Wartimecolour photograph of FAA Reliant FK887 of Belfast Station Flight 1944
History

The Stinson Reliant (Stinson SR-10 Reliant "Gullwing") was a four-to-five seat commercial monoplane which was the brainchild of E.A. "Eddie" Stinson, and was designed for private operators and small charter companies. It was the the last model produced by his company before it was bought out in the late 1930s. It was regarded as a strikingly handsome airplane - with its distinctive gull wing - and was known for its ease in handling and its ability to carry four to five people in comfort. An excellent aircraft, the Reliant could recover from a stall and return to level flight "hands off". These features along with state of the art navigation and communication radios, made it popular with executive charter services as well as with the more sophisticated, wealthy buyer. The Reliant was also used in 1939 to test a unique airmail service for communities that did not have landing fields. Mail was loaded into a container which was then placed on top of a contraption resembling a goal post. As the pilot guided the airplane down, the flight officer held a grappling hook to snag the container. Mail destined for the community was then dropped from the plane onto the airfield.

The Stinson AT-19s Reliant ( Stinson Reliant SR) was built by the Americans for the British during WWII. This type represents the end of the famous Stinson Gullwing design that includes four different models dating back to 1936. The Stinson Reliant was also produced in improved models, SR-1 through SR-6 which, though still called Reliant, had a different wing design from the SR. Development culminated in the classic SR-9F "Gull Wing", many of which flew in Canada.

The military version , the AT-19 (UC-91 in RN), served with the USAAF and US Navy pre-war. Although commercial production ceased on America's entry into World War II, 500 Reliants were built during 1942-1943 in a modified and more powerful form for use by the Royal Navy.

During the post-war era, the Stinson AT-19 Reliant was repatriated by the United States and put on the commercial market. Because the war-surplus Gullwings were so inexpensive, US$1,500 each, commercial air carriers in Alaska bought sizable quantities for their feeder-line routes. The Stinson AT-19 was a rugged aircraft powered by reliable and readily available Lycoming R680, 300 HP radial engines. This made the aircraft a good candidate for bush operations where short gravel runways were the norm. In addition to Alaska Airlines, the Stinson AT-19 types were used by Northern Consolidated Airlines, Wien Airlines and Munz Northern Airlines in Nome. It wsas also recoignised as being a type of airplane suited to Canadian bush operations, however only one was imported before World War II. A second Reliant entered Canada in 1953. This airplane was not retired until 1973.
 

The Fleet Air Arm Stinson Reliant I was the Royal Navy equivalent of the AT-19. In total the FAA received 500 lend-lease aircraft which were used as an advanced trainer, and all were the military version. The first to be delivered was FB544 to theStation Flight Henstridge in June 1944. This was closerly followed by the fierst squadron being equipped with the Reliant, 759 squadron in August 1944.

About 415 aircraft were returned to Norfolk, VA, USA in February 1946. After the war the US authorities attempted to sell the former Fleet Air Arm Reliants as "war surplus",  but no one could buy them because the AT-19 had never been certified as a Civilian Aircraft. Vultee bought them all up and certified them as the V-77. This was Vultee's 77th design. As a result all of the wartime Reliants are known as V77's instead of SR-10s. Vultee had to "remanufacture" them to comply with the type certificate. This consisted of removing the military equipment, painting over the British roundels, painting on a US "N" civil number and selling them. All the V77's show a manufacture date in 1946 and the factory started new logs, so the military logs are not associated with the individual airplanes.

Fleet Air Arm history
        Stinson Reliant
        Total FAA 1939-1945:        500
        First delivered to RN:          1944
        First squadron 1939-1945:    759 sqdn 1944
        Operational squadron:          None
        Last served with RN            postwar up until 1946. All returned to USA

250 Stinson AT-19 Reliant I under Contract No. DA1072-10
Serial Numbers: FB523-FB772. Ex USAAF 43-43964-44213

First 6.44 Station Flight Henstridge (FB544)
First sqdn 759 sqdn at Yeovilton 8.44-4.45
Last 415 aircraft returned to Norfolk, VA USA in Feb 1946.

250 Stinson AT-19 Reliant I under Contract No. DA-1072
Serial Numbers: FK814-FL163. Ex USAAF 43-43964-44213

First 5.1943 752 sqdn at Piarco (FK814)

With over 400 former Fleet Air Arm aircraft returned to the USA after the war as reverse Lend-Lease, many Reliants have survived around the world, and may be as many as 120 RN survivors. However, little research has been undertaken and only a few of the aircraft have confirmed RN history including at least 3-4 former Fleet Air Arm Stinsons. See the World Stinson Database Page.

Known surviving former Fleet Air Arm Reliants include:

• FB536 extant now as SE-BZP (Sweden)
• FB605 extant in US marked "FK810"  returned postwar to US as BuAer 11608. In WWIII RNARY Coimbatore Ferry Flight 1944-1945.
• FK882 extant at the War Eagles Air Museum (USA)
• FB644 extant at Tucson in 1987. N87675. Returned to US postwar as BuAer11406 (c/n 77-372). In WWII was part of Station Flight Crimond 1945.
• Another former Fleet Air Arm Stinson, N-70012  has been under restoration for display status by Air Restoration Inc, Museum and Aircraft Restoration Facility

The known former FAA Stinson is FB536 which was recorded as being delivered from Anthorn to SF Zeals on 15 June 1945. It later became OO-NUT then SE-BZP and was for sale in Norway in 1995.
Former Fleet Air Arm Reliant N-70010 airworthy till 1991 under restoration by Air Restoration Inc (USA).

Fleet Air Arm Reliant AT19 FK882 preserved at the War Eagles Air Museum (USA)

War Eagles Air Museum RELIANT: The Museum’s "AT-19 Reliant" served with the British Fleet Air Arm under the Lend-Lease programme. It was used for navigator, observation, training, communications, and covert operations in  northern Europe. The aircraft also saw service in Ceylon, Trinidad, Australia, China, and India by the end of WWII.

Another former Fleet Air Arm Stinson, N-70010  has been under restoration for display status by Air Restoration Inc, Museum and Aircraft Restoration Facility on consignment from "MARC".  Aircraft was flown to Air Heritage in 1991 as part of agreement with Mr. Tallichet. To look at the airplane it seemed to be in pristine condition. But after inspection panels were removed for maintenance it was discoverd that corrosion was in fact taking control of the airplane. It was then decided to do a total tear down of the aircraft. As with many tail draggers left outside unattended the corrosion was the worst in the rear areas of the wing and tail. Also the wood working in the floor and other areas such as forming stringers was not in the best of shape. Also during its life since leaving the Royal Navy, the cabin area had been changed to a more accepted civil version. It was decided to return the cabin area to as close as when it served including reinstalling the camera and mount. Micro-film from the Smithsonian provided the information. Work has been slow over the last seven years but the aircraft is very close to going back together.
 

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre: Preserved Stinson Reliant CF-BGN

A large number of Reliants survive in Museums around the world. An airworthy Reliant is preserved at the National Aviation Museum (Canada)  Mk C-FHAW but not flown recently, other museum examples include the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum (Stinson Reliant V-77, AT-19 MANUFACTURED: 1942), and the  Virginia Aviation Museum (Serial 5903).

In addition there are often Reliants sold on the market and it is even poossible to have please rides in Reliants. Others take part in the Air Venture Oshkosh  and in the AirVenture 2000 Antique Awards one of the winners was Stinson Reliant SR-6A (NC15127)

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre: Preserved Stinson Reliant CF-BGN The Stinson SR-9 first flew in 1937.  CF-BGN originally flew with the Ontario Provincial Air Service and was obtained by the CBHC from Green Airways in Red Lake, Ontario and is currently being restored as a static display.

The National Aviation Museum (Canada):  The museum example C-FHAW was built in 1933 and its first owner was the well known William Lear of Learjet fame. After passing through the hands of several private and commercial operators in the United States, it was registered in Canada in 1953. It continued to fly commercially until purchased by the museum in 1983.

Reliant N-21135 Preserved Virginia (USA)

Virginia Aviation Museum (Serial 5903)
This Reliant was originally owned by American Airlines and was powered by a
300 hp Lycoming radial engine and is painted in an American Airlines early paint
scheme. (Serial #5903).

FOR SALE

In 1998 a Reliant for sale: 1937 Stinson Reliant SR-9B by Plane and Pilot Advertisers for $135,000 (1998)

Flights are possible with Classic Adventures in a 1944 closed cabin 1944 Reliant (Charlotte County Airport, Punta Gorda, Fl (USA)

• International Stinson Club

• Southwest Stinson Club

• National Stinson Club

115 Heinley Road
Lake Placed, FL 33852
USA
(813) 465-6101

• WAE WWW Message Board: Looking for names/locations of any pilots (most likely British Royal Navy but some U.S. Army) who may have logged any time at all in Stinson AT-19's (also known as Stinson "Reliant" or "Gullwing") during WWII. Logbook entries would be most helpful. I am trying to gather information for the owners of the few remaining Stinson AT-19 aircraft. The actual stories are most interesting as well we are trying to match actual aircraft serial numbers with wartime locations and dates. Any correspondence is appreciated. Thank you. Question posted by Bryan Pender  (pender@airmail.net) on Sunday, November 30 at 12:21 AM EST

 
• Follow-Up posted by Andrew Wallace (Wallace192@aol.com) on Wednesday, October 14 at 08:36 PM EDT: Trawling through the Net I caught sight of the Stinson Reliant name and it brought back many happy memories. I was not a pilot but was in the Air Training Corps during the latter part of the war and we had many flights in this make of plane at HMS Condor, the RNAS at Arbroath. I was in 38F Perth Squadron ATC and the Reliant made a welcome change from the open cockpit Tiger Moths at the Flying Training School at Scone, near Perth Might also have flown in Reliants at HMS Merlin, Donibristle, Fife --- the lapse in time tends to blur memories. I am at present keyboarding this message about 100 yards south of the old runway at "Donnybee" --- never thought 55 years ago I would eventually be living "on the field" Regards to all who flew in the Lysander-like Reliant. Andy.

Created 3-4-1999, Modified 3-4-2000

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