Timeline Flight 7 -- Stinson SR-9C Reliant “Gull Wing”

With the approach of Civil Air Patrol's 80th anniversary Dec.1, Maj. Ronald C. Finger of the Minnesota Wing's Crow Wing Composite Squadron worked with Col. Frank Blazich of the Col. Louisa S. Morse Center for Civil Air Patrol History, CAP national historian, on a special project -- to create “Timeline Flight” paintings showcasing some of the wide variety of CAP aircraft flown over the years.

The 21 aircraft selected span the Coastal Patrol days of World War II, the postwar years and finally the aircraft Civil Air Patrol aircrews fly today. This is the seventh. Others will be posted every four days.

Stinson SR-9C Reliant “Gull Wing” NC18423

• Capacity: 4-5
• Length: 27 feet 11 inches
• Maximum speed: 188 mph
• Cruise speed: 140 mph
• Range: 850 miles
• Service ceiling: 21,000 feet

The Reliant is a high-wing, fixed tail-wheel, land monoplane powered with a variety of radial engines and made from 1933-1941. The taper-wing Reliant had a significant step-up between the fuselage and the wing, which gave it a distinct “gull wing” appearance from the front. The SR-9C was powered by a 260-horsepower Lycoming R-680-B5 engine under its traditional “bump” cowl.

Coastal Patrol Base 10 aircraft featured a unit decal with a flying Texas longhorn, nostrils smoking, diving on a German U-boat.

NC18423 flew out of CAP Coastal Patrol Base No. 10 in Beaumont, Texas.

Sikorsky S-39B
Stinson 105-10A Voyager
Beechcraft Staggerwing B-17L 
Waco YKS-6
Fairchild 24-C8F
Grumman G-44A Widgeon