Page 28 - March19

Stearman – The Early Days
Part Two
In 1927, Stearman Aircraft, Inc. struggled to meet demand for its
Sport Commercial Model C2 biplane, but operators carrying the mail by
air were soon clamoring for the Model C2M.
by Edward H. Phillips
Front view of the Model C2 reveals the generous wing area
of the upper span compared to the lower wing panels that
feature minimum dihedral. The engine water heat exchanger
was relocated below the fuselage. The wide track of the
landing gear facilitated maneuvering on the ground despite
the rigid tailskid. (Wichita State University Libraries and Archives, Department of
Special Collections)
According to records held by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Stearman Aircraft, Inc.,
designated the airplanes built in California using
constructor (serial) numbers 101-104. These ships were
not registered or certified during Lloyd’s brief time in
California, chiefly because no federal regulations had
been developed to govern the design, construction and
manufacture of commercial airplanes.
In addition, as part of the postwar Treaty of Versailles
in 1919, nations were assigned a letter to designate
civil aircraft registered and operating in that country.
Although the letter “N” had been assigned to the United
States, Congress did not ratify the treaty and America
was not bound to comply with its applicable provisions. In
1927 when the United States Department of Commerce
began regulating and registering commercial aircraft,
the letter was adopted and remains in use.
In the wake of the Model C1’s first flight, the C2 was
under construction, followed by a second C2 and the
new Model C2M. The C2M, however, was a landmark
airplane because it heralded Lloyd Stearman’s entry
into the new and potentially lucrative airmail business
that would help fuel his company’s success into the
early 1930s.
The following information provides the basic
specifications for the Stearman Commercial Sport Model
C2 and the C2M:
C2:
Wingspan: 35 feet (upper panels); 28 feet (lower
panels)
Wing chord: 66 inches (upper panels); 54 inches
(lower panels)
Wing area: 297 square feet
Airfoil: Stearman design
Height: 9 feet 2.5 inches
Length: 23 feet 2 inches
Weight: 2,450 pounds
Engine: Curtiss OX-5, 90 horsepower
Maximum speed: 90 mph
26 •
­ KING AIR MAGAZINE MARCH 2019