![Stinson 105 [HW-75] Voyager - Aeropedia The Encyclopedia of Aircraft](https://aeropedia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Stinson-105-HW-75-Voyager_Aeropedia-The-Encyclopedia-of-Aircraft-1170x570.jpg)
Photograph:
Stinson 105 (HW-75) VH-ACZ (c/n 7139) in 1940 in Melbourne, VIC (CAHS collection)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Three-seat cabin monoplane
Power Plant:
One 56 kw (75 hp) Continental A75-3 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 10.36 m (34 ft)
- Length: 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.01 m (6 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 14.4 m² (155 sq ft)
- Max speed: 169 km/h (105 mph)
- Cruising speed at 85% power at 1,463 m (4,800 ft): 161 km/h (100 mph)
- Landing speed with flaps: 69 km/h (43 mph)
- Stalling speed no flaps: 80 km/h (50 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 131 m/min (430 ft/min)
- Service ceiling: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
- Cruising range at 75% power at 1,463 m (4,800 ft): 563 km (350 miles)
- Empty weight: 419 kg (923 lb)
- Loaded weight: 717 kg (1,580 lb)
History:
The Model 105, also known initially as the HW-75, was introduced to the range of aircraft produced by the Stinson Aircraft Division of the Aviation Manufacturing Corporation in April 1939. The prototype first flew in February 1939 as a two-seater fitted with a 37 kw (50 hp) Lycoming engine, although it was designed to take the 56 kw (75 hp) Lycoming GO-145-C unit. However, this engine was not available and the 56 kw (75 hp) Continental was substituted.
Of rugged construction, the Model 105 had slotted wing flaps and fixed ‘wing slots’ for better handling at low speeds. Orders immediately commenced to flow in and production was three aircraft per day. By 1940 an improved engine of 60 kw (80 hp) was installed, and various detail changes were made. In 1940 production switched to the Model 108 Voyager, which was initially fitted with a 67 kw (90 hp) Franklin engine. Of mixed construction, the fuselage was of welded chrome-molybdenum steel tube with fabric covering, the wing comprising spruce spars and aluminium alloy ribs, also fabric covered.
Two examples were imported to Australia: VH-ACZ (c/n 7139) was first registered in April 1940, had a number of owners, and at one stage was fitted with a Le Blond 90F radial engine. Other owners included Messrs C Holmes of Inverell, NSW, C W Long of Adamstown, NSW and D C Hilder of Merewether, NSW. It was withdrawn from service in July 1964 and at some stage it was taken to the Australian Museum of Flight at Nowra, NSW for eventual restoration. Its present whereabouts is not known.
The other, VH-ACX (c/n 7078), was first registered in November 1939 and was damaged when it crashed at Ivanhoe in western NSW in September 1952. This machine has been restored to airworthiness and is based in Queensland. In the late 1990s an example was imported to New Zealand as a project, this aircraft NC23719 (c/n 7214), being formerly owned by American pilot Roscoe Turner, to be restored to airworthiness at Omaka. As at 2019 work was continuing.