Stearman C3

Stearman C3
	Stearman C3B
Role	three-seat light commercial biplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Stearman Aircraft
Designer	Lloyd Stearman
First flight	1927
Status	a few are still airworthy
Primary user	air mail and commercial companies
Number built	179

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

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 and 225 hp, 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

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]

Variants

Data from:Airlife's World Aircraft,^[2] Aerofiles:Stearman^[4] 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.^[4]
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.^[4]

C3B Sport Commercial: 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J5 radial engine.^[4]
C3C: 150 hp (112 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E engine.^[4]
C3D: 180 hp (134 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E engine. 1 delivered.^[4]
C3E: 190 hp (142 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E2 engine^{[citation needed]}
C3F: 190 hp (142 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E3 engine.^[4]
C3G: 190 hp (142 kW) Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E4 engine.^{[citation needed]}
C3H: 260 hp (194 kW) Menasco-Salmson air-cooled engine.^[4]
C3I: 160 hp (119 kW) Curtiss C6 engine.^{[citation needed]}
C3K: 128 hp (95 kW) Siemens-Halske Sh 12.^[4]
C3L: 130 hp (97 kW) Comet 7D radial engine. 1 built, later converted to C3B.^[4]
C3MB: C3B with forward cockpit enclosed for mail carrying.^[4]
C3P: 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J5 Whirlwind radial engine.^[4]
C3R Business Speedster: 225 hp (168 kW) Wright J6.^[5]^[4]

Operators

Peru

Peruvian Air Force^{[citation needed]}

Aircraft on display

Stearman C3B in 1927 markings of Western Air Express airmail route CAM 12 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle

Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington^[6]
Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum has a 1928 model Stearman C3B NC8830^[7]

Specifications (C3B)

Data from ^[8]

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)

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c Phillips, Edward (2006). Stearman Aircraft: A Detailed History. North Branch, MN: specialtypress. pp. 57, 64–67. ISBN 9781580070874.
^ ^a ^b Simpson, 2001, pp. 520–521.
^ Davies 1998, p. 142.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m 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

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

Media related to Stearman C3 at Wikimedia Commons

The Stearman C-3 by Peter M. Bowers

[ep-1] Phillips, Edward (2006). Stearman Aircraft: A Detailed History. North Branch, MN: specialtypress. pp. 57, 64–67. ISBN 9781580070874.

[Simpson_pp._520–521-2] Simpson, 2001, pp. 520–521.

[3] Davies 1998, p. 142.

[Aerofiles_Stear-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Eckland, E.O. "Stearman". aerofiles.com. Retrieved December 27, 2018.

[JAWA1931-5] Grey, C.G., ed. (1931). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1931. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 317c–318c.

[6] Museum of Flight. "Stearman C-3B - Manufacturer was Stearman Aircraft Company". Museumofflight.org. Retrieved July 21, 2012.

[7] Ken Olsson. "Our Stories". Waaamuseum.org. Retrieved July 21, 2012.

[8] Simpson 2001, p. 521.

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