Stout SM-1 Detroiter
Stout Metal Airplane Company · USA · first flew 1924 · airliner
The Stout SM-1 Detroiter was an early all-metal American commercial monoplane that flew the first scheduled airmail service operated by Henry Ford and served as the direct ancestor of the Ford Trimotor.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Single radial engine on the nose of a boxy rectangular-section fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early all-metal high-wing monoplane airliner with a corrugated Duralumin skin
- Single radial engine on the nose of a boxy rectangular-section fuselage
- Fixed tailskid undercarriage with large exposed main wheels
The corrugated Duralumin skin covering the entire airframe — wings, fuselage and tail — is the dominant recognition feature, giving a distinctively ridged appearance unlike fabric-covered contemporaries. The high straight wing is thick and unbraced. The boxy rectangular fuselage has a slab-sided profile. Large spoked wheels on fixed V-strut undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Stout SM-1 Detroiter has a length of 14.6 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.3 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 177 km/h (110 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + 8 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
William Bushnell Stout designed the Detroiter for Ford's fledgling airline operation, drawing on Junkers all-metal corrugated-skin construction philosophy. Henry Ford's investment in Stout Metal Airplane Company led directly to the formation of Ford Air Transport Service, which began airmail operations in 1925. The design's success convinced Ford to develop the larger, three-engined Ford 4-AT Trimotor.
Variants
SM-1 (initial single-engine version); a twin-engine development preceded the full Trimotor concept.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Ford Air Transport Service on Detroit–Chicago and Detroit–Cleveland airmail routes from 1925; small numbers also flew in early commercial passenger operations.
Related aircraft
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