Ryan B-1 Brougham
Ryan Airlines / B.F. Mahoney Aircraft · United States · first flew 1927 · light aircraft
The Ryan B-1 Brougham was an American high-wing cabin monoplane of 1927, directly derived from the Ryan NYP ('Spirit of St. Louis') and produced in meaningful numbers for the early airline and private market.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.78 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- high-wing cabin monoplane
- Wright Whirlwind radial engine
- enclosed four-seat cabin
Shares the classic high-wing strut-braced layout of its era but is distinguished by the fully enclosed four-seat cabin with its relatively large side windows. The long-chord wing and deep fuselage give it a proportionally stocky look compared to the slender NYP.
Specifications
- The Ryan B-1 Brougham has a length of 8.78 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.11 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 209 km/h (130 mph).
- Typical crew: 1+3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Following the success of Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in the custom Ryan NYP, B.F. Mahoney Aircraft (successor to Ryan Airlines) produced the Brougham as an enclosed-cabin development with Wright Whirlwind power. It offered a genuine weather-capable enclosed cabin at a time when open cockpits were still common.
Variants
The B-1 was the initial production model; the B-3 had a more powerful J-6 Whirlwind and minor refinements.
Where you'll see it
Sold to small airlines, charter operators, and wealthy private owners in the US and Latin America in the late 1920s.
Related aircraft
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