The Forgotten Stinson: Model A Tri-motor

XAVIER MÉAL

IN THE EARLY 1930S, the race was on for the development of a fast, comfortable airliner to take advantage of the growing passenger market that the Ford Tri-motor had earlier proven to be viable. By 1934, when the Stinson A Tri-motor took to the air, both the Boeing 247 and the Douglas DC-2 were flying and earning their keep. Even so, American Airlines operated at least 16 of the 31 A Model Stinsons built. The Stinson’s three 260hp Lycoming R-680 engines carried the two-man crew and eight passengers at 163mph, which earned the airplane the title of “America’s fastest and most economical airliner.” Besides being especially good on short runways, the Stinson only cost $37,500 against $65,000 for a DC-2. The Douglas DC-2, and then DC-3, quickly dominated the entire…

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Flight Journal (Digital) - 1 Issue, January - February 2022

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