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The Pitcairn Mailwings


 

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing
Photo: Florida State Archives

Pitcairn PA-7 "Super Mailwing"
Photo: Florida State Archives

PA-5 Mailwing

PA-5 Mailwing

PA-5 Mailwing

PA-5 Mailwing
Gear Detail

PA-7 Super Mailwing

PA-7A Sport Mailwing

PA-7A Sport Mailwing

PA-7A Sport Mailwing

PA-7A Sport Mailwing

PA-7A Sport Mailwing


PA-5 "Mailwing" Specifications

Gross Weight                                 2810 lb
Empty Weight                                 1612 lb
Baggage                                       500 lb
Baggage Volume                              22 cu ft
Seats                                              1

Length (overall)                     21 ft 10-1/2 in
Height (overall)                           9 ft 0 in
Span (upper)                              33 ft 0 in
Span (lower)                              30 ft 0 in
Gap at fuselage                                62 in
Stagger                                        22 in
Wing Area                                  252 sq ft

High Speed                                   131 mph
Cruise Speed                                 112 mph
Stall Speed                                   45 mph

Rate of Climb                              1,100 fpm
Ceiling                                    18,000 ft

Powerplant                      Wright J5-9 (220 hp)
Fuel (standard)                             56.5 gal
Fuel (s/n 3, 4 & 5)                           75 gal
Oil                                            6 gal

Type Data ATC 18 Year of Introduction 1927 Price $9,850


PA-5 "Sport Mailwing" Specifications

Gross Weight                                2,620 lb
Empty Weight                                1,612 lb
Useful Load                                 1,008 lb 
Seats                                              3

Length (overall)                     21 ft 10-1/2 in
Height (overall)                           9 ft 0 in
Span (upper)                              33 ft 0 in
Span (lower)                              30 ft 0 in
Gap at fuselage                                62 in
Stagger                                        22 in
Wing Area                                  252 sq ft

High Speed                                   131 mph
Cruise Speed                                 112 mph
Stall Speed                                   45 mph

Rate of Climb                              1,100 fpm
Ceiling                                    18,000 ft

Powerplant                      Wright J5-9 (220 hp)
Fuel (standard)                             56.5 gal
Fuel (s/n 3, 4 & 5)                           75 gal
Oil                                            6 gal

Type Data ATC 18 Year of Introduction 1927 Price $10,000


PA-6 "Super Mailwing" Specifications

Gross Weight (standard)                     3,000 lb
Gross Weight (s/n 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7)           2,812 lb
Empty Weight                                1,612 lb
Baggage                                       500 lb
Baggage Volume                              40 cu ft

Length (overall)                     22 ft 10-1/2 in
Height (overall)                           9 ft 3 in
Span (upper)                              33 ft 0 in
Span (lower)                              30 ft 0 in
Gap at fuselage                                63 in
Stagger                                        22 in
Wing Area                                  252 sq ft
Seats                                              1

High Speed                                   128 mph
Cruise Speed                                 109 mph
Stall Speed                                   52 mph

Ceiling                                    16,000 ft
Rate of Climb (initial)                      900 fpm
Range                                         600 sm

Powerplant                      Wright J5-9 (220 hp)
Fuel (standard)                             62.5 gal
Fuel (alternate configuration)              71.5 gal
Fuel (alternate configuration)              80.0 gal
Oil (standard)                               8.5 gal
Oil (alternate configuration)               10.5 gal

Type Data ATC 92 Year of Introduction 1928


PA-6 "Sport Mailwing" Specifications

Gross Weight (standard)                     3,050 lb
Gross Weight (s/n 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7)           2,812 lb
Empty Weight                                1,612 lb

Length (overall)                     22 ft 10-1/2 in
Height (overall)                           9 ft 3 in
Span (upper)                              33 ft 0 in
Span (lower)                              30 ft 0 in
Gap at fuselage                                62 in
Stagger                                        22 in
Wing Area                                  252 sq ft
Seats                                              3

High Speed                                   128 mph
Cruise Speed                                 109 mph
Stall Speed                                   52 mph

Ceiling                                    16,000 ft
Rate of Climb (initial)                      900 fpm
Range                                         600 sm

Powerplant                      Wright J5-9 (220 hp)
Fuel (standard)                             62.5 gal
Fuel (alternate configuration)              71.5 gal
Fuel (alternate configuration)              80.0 gal
Oil (standard)                               8.5 gal
Oil (alternate configuration)               10.5 gal

Type Data (early models) Memo 2-22 Type Data (late models) ATC 92 Year of Introduction 1928


PA-7M "Super Mailwing" Specifications

Gross Weight                                3,050 lb
Empty Weight                                1,820 lb
Baggage                                       636 lb
Baggage Volume                              42 cu ft
Seats                                              1

Length (overall)                          23 ft 9 in
Height (overall)                       9 ft 6-1/2 in
Span (upper)                              33 ft 0 in
Span (lower)                          30 ft 3-1/2 in
Gap at fuselage                                62 in
Stagger                                        22 in
Wing Area                                243.5 sq ft
Seats                                              1

High Speed                                   155 mph
Cruise Speed                                 135 mph
Stall Speed                                   57 mph

Rate of Climb                                900 fpm
Range                                         520 sm

Powerplant                     Wright R-760 (250 hp)
Fuel                                          63 gal
Oil                                            6 gal

Year of Introduction                            1929
Type Data                                    ATC 196
Price                                         $8,550
Number Produced                                   12


PA-7S "Supper Sport Mailwing" Specifications

Gross Weight                                2,950 lb
Empty Weight                                1,820 lb
Baggage                                       196 lb
Seats                                              3

Length (overall)                          23 ft 9 in
Height (overall)                       9 ft 6-1/2 in
Span (upper)                              33 ft 0 in
Span (lower)                          30 ft 3-1/2 in
Gap at fuselage                                62 in
Stagger                                        22 in
Wing Area                                243.5 sq ft
Seats                                              3

High Speed                                   155 mph
Cruise Speed                                 135 mph
Stall Speed                                   57 mph

Rate of Climb                                900 fpm
Range                                         520 sm

Powerplant                     Wright R-760 (250 hp)
Fuel                                          70 gal
Oil                                            6 gal

Year of Introduction                            1929
Type Data                                    ATC 196
Price                                         $8,000
Number Produced                                   15


PA-8 "Super Mailwing" Specifications

Gross Weight                                4,000 lb
Empty Weight                                2,294 lb
Baggage Volume                              55 cu ft
Seats                                              1

Length (overall)                         24 ft 10 in
Height (overall)                           9 ft 9 in
Span (upper)                              35 ft 0 in
Span (lower)                              32 ft 0 in
Gap at fuselage                                63 in
Stagger                                        22 in
Wing Area                                  278 sq ft
Seats                                              1

High Speed                                   145 mph
Cruise Speed                                 122 mph
Stall Speed                                   60 mph

Rate of Climb                              1,100 fpm
Range                                         600 sm

Powerplant (standard)           Wright J6-9 (300 hp)
Powerplant (alternate)          P&W Wasp Jr (300 hp)
Fuel                                          90 gal
Oil                                            8 gal

Year of Introduction                            1930
Type Data                                    ATC 364
Price                                        $12,500
Number Produced                                    6


Pitcairn "Mailwing" Production

S/N     Model         Registration(s)
1       PA-5          NC2895
2       PA-5          NC1515
3       PA-5          NC3320
4       PA-5          NC3465
5       PA-5          NC3466
6       PA-5          NC3467
7       PA-5          NC3468
8       PA-5          NC3469
9       PA-5          NC3835
10      PA-5          NC3836
11      PA-5          NC3837
12      PA-5          NC3838
13      PA-5          NC4231
14      PA-5          NC4232
15      PA-5/PA-6     NC129E
16      PA-5          NC4234
17      PA-5          NC4235
18      PA-5          NC4233
19      PA-5          NC500
20      PA-5          NC5062
21      PA-5          NC5117
22      PA-5          NC5129
23      PA-5          NC5564
24      PA-5          NC5636
25      PA-5          NC5863
26      PA-5          NC5677
27      PA-5          NC5808
28      PA-5          NC6617
29      PA-5          NC6618
30      PA-5          NC6708
?       PA-5          NC94

1       PA-6          NC7152
2       PA-6          NC13912, NC19
3       PA-6          NC13913, NC20
4       PA-6          NC7557
5       PA-6          NC7866
6       PA-6          NC7867
7       PA-6          NC7868
8       PA-6          NC7965
9       PA-6          NC7966
10      PA-7M         NC7967
11      PA-6          NC36E
12      PA-6          NC37E
13      PA-6          NC38E
14      PA-6          NC127E
15      PA-5/PA-6     NC129E
16      PA-6          NC128E
18      PA-6          NC215E
19      PA-6          NC298E
20      PA-6          NC338E
21      PA-6          NC353E
22      PA-6          NC354E
23      PA-6          NC355E
24      PA-6          NC482E
25      PA-6          NC483E
26      PA-6          NC585
27      PA-6          NC557E
28      PA-6          NC643E
29      PA-6          NC644E
30      PA-6          NC680E
31      PA-6          NC681E
32      PA-6          NC682E
33      PA-6          NC683E
34      PA-7          NC684E
35      PA-6          NC210H
36      PA-6          NC211H
37      PA-6          NC212H
38      PA-6          NC213H
39      PA-6          NC214H
40      PA-6          NC800H
41      PA-6          NC801H
42      PA-6          NC802H
43      PA-6          NC803H
44      PA-6          NC804H
45      PA-7M         NC545K
46      PA-6          NC546K
47      PA-6          NC547K
48      PA-6          NC548K
49      PA-5S/PA-6    NC549K
50      PA-7S         NR213M
51      PA-6/PA-7S    NC68M
52      PA-6/PA-7S    NC69M
53      PA-6/PA-7S    NC70M
54      PA-7S/PA-7M   NC71M
55      PA-6          NC878M
56      PA-7M         NC877M
57      PA-7M         NC876M
58      PA-7S         NC824N
59      PA-6          NC875M
60      PA-7M         NC825N
61      PA-7M         NC826N

140     PA-7M         NC351V
141     PA-6B         NC377V
142     PA-7M         NC378V
143     PA-7S         NC53W
144     PA-7S         NC54W
145     PA-6          NC93W
146     PA-7M         NC94W
147     PA-7S         NC95W
148     PA-7S         NC96W
149     PA-7S         NC97W
150     PA-8          NX10056
151     PA-7S         NC10375, NC13158
152     PA-7S         NC10376
153     PA-7S         NC10377
154     PA-6          NC10378
155     PA-7S         NC10379
159     PA-6          NC15307
161     PA-8          NC10750
162     PA-8          NC10751
163     PA-8          NC10752
164     PA-8          NC10753
165     PA-8          NC10754

Pitcairn "Mailwing" Production Summary

Model       Number Produced
PA-5              32
PA-6              53
PA-6B              1
PA-7M             10
PA-7S             14
PA-8               6


Pitcairn Mailwing Links

National Air and Space Museum has the Pitcairn PA-5 Shown Above
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome has the Pitcairn PA-7 Shown Above
Pitcairn PA-5 page at the Virginia Science Museum

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