'll never forget. If you have an opportunity to own, fly or just get near one, don't miss it. Fred barber, we miss seeing you, hope you are doing well out there. Thanks, Doug Harwell

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Antimo,I bought a 1941 Ryan PT-22 from USC aeronautical in California in 1954. I flew it over 200 hours. I took aerobatics in it and found it would do most any thing after you learned how to manage your airspeed and altitude. The stall speed was a little high so I always turned base at 95 mph and over the fence at 90 mph and touched down no less than 78 mph. It would snap roll with you very quickly. I also fly RC and would not be afraid of the STA just keep the speed up on landing.In fact, my friend owned a STA during the same time and he still has it. It was about 6 MPH faster then my PT-22. I have 1 /4 scale plans for a PT-22 that I intend to build someday, I hope. Good luck!!

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Antimo,I bought a 1941 Ryan PT-22 from USC aeronautical in California in 1954. I flew it over 200 hours. I took aerobatics in it and found it would do most any thing after you learned how to manage your airspeed and altitude. The stall speed was a little high so I always turned base at 95 mph and over the fence at 90 mph and touched down no less than 78 mph. It would snap roll with you very quickly. I also fly RC and would not be afraid of the STA just keep the speed up on landing.In fact, my friend owned a STA during the same time and he still has it. It was about 6 MPH faster then my PT-22. I have 1 /4 scale plans for a PT-22 that I intend to build someday, I hope. Good luck!!

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I was the happy owner of N18921, an STA Special back in the late 1950's. As I recall I put about 400 hours on it, mostly in local area acrobatics. I had replaced the original engine with a brand new D-4 Menasco I obtained from Canada in it's factory crate. I flew my first air show in this airplane. We rigged up a crude "sling shot" fuel pump on the intake manifold for an inverted fuel system and it worked (more or less) for reasonably short duration outside maneuvers. Outside loops were a real trip in this bird due to it's large radius and resulting high indicated air speeds. I recall one occasion where a high inverted G maneuver caused a crack in the soft aluminum oil tank which resided on top of the Menasco case and I was suddenly drenched in hot , dirty oil ! It was a huge job later to clean out all the oil from around the body rivets and the forward cockpit aluminum cover. In all the time I owned the airplane, I never had that cover off for anything but inspections so I don't have a realistic idea how the bird would perform with a passenger. My Menasco was rated at something like 130 BHP and, although ample, it certainly wasn't over powered. I managed to own a number of fine airplanes after the STA but none were even half so beautiful. I used to hear some of the hanger talk about how "tricky" this bird was to operate and it was total nonsense. It was a very honest airplane to fly and one that had decent ground handling characteristics also. The only operational trouble I ever had with the bird was having snow stuff up the wheel pants and cause excessive drag on the tires and a propensity for that damn magnesium intake manifold to crack due to the heavy weight of the carburetor mounted on it under high positive G maneuvers. It's a GREAT airplane and it was a privilege to have been it's caretaker for a few years !!!

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I am an STM pilot and have loged 250 hrs in S53 sn 489, can confirm Freds coments, ,The STM has no sweep back , the pt 22 has, and the difference is the pt 22( radial kinner) will spin and catch you if you are not onto it , I also have good times in a pt 22, they are 2 completly different aircraft. The STM is however a very reluctant plan to get to spin, . Hey Fred Barber, touch base with me please am interested in the machines and history you have mate .

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My dad was one of the test pilots /engineers that worked for Ryan during the 30's. He did some of the testing on the SC, St and Sta's. He also worked very closely with T. Claude Ryan. Have many pix. of the factory and the making of a movie for Myrna Loy and Clark Gable in "Test Pilot"

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Fred,
Are you interested in selling an ST-A? I'm a big fan of this aircraft and want to own one.
Thanks.

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I have four full size STAs. Your posting is a year old and I did not know if you were still interested in the STA. There is no wing sweep in any of the STAs.
All of the PT-21s and PT-22s had it. The reference to the STM is a misnomer. The STAs built against military contracts are refered to as STMs but in fact they are standaed STAs. My first STA was a fighter from Guatamala with the machine guns on the wings. I still have it. Sincerely Yours Fred Barber

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