The Stinson 108-4 Voyager
           http://personalpages.tdstelme.net/~westin
              By Larry Westin - December 22, 2002
                   UPDATED - Rev B - 12/26/02

For many years I have read of references to a Stinson 108-4, but
no book I've seen provided anything more than a guess about what
changes existed with the model 108-4.  David Talley generously
provided me with the production records for all Stinson 108
aircraft built.  Researching these records I came across the
mysterious 108-4; the airplane really did exist.
 
From the production records provided by David Talley I learned
that serial number 108-4693 was the model 108-4.  Further
research showed no other aircraft listed as a -4, so apparently
there was only one aircraft modified to this standard.

Production records didn't provide a completion date, but it was
built during 108-3 production.  If the airplane had been
delivered as a 108-3 the registration number would have been
N6693M.  Stinson Division of Consolidated Vultee elected not to
use that registration, which was never issued to any Stinson. 
Instead Stinson used the registration NX149C.  Registration N149C
was made available to Stinson as part of a batch reserved for
108-2 aircraft.  Normally it would have been issued to serial
number 108-3149, but this aircraft was sold in Mexico and
allocated the registration XB-HEJ, so NX149C was available.

I requested all the CAA paper work for this aircraft from the
FAA.  CAA paperwork indicates the airplane was completed on April
4, 1948, just two days after the 108-3 models with serial numbers
before and after the 108-4.  The aircraft was registered to
Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, Stinson Division, Van
Born Road, Wayne, Michigan.  The CAA approved the aircraft for
flight on April 21, 1948 with certain limitations.  CAA operation
limitations stated "Certificated for the purpose of testing
preparatory to type certificate."  Designation is for land or
sea.  The operation limitation was good for 6 months, expiring on
Oct. 21, 1948.  So by late April 1948 Stinson was apparently
testing the follow on to the model 108-3.

A this time the airplane is listed as having a Franklin 
6AGA-190-B13 engine with serial number T-367.  I have no
information on this specific engine, but suspect it was rated at
190HP.  Information I have for the Franklin 6AGA-185-B12 engine
shows it to be 185HP, geared at .63 propeller revolution for each
engine revolution.  Rated horsepower at 3100 RPM.

On December 15, 1948 a Bill of Sale was completed which
transferred ownership of Stinson 108-4, serial number 108-4693,
to Piper Aircraft Corporation, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania for the
sum of "$1.00 and other valuable considerations." On December 27,
1948 the Stinson 108-4 was officially register to Piper Aircraft.

Another application for airworthiness certificate appears on
April 21, 1949, this time with Piper Aircraft listed as the
owner.  At this point the engine is listed as a Franklin 6AL-335,
with 172HP shown.  The 172 is circled and 185 entered next to it. 
The operations limitations the same as original, purpose to type
certificate, with an expiration of April 21, 1950.

No further information is shown in current FAA records until
September 19, 1949, when Piper Aircraft wrote a letter to the CAA
to cancel the files on two aircraft, 108-3 N6757M, and 108-4
NX149C.  Piper indicates both aircraft were dismantled for use as
parts.

Two letters from the CAA, one dated September 30, 1949, the other
dated October 5, 1949, indicate the CAA did in fact drop the
airplane from the register.

Production records provide a few more details.  The airplane was
a Station Wagon model, the 108-4 prototype, had float fittings, a
special engine, special prop, jettisonable doors, and a special
instrument panel.

Homepage visitor Sherman Oxford some years back sent me a drawing
labeled 108-4, Stinson drawing 108-3001300, Revision J, dated
July 26, 1948.  It is a side view of a Stinson 108.  Obvious
difference is in the cabin door, which appears to have a "wind
wing" type window not found on other Stinson 108's.  Other than
the window difference, the door appears identical to the 108-3.
Two other changes appear unique to the 108-4 model, the entry
step is different than found on the 108-3, and the fabric just
ahead of the vertical stabilizer incorporated a zipper.  Cannot
tell from the drawing just how far the zipper continued.  My
guess is that the zipper was installed to permit an easier, with
far better ability to inspect and or repair the fuselage around
the vertical stabilizer.  

This is all the information I've been able to dig up on this
aircraft.  If you can add information, or find any errors with
this information, please contact me at the address (either E-Mail
or Postal Mail) below.  

Good Luck - Larry Westin

Postal Address               E-Mail
Larry Westin                 Larry Westin
233 Pratt Road               westin@tdstelme.net
Newport, Maine
U.S.A.   04953