The Stinson 108 Voyager Stinson 108 Model Identification http://personalpages.tdstelme.net/~westin By Larry Westin - January 28, 1996 UPDATED - Rev J - 10/06/05 Six different Models of the Stinson 108 were built with these serial numbers assigned. Please note exceptions below. Serial Numbers as Delivered to the customer by Stinson Total Model Serial Numbers Built Remarks ----- -------------- ----- ------------------- 108 108-1 & 108-2 (2) Two model 108 prototypes (converted model 10A airplanes). Production Stinson 108 Serial Numbers (built 1946-1948) 108 108-1 thru 108-742 741 150 hp Franklin minus 108-11 108-1 108-743 thru 108-2249 1507 150 hp Franklin plus 108-11, minus 108-1474 108-2 108-2250 thru 108-3500 1252 165 hp Franklin plus 108-1474 108-3 108-3501 thru 108-5260 1759 165 hp Franklin minus 108-4693 108-4 108-4693 see note below 1 190 hp Lycoming Total model 108's built by Stinson 5260 Univair 108-5 Serial Numbers (built 1963) 108-5 108-5001 ?? 17 ?? 180 hp Franklin Total known Serial Numbers - 5260 - NOT including the 2 converted prototypes or the single model 108-5 serial number (which duplicates a 108-3 serial number) I am aware of. Two prototypes were converted from company owned model 10A Voyagers. Registrations were NX31519 and NX31532 respectfully. Both these airplanes were scrapped by 1948. FAA records list them as serial numbers 1 and 2, but there was also production serial numbers 1 and 2. Uncertain of 108-5 serial numbers so only the first aircraft built by Univair is listed. It is no longer on the register. Janes All The Worlds Aircraft, 1976-1977, indicates a prototype and at least 17 production model 108-5's were built up to 1 March 1976. Serial Number Exceptions Serial number 108-11, built during the 108 run, is listed as a 108-1, it is the prototype for the 108-1 model. Serial number 108-1474, built during the 108-1 run, is listed as a 108-2, it is the prototype for the -2 model. Serial number 108-3100 is listed in the type certificate sheets as a 108-1, it was originally built as a 108-2 and its data plate continues to show it as a 108-2. About two years after it was built the engine was replaced with a Franklin 150 HP and given FAA (then CAA) field approval. Apparently the FAA decided that the lower HP engine effectively made it a 108-1. The airplane continues to have the rudder bungee applied only to the 108-2. My thanks to Bob Winters, current owner of sn 108-3100, N8100K, for providing this information. A Special Stinson 108-2, Serial Number 108-1563 Photographs show this airplane heavily modified, and at one time I thought it to be the 108-4 prototype. This is serial number 108-1563. This particular airplane was used for extensive development work, accomplished by Consolidated Vultee at San Diego. Most noticeable is its use of a single wing strut and the "big" tail later used on the 108-3. Other changes included a Lycoming 190 Hp engine, and tests with several different propellers, including a three bladed propeller. This airplane was converted back to a standard model 108-2 before delivery. Most of the modifications to this airplane appeared on the model 108-3. The single lift strut was not used in production. Thanks to Bill Stoos, of Mulberry, Florida, current owner of this airplane, for taking the time to research N8563K's paperwork. The Model 108-4, Serial Number 108-4693 Production records show that serial number 108-4693 is the prototype for the model 108-4. These records list only a "Spec. Engine, Special Prop, jettisonable doors, equipped for floats, and special panel." Registration of this airplane was NX149C. John Wegg, author of "General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors," provides the following data about the model 108-4. "Model 108-4 remained a proposal with a geared, higher-powered Franklin Engine." The production records I have indicate only a "special engine" was installed in the 108-4, no other details. It may have been a higher powered geared Franklin mentioned by John Wegg. A total of 5260 production Stinson 108's can be identified by serial number. This does NOT include any of the new 108-5 production by Univair. All Stinson 108's were built by Stinson, some 325 were included in the sale of the Stinson Division to Piper in December 1948. See the note about the 108-5 serial number under Approved Type Certificate below, as the serial numbers seem identical with serial numbers for the 108-3. Approved Type Certificate number 767 Models 108, 108-1, 108-2, 108-3 and 108-5 are all certified under ATC #767. Model 108-4 was built as a prototype only and is NOT listed on ATC #767. See serial number 108-4693 info above. The current type certificate sheet A-767, is dated July 14, 2005, Rev. 27, lists the eligible serial numbers for the model 108-5 as 108-3501 and up, same as 108-3's. Janes All The Worlds Aircraft, 1976-1977, indicates a prototype and at least 17 production model 108-5's were built up to 1 March 1976. Janes also shows a photograph of a 108-5, N5576V. My understanding is that Univair Aircraft in Aurora, Colorado, current holder of the type certificate, built only one 108-5. N5576V is not a Stinson in the current register, but apparently was given serial number 108- 5001. Tail Differences One major identification point of Stinson 108's is the tail. Models 108, 108-1 and 108-2 have a small tail. Models 108-3 and 108-5 have a much larger tail and are frequently referred to as big tail Stinsons. Another acronym for the larger tail is "tall tail." While a couple different publications indicate late model 108-3's, those delivered by Piper, had a smaller type tail. Everyone who has contacted me about very late serial number 108- 3's say they have the standard "big tail." Registrations Numbers Originally allocated registration numbers are listed below. When ranges are shown the numbers were allocated in blocks, but not all were used. For example serial number 108-4981 was sold in Mexico before delivery and assigned Mexican registration XB-JEY. Consequently registration NC6981M, which would have been assigned to serial number 108-4981 if the aircraft was registered in the U.S., was never used from the factory on a Stinson. Assigned "N" ("NC") number ranges as Delivered by Stinson --------------------------------------------------------- Serial Number Range Registration Prototype serial number 1 NX31519 Prototype serial number 2 NX31532 108-1 thru 108-10 NC87600 thru NC87609 108-11 NC39420 108-12 NC39433 108-13 NC39443 108-14 NC39445 108-15 NC39447 108-16 NC39453 108-17 thru 108-24 NC39461 thru NC39468 108-25 NC40109 108-26 NC39480 108-27 NC39495 108-28 thru 108-29 NC39497 thru NC39498 108-30 NC26494 108-31 thru 108-38 NC40101 thru NC40108 108-39 NC39470 108-40 thru 108-129 NC40110 thru NC40199 108-130 thru 108-999 NC97130 thru NC97999 108-1000 thru 108-1129 NC97000 thru NC97129 108-1130 thru 108-2870 NC8130K thru NC9870K 108-2871 thru 108-2999 NC871D thru NC999D 108-3000 thru 108-3129 NC8000K thru NC8129K 108-3130 thru 108-3999 NC130C thru NC999C 108-4000 thru 108-4692 NC6000M thru NC6692M 108-4693 NX149C 108-4694 thru 108-4999 NC6694M thru NC6999M 108-5000 thru 108-5260 NC4000C thru NC4260C NOTE - serial number 108-3149 was exported to Mexico as XB-HEJ, so the normal sequential registration number, N149C, was not allocated. When Stinson built the 108-4 prototype, serial number 108-4643, rather than use the in sequence registration number, they elected to use the unallocated registration number but making it experimental "NX149C." Assigned "N" number ranges as Delivered by Univair -------------------------------------------------- Serial Number Range Registration 108-5001 N5576V (Duplicate serial number) My thanks to Ray Schwarz for correcting the "N" numbers on serial number 108-25 and 108-39. If you can provide any corrections or updated information please contact me, I look forward to hearing from you. My address is below. Postal Address E-Mail Larry Westin Larry Westin 233 Pratt Road westin@tdstelme.net Newport, Maine 04953