Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing
Pitcairn · United States · first flew 1927 · transport aircraft
The Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing was a purpose-built single-seat airmail biplane that served on US airmail routes in the late 1920s, designed for reliability and speed on the competitive contract airmail system. It was a refined development of Pitcairn's earlier mailplane designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Mail compartment in forward fuselage ahead of cockpit |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-seat open-cockpit mail biplane with large radial engine
- Mail compartment in forward fuselage ahead of cockpit
- Single-bay biplane with N-type interplane struts
The forward mail compartment ahead of the single open cockpit, the large exposed radial engine, and the compact single-bay biplane configuration with N-struts distinguish the Mailwing from contemporary trainers.
Specifications
- The Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing has a length of 6.68 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.06 m (33 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Pitcairn Aircraft developed the Mailwing series specifically for contract airmail operations, with the PA-5 entering service in 1927. The aircraft was designed to carry maximum mail payload efficiently over the eastern US routes operated by Pitcairn Air Transport, which later became Eastern Air Transport.
Variants
The Mailwing series progressed from the PA-5 through the PA-7 Super Mailwing, with each offering improved performance and greater payload; the PA-5 was the primary initial production variant.
Where you'll see it
PA-5 Mailwings flew on several CAM (Contract Air Mail) routes operated by Pitcairn and its successors, forming part of the network that established commercial aviation infrastructure in the eastern United States.
Related aircraft
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