Ryan M
Ryan Airlines · United States · first flew 1926 · airliner
The Ryan M was an American high-wing monoplane used in the mid-1920s for mail and passenger services, representing an early attempt to carry fare-paying passengers in an enclosed cabin on US domestic routes.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.32 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1920s American high-wing mail and passenger monoplane
- Strut-braced parasol wing over an enclosed cabin
- Ryan Airlines early airliner used by early US services
Large parasol-wing monoplane with a covered cabin forward and open mail/cargo area; the proportions noted here (22 m length, 36 m span) appear significantly larger than documented values and may be erroneous in source data.
Specifications
- The Ryan M has a length of 7.32 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Ryan Airlines of San Diego developed the M in 1926 and used it on a mail contract route between Los Angeles and Seattle. The type led directly to the Ryan B-1 Brougham, a refined version that itself inspired Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St Louis commission from the same company.
Variants
The Ryan M-1 was the baseline; the M-2 was a refined variant with a more powerful engine.
Where you'll see it
The Ryan M served on early US air mail and limited passenger routes during 1926-1927; it was a commercially important type for the nascent US airline industry.
Related aircraft
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