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Wikipedia / Stearman C3

The Stearman C3 was an American-built civil biplane aircraft of the 1920s, designed by Stearman Aircraft of Wichita, Kansas. It was also the first Stearman aircraft to receive a type certificate.

Development

The C3 was a rugged biplane with simple straight wings, a tough undercarriage with oleo shock absorbers and two open cockpits with the pilot in the rear and two side-by-side passenger seats in the front. In fact, it was a slightly modified version of the earlier model C2 aircraft. Changes included an increased volume oil tank and larger sized baggage compartment.

Introduced in 1928, the C3 was powered by a variety of engines of between and , each version having its own designation. The last version of the C3 was the C3R which had several external differences including a cutout in the aft portion of the wing center section for improved pilot visibility, a headrest in the aft cockpit, and slightly increased chord of the rudder and vertical stabilizer.

Although there were several versions of the C3, most were either the C3B and the C3R. A few C3s were approved for float operations.

Operational history

The C3 was built with light commercial applications in mind, including passenger flying and business flights. The C3MB was a special mail-carrying aircraft based on the C3 with the forward cockpit enclosed as a dedicated cargo compartment. This version was operated in 1928 by National Parks Airways on airmail route CAM 26 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Pocatello, Idaho and Great Falls, Montana.

In 1931, a C3B, nicknamed "The Flying Carpet," was flown around the world by Moye Stephens with travel/adventure writer Richard Halliburton as his passenger and chronicler. Their experience was published in Halliburton's photo-illustrated book The Flying Carpet, (1932, Garden City Publishing, Garden City, NY), which made no mention of the plane's manufacturer or model. (see: Richard Halliburton#Flying Carpet expedition)

Variants

Data from:Airlife's World Aircraft, Aerofiles:Stearman Variants produced were:

  1. C1

  2. First of the C series powered by a Curtiss OX-5, later re-engined with a Menasco-Salmson radial as the C1X. One built.

  3. C2

  4. Four aircraft similar to the C1, with the radiator mounted underneath, hydraulic shock absorbers and dual controls. Variously powered by Curtiss OX-5, Wright-Hisso A, Wright Whirlwind and Menasco-Salmson radial engine.

  5. C3B Sport Commercial

  6. Wright J5 radial engine.

  7. C3C

  8. Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E engine.

  9. C3D

  10. Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E engine. 1 delivered.

  11. C3E

  12. Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E2 engine

  13. C3F

  14. Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E3 engine.

  15. C3G

  16. Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E4 engine.

  17. C3H

  18. Menasco-Salmson air-cooled engine.

  19. C3I

  20. Curtiss C6 engine.

  21. C3K

  22. Siemens-Halske Sh 12.

  23. C3L

  24. Comet 7D radial engine. 1 built, later converted to C3B.

  25. C3MB

  26. C3B with forward cockpit enclosed for mail carrying.

  27. C3P

  28. Wright J5 Whirlwind radial engine.

  29. C3R Business Speedster

  30. Wright J6.

Operators

Aircraft on display

Specifications (C3B)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Davies, R.E.G. Airlines of the United States since 1914. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1998. .

  • Simpson, Rod. Airlife's World Aircraft. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd, 2001. .