Stinson 108

The Stinson 108 is a popular single-engine, four-seat, light general aviation aircraft produced by the Stinson division of the American airplane company Consolidated Vultee, from immediately after World War II to 1950 (by which time Stinson was a division of Piper Aircraft). The 108 was developed from the prewar Model 10A Voyager (also known as the "Stinson 105").<ref name="simpson"/><ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood">Underwood, John: "The Voyager," Chapter XI, in The Stinsons: A pictorial history by John Underwood, 1976 (3rd printing 1982), Heritage Press, Glendale, California, pp.72-76, 79-80; Template:SBN, Template:LCC</ref><ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag">McDowell, Jason: "Approachable Aircraft: Stinson 108," April 12, 2021, Flying Magazine, retrieved September 30, 2023</ref><ref name="stinson_2020_11_15_aopa_org">Schapiro, Steve: "Aircraft Spotlight: The Stinson 108 Combines the Romance of Early Aviation with Utility," November 15, 2020, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, retrieved September 30, 2023</ref>

First built in 1946<ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood" /><ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" /> – as a stretched derivative of the Model 10A / 105 Voyager<ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood" /> – more than 5,000 of the model 108 Voyager (or Station Wagon) were produced by Stinson, before the company was acquired by Piper Aircraft in late 1948.<ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood" /><ref name="used_aircraft_1979_ethell">Ethell, Jeffrey: Used Aircraft Guide, 1979, Chas. Scribner's Sons, NY, p.76, Template:ISBN</ref><ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" />

When Piper took over the 108 line, a number of model 108sTemplate:Efn built by Stinson were completed, but unsold, and went to Piper as part of the acquisition. Piper then sold that inventory as the Piper-Stinson over the next few years.<ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood" /><ref name="used_aircraft_1979_ethell" /><ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" /> Some reports appear to indicate that 108 production<ref name="used_aircraft_1979_ethell" /> and/or sales<ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood" /><ref name="used_aircraft_1979_ethell" /><ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" /> continued under Piper until 1949,<ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood" /><ref name="used_aircraft_1979_ethell" /> 1950<ref name="stinson_2020_11_15_aopa_org" /> or 1951.<ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" />

In all, 5,260 Stinson (or Piper-Stinson) 108s were reportedly builtTemplate:Efn<ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" /><ref name="buyers_guide_2006_clarke" /><ref name="stinson_2020_11_15_aopa_org" /> Most models were named "Voyager" (like the preceding 10A/105),<ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood" /><ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" /> but some were named "Station Wagon,"<ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" /><ref name="stinson_2020_11_15_aopa_org" /> reflecting interior modifications to accommodate cargo.<ref name="stinson_2020_11_15_aopa_org" />

Design and development

The single-engine, four-seat, fixed-gear, high-wing, Stinson 108 series was built with a six-cylinder Franklin engine -- Template:Convert 6A4-150, or Template:Convert 6A4-165, normally -- driving a fixed-pitch propeller.<ref name="the_stinsons_1976_underwood" /><ref name="used_aircraft_1979_ethell">Ethell, Jeffrey: Used Aircraft Guide, 1979, Chas. Scribner's Sons, NY, p.76, Template:ISBN</ref><ref name="stinson_2021_04_12_flyingmag" /><ref name="stinson_2020_11_15_aopa_org">Schapiro, Steve: "Aircraft Spotlight: The Stinson 108 Combines the Romance of Early Aviation with Utility," November 15, 2020, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, retrieved September 30, 2023</ref>

The fuselage is of fabric-covered steel tube. Aftermarket modifiers have obtained supplemental type certificates (STC) allowing conversion to an aluminum covering. Many different engines have been installed in the 108 by STC such as the Lycoming O-360, Franklin O-350, Continental O-470.<ref name="wam"/>

File:Stinson 108-2 HB-TUR.jpg

Swiss Stinson 108-2 at Manchester Airport, England in 1950. This earlier model has the shorter vertical fin with curved trailing edge.

One distinctive feature is the partial leading edge slot installed on the wings and aligned with the ailerons on the trailing edge, ensuring that the portion of the wing containing the aileron remains unstalled at higher angles of attack, thus contributing to docile stall behavior.Template:Citation needed

The 108 initially proved popular, with 746 examples built in 1946, while production in 1947 was almost half of all 4-seat private aircraft built in the United States, with the Stinson division the only part of Convair that was profitable for a time.<ref name="weggp11843">Template:Harvnb</ref>

In 1948, however, overproduction in the US general aviation industry led to a glut of light aircraft, with unsold 108s being stored, and on 30 June 1948, Convair shut down the Stinson factory. The name and assets of Stinson (including 200 unsold 108s) were sold to Piper Aircraft on 1 December 1948, with Piper setting up a Stinson division in April 1949 to sell the complete aircraft inherited from Convair, and to assemble a further 125 aircraft from spare parts. These aircraft were marketed as Piper-Stinson 108s.<ref name="weggp11843"/>

Total new production of the Stinson Model 108, by Stinson, was 5,260; this total does not include the two converted prototypes. Stinson delivered approximately 4,935 aircraft and Piper delivered approximately 325 aircraft.<ref name="stinson"/> Piper later sold the type certificate to Univair Aircraft Corporation. Univair built and certified the model 108-5, but built only one example. Total new model production by Stinson and Univair was 5,261 aircraft.Template:Citation needed

Variants

File:Stinson 108 C-FRGZ.JPG

1946 model Stinson 108 (not a 108-1, 2 or 3)

File:Stinson-108-1-Landing.jpg

1946 Stinson 108-1

The 108 variants closely resemble each other but can be visually distinguished by their design changes:

Prototype 108

Two prototype model 108s were converted from Stinson model 10A airframes. FAA records show NX31519 was model 108 serial number 1, and NX31532 is model 108 serial number 2. Both registrations later changed to NC. The production model straight 108 would also use serial number 1 and 2, so there was for a short period 2 duplicate serial numbers;<ref name="nx31519"/>

108 Voyager 125

Powered by a Template:Convert Lycoming O-235 piston engine.<ref name=JAWA1947/>

108 Voyager 150

Powered by a Template:Convert Franklin 6A4-150-B31, B3 or B4 piston engine.<ref name=JAWA1947>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="weggp143">Template:Harvnb</ref> 742 built in 1946.<ref name="weggp143"/>

108-1

Slightly modified version with external baggage door. 1508 built 1947–1948.<ref name="weggp143"/>

108-2

Powered by Template:Convert Franklin 6A4-165-B3 or -B5. 1250 built from May 1948.<ref name="weggp143"/> There was a conversion kit to add the rudder trim to the earlier airplanes advertised.Template:Citation needed

File:Stinson108-3.jpg

Stinson 108-3

108-3

The 108-3 introduced a taller vertical fin with a rudder featuring a straight trailing edge. Larger fuel tanks (Template:Convert versus Template:Convert) were also fitted. The -3 has a higher gross weight than its predecessors of Template:Convert. 1760 built by Stinson and Piper.<ref name="weggp1434">Template:Harvnb</ref>

108-4

The 108-4 is a higher powered model 108, sn 108-4693, NX149C, not certified, flown experimentally by Stinson, later by Piper, 1 built.<ref name="nx149C"/>

Flying Station Wagon

The "Flying Station Wagon" version was an option available with the -1, -2 and -3 models, had a utility interior <ref name="simpson"/> incorporated wood panelling and a reinforced floor, allowing Template:Convert of baggage in the passenger compartment. The aircraft could be fitted with wheel, float or ski landing gear. The single 108-4 built was a Flying Station Wagon.Template:Citation needed

108-5

A single 108-5 was built by Univair, who purchased the Stinson 108 type certificate from Piper, in 1964. The 108-5 used a Template:Convert Franklin 6A-335-B1 engine. Univair offered kits to convert earlier aircraft to this standard.<ref name="weggp144">Template:Harvnb</ref><ref name="jawa80p448">Template:Harvnb</ref> The 108-5 brought total model 108 production to 5,261, of which 5,135 were built by Stinson, 125 by Piper, and 1 by Univair.<ref name="weggp144"/>

Operators

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• Spanish Air Force operated eighteen 108-3 aircraft, with the designation L.2.<ref name="weggp144"/>

Specifications (108 Voyager 150)

3-view silhouette drawing of the Stinson Voyager 150

References

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book

Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• brochure: The Piper Stinson for '49, George Sutherland Archives Exhibits, Fulton Library, Utah Valley University
• "Stinson", Univair Aircraft Corporation (Stinson 108 type certificate holder).
• "Stinson", Aerofiles.com
• Stinson's Golden Age, Volumes 1 & 2, Wind Canyon Books (one of the two main historical accounts of Stinson Aircraft)