// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Stearman C3 say? "I'm plane tired".
| Stearman C3 | |
|---|---|
 Stearman C3B | |
| General information | |
| Type | three-seat light commercial biplane |
National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Stearman Aircraft |
| Designer | |
| Status | 5 |
| Primary user | air mail and commercial companies |
| Number built | 179 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1927 |
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.[1]
Development
[edit]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.[1]
Introduced in 1928, the C3 was powered by a variety of engines of between 128 hp (95 kW) and 225 hp (168 kW), each version having its own designation.[2] 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.[citation needed]
Although there were several versions of the C3, most were either the C3B and the C3R. A few C3s were approved for float operations.[1]: 59, 198–199
Operational history
[edit]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.[3]
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.[4][5][6][7] (see: Richard Halliburton#Flying Carpet expedition)
Variants
[edit]Data from:Airlife's World Aircraft,[2] Aerofiles:Stearman[8] Variants produced were:
- C1
- First of the C series powered by a Curtiss OX-5, later re-engined with a 240 hp (179 kW) Menasco-Salmson radial as the C1X. One built.[8]
- C2
- Four aircraft similar to the C1, with the radiator mounted underneath, hydraulic shock absorbers and dual controls. Variously powered by 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5, Wright-Hisso A, Wright Whirlwind and Menasco-Salmson radial engine.[8]
- C3B Sport Commercial
- 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J5 radial engine.[8]
- C3C
- 150 hp (112 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E engine.[8]
- C3D
- 180 hp (134 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E engine. 1 delivered.[8]
- C3E
- 190 hp (142 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E2 engine[citation needed]
- C3F
- 190 hp (142 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E3 engine.[8]
- C3G
- 190 hp (142 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E4 engine.[citation needed]
- C3H
- 260 hp (194 kW) Menasco-Salmson air-cooled engine.[8]
- C3I
- 160 hp (119 kW) Curtiss C6 engine.[citation needed]
- C3K
- 128 hp (95 kW) Siemens-Halske Sh 12.[8]
- C3L
- 130 hp (97 kW) Comet 7D radial engine. 1 built, later converted to C3B.[8]
- C3MB
- C3B with forward cockpit enclosed for mail carrying.[8]
- C3P
- 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J5 Whirlwind radial engine.[8]
- C3R Business Speedster
- 225 hp (168 kW) Wright J6.[9][8]
Operators
[edit]
Aircraft on display
[edit]
- Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington[10]
- Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum has a 1928 model Stearman C3B NC8830[11]
Specifications (C3B)
[edit]Data from [12]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 2 passengers
- Length: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.68 m)
- Height: 9 ft 0 in (2.75 m)
- Empty weight: 1,650 lb (748 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,650 lb (1,202 kg)
- Powerplant: × Wright J5 , 220 hp (160 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 126 mph (203 km/h, 109 kn)
- Cruise speed: 108 mph (174 km/h, 94 kn)
- Range: 620 mi (1,000 km, 540 nmi)
- Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
See also
[edit]
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
[edit]Related lists
[edit]References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- 1 2 3 Phillips, Edward (2006). Stearman Aircraft: A Detailed History. North Branch, MN: specialtypress. pp. 57, 64–67. ISBN 9781580070874.
- 1 2 Simpson, 2001, pp. 520–521.
- ↑ Davies 1998, p. 142.
- ↑ "Halliburton Plans World Flight,", January 15, 1931, New York Times, retrieved June 21, 2026
- ↑ Gilliam, Ron: Richard Halliburton and Moye Stephens: Traveling Around the World in the ‘Flying Carpet’ May 2004, Aviation History (as republished June 12, 2006 on HistoryNet.com), retrieved June 21, 2026
- ↑ Halliburton, Richard" The Flying Carpet, (1932, Garden City Publishing, Garden City, NY)
- ↑ "STEARMAN C-3B NR882N," on the "Grand Central Air Terminal" history website, retrieved June 21, 2026
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Eckland, E.O. "Stearman". aerofiles.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- ↑ Grey, C.G., ed. (1931). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 317c–318c.
- ↑ Museum of Flight. "Stearman C-3B - Manufacturer was Stearman Aircraft Company". Museumofflight.org. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ↑ Ken Olsson. "Our Stories". Waaamuseum.org. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ↑ Simpson 2001, p. 521.
Bibliography
[edit]- Davies, R.E.G. Airlines of the United States since 1914. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1998. ISBN 1-888962-08-9.
- Simpson, Rod. Airlife's World Aircraft. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Stearman C3 at Wikimedia Commons