In 1920, Eddie Stinson, a well-known and successful stunt pilot, founded the Stinson Aircraft Company in Dayton, Ohio. In 1925, the company moved to Detroit. In 1929, E.L. Cord acquired 60% of the stock in Stinson. Eddie Stinson died in an air crash in 1932. In 1950, Stinson was sold to Piper Aircraft and the Twin Stinson was transformed into the Pipe Apache.
The Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon, has on display more than 100 antique airplanes. Shown below are some of the Stinson airplanes which are on display. The drip pans under most of the planes indicate that this is a functioning aircraft.
1931 Stinson Model W
1936 Stinson SR-8B Reliant
The Reliant was first introduced in 1933. A total of 1,327 Reliants were made between 1933 and 1941. Powered by a Lycoming R680-13 engine, this airplane has a cruising speed of 110-125 mph.
1942 Stinson L-5 Sentinel
The Sentinel was a redesigned Stinson Voyager which was used by the U.S. Army as a short field liaison aircraft. This airplane has a cruising speed of 110 MPH and a top speed of 130 MPH. A total of 4,200 of these airplanes were built. The engine is a 185 horsepower Lycoming O-425.
