The story
Stinson's answer to the Ford: three radial engines, a high wing and about ten passengers, flown by American Airways, Delta and a string of smaller lines in the early 1930s. It carried passengers for a few short years before modern airliners swept it aside. Almost all of them are gone. Seeing one in the air is seeing an airline from before airlines looked like airlines.
Stinson built 53 of them. Only two are known to survive, which makes this one of the rarest airliners still able to fly.
Quick answers
How do you identify a SM-6000 Tri-Motor?
Like a smaller, smoother Ford Tri-Motor: three radials (one in the nose, one under each wing above the main wheels), a strut-braced high wing, and a smooth skin instead of corrugated metal.
What does a SM-6000 Tri-Motor sound like?
Three small radials in a lopsided chorus, the soundtrack of 1930s air travel.
How fast is the SM-6000 Tri-Motor?
Top speed is 127 kts.
How many people does the SM-6000 Tri-Motor carry?
Typical configuration: Pilot + about 10 passengers.
How far can the SM-6000 Tri-Motor fly?
Range is about 339 nmi.
How big is the SM-6000 Tri-Motor?
It is 42 ft 0 in long and 60 ft 0 in across the wings.
When did the SM-6000 Tri-Motor first fly?
Its first flight was in 1930.
How many SM-6000 Tri-Motors have been built?
53 built.
How rare is a SM-6000 Tri-Motor in Bogey?
LEGENDARY. The top tier. Spotters plan trips around a catch like this. Your first SM-6000 Tri-Motor catch is worth 1,000 points.
