Stearman 4EM Senior Speedmail

  • Period: Interwar (1919-1938)
  • Uses: Mail Delivery
  • First Flight: September 4, 1929
  • Display Status: On the Museum Floor.

The Stearman 4 is considered by some to be the ultimate civil biplane in North America. The Stearman 4 was the first North American production aircraft to use the new aerodynamically efficient NACA engine cowl . In their heyday, Stearman 4s were the fastest aircraft in Canadian skies, even faster than the RCAF Siskin fighters.

Forty Stearman 4s were built. The largest fleet belonged to American Airlines. Canadian Airways operated four 4EM mailpanes on its eastern Canada routes in the early 1930s.

Museum Example

  • Registration #: CF-AMB
  • Manufacturer: Stearman Aircraft Company, United States
  • Manufacture Date: 1930
  • Construction #: 4021
  • Aquisition Date: 1970
  • Provenance: Purchase

The Museum version was built as a Model 4E in 1930. It operated as a corporate aircraft until modified to a cropduster in 1944. Imported into Canada in 1965, it was restored as a Model 4EM and flown in 1969. The aircraft was presented to the Museum in 1970.

Specifications

Wing Span:
11.6 m (38 ft)
Length:
8 m (26 ft 4 in)
Height:
3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Weight, Empty:
1,113 kg (2,455 lb)
Weight, Gross:
1,785 kg (3,936 lb)
Cruising Speed:
216 km/h (134 mph)
Max Speed:
254 km/h (158 mph)
Rate of Climb:
427 m (1,400 ft) /min
Service Ceiling:
5,490 m (18,000 ft)
Range:
966 km (600 mi)
Power Plant:
one Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp SC, 450 hp, radial engine