Planes

THIS AWARD WINNING STINSON V77 GULLWING WAS FOUND IN PIECES BY A SKILLED PILOT/CRAFTSMAN WHO PAINSTAKINGLY RESTORED IT OVER A SEVEN YEAR PERIOD. DURING THE RESTORATION IT WAS RE-BUILT TO AS GOOD AS NEW CONDITION. HE MADE MANY IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS CHANGING AND REPLACING ALL WINDOWS WITH NEW SAFETY GLASS AND NEW SIDE WINDOWS AND FRAMES. A SECOND ROLLUP WINDOW WAS INSTALLED ON THE CO-PILOT SIDE. A NEW INTERIOR INCLUDING SEATS, HEADLINER, AND SIDEWALLS WAS INSTALLED. IT IS A THREE TIME NATIONAL AWARD WINNER AT THE ANNUAL ANTIQUE AIRPLANE ASSOCIATION FLY-IN AT BALKESBURG, OHIO. THE PLANE IS SO WELL BUILT AND RIGGED IT FLIES STRAIGHT AND TRUE AS IF IT IS ON AUTOPILOT. THIS PLANE DERSERVES TO BE IN THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM. IT IS THAT GOOD AND THAT RARE WITH A CONNECTION TO ITS PRIOR MILITARY HISTORY WHEN IT WAS KNOWN AS THE AT-19. IN 1941 STINSON, A DIVISION OF CONSOLIDATED VULTEE, RE-ENGINEERED THE RELIANT SR-10, A MOSTLY WOOD FRAME AIRPLANE, TO AN ALL METAL AIRFRAME WITH FABRIC COVERING. THEIR HOPE WAS TO WIN A CONTRACT AS THE ARMY AIR FORCE (AAF) SOUGHT AN ADVANCED TRAINER. THE STINSON AT-19 WAS BORN. IN THE END THE AAF PREFERRED THE TANDEM SEAT TRAINERS SUCH AS THE BT-13 AND PT-17 AND AT-6 TEXAN. STINSON WAS NOT DETERRED. THEY WERE SUCCESFUL IN GETTING THE AT-19 ACCEPTED BY THE ROYAL NAVY'S FLEET AIR ARM UNDER THE LEND LEASE ACT. ABOUT 500 AT-19'S WERE BUILT. THEY WERE USED IN RECONNAISANCE, OBSERVATION, AND SUBMARINE HUNTING. ONLY A FEW ARE STILL FLYING TODAY. IN 1946 THE FEW AT-19'S THAT SURVIVED THE WAR WERE TAKEN BACK BY STINSON AND CONVERTED TO A FIVE PLACE EXECUTIVE TRANSPORT AIRPLANE AND GIVEN A NEW TYPE CERTIFICATE AS THE V-77 FAMOUS FOR ITS UNIQUE "GULLWING". MANY CORPORATIONS USED THEM FOR CORPORATE TRAVEL FOR THEIR EXECUTIVES. FAMED MILITARY AND CIVIL AVIATOR JIMMY DOOLITTLE FLEW THE V-77 AFTER THE WAR

The Stinson V-77 is a light utility aircraft that saw extensive use during World War II, especially for training and utility roles. It was produced by the Stinson Aircraft Company, which was a division of Vultee Aircraft.