Stinson NX8563K
              By Larry Westin - March 9, 1996

"The Stinsons," a pictorial history by John Underwood, page 76 in
the third printing, has a picture of a Stinson Voyager, NX8563K. 
This airplane, serial number 108-1563, is unusual for several
reasons.  Most noticeable is that the airplane is equipped with a
single lift strut, using only the front lift strut.  Careful
examination of the cowling shows what appear to be two bumps,
which are additional air cooling for the engine.

NX8563K first flew in January 1947 and spent the first six months
devoted to test work.  According to the airplanes' records the
test work was conducted at the Consolidated San Diego factory
rather than Wayne, Michigan, where the airplane was built.  The
engineering drawings originated in San Diego.

The single lift strut demanded changes to the wing.  Additional
strengthening of the wing plus shear reinforcement was added to
the fuselage tubing immediately behind the rear seats.  Although
the airplane documentation indicates the reinforcement behind the
rear seats was removed, the current owner, Bill Stoos, tells me
he found the reinforcing pieces still in the airplane.

February 1947 a Lycoming O-435A 190 Hp engine was installed. 
Several propellers were tested on the airplane.  These included
propellers with different pitches and even included the test of a
three bladded propeller.  Changes in the cowling provided
increased air flow over the cylinders.

This was the test airplane for the "Big Tail" vertical stabilizer
and rudder, later used on the production models 108-3 and 108-5.

After test work was complete the test wings were removed and
replaced by standard wings.  The "Big Tail" was replaced with a
standard 108-2 tail.  A Franklin 165 Hp engine, serial number
30083, replaced the Lycoming engine on April 10, 1947.  With all
the test parts replaced the airplane reverted to a standard "NC"
license, NC8563K and sold.

As of this writing the airplane is still active as a standard
Stinson Voyager 108-2.

The unanswered question is: Was this the airplane identified as
the model 108-4?  If anyone can shed light on this subject please
contact me.  My E-Mail is  westin@tdstelme.net

My Thanks to Mr. Bill Stoos, of Mulberry, Florida, the current
owner of N8563k, who was kind enough to review the airplanes'
records for me.