Stinson Junior
Stinson Aircraft · United States · first flew 1928 · light aircraft
The Stinson Junior was a cabin monoplane produced by Stinson Aircraft in the late 1920s and early 1930s, designed to offer a smaller and more affordable alternative to the company's larger Detroiter transport. Its enclosed cabin and radial engine made it one of the more comfortable private aircraft of its era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.84 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Braced high-wing cabin monoplane with a Warner Scarab or Lycoming radial engine
- Enclosed four-seat cabin with large windows and a flat windscreen
- Fabric-covered wings with prominent jury struts and a wide undercarriage stance
The braced high tapered wing, enclosed cabin with wide windows, and large radial engine under a long-chord cowling identify the Junior; it is larger and more angular than the smaller Heath-type parasol designs of the same period.
Specifications
- The Stinson Junior has a length of 8.84 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.7 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 217 km/h (135 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot, up to 3 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Stinson introduced the Junior around 1928 to tap the growing market for private and business flying. Several sub-variants were produced under designations such as the SM-2, SM-7, and SM-8, differing principally in engine choice between the Warner Scarab, Lycoming R-680, and Wright Whirlwind radials. Production continued into the early 1930s.
Variants
The Junior family included the SM-2 (Warner Scarab), SM-7 (Lycoming), and SM-8A (Wright Whirlwind) among others, each named 'Junior' in marketing but distinguished by the SM designation series.
Where you'll see it
Operated widely by private owners and small air taxi services across the United States during the late 1920s and 1930s; some examples served as personal transports for business executives during the early aviation boom.
Related aircraft
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