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Ryan Brougham

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The Ryan Brougham was a small single-engine airliner produced in the United States in the late 1920s and early 1930s.[1] It hearkened back to the M-1 mailplane that Ryan first produced in 1926, and like it, was a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane of conventional design.[1]

Design and development

Unlike the M-1, however, the Brougham had a fully-enclosed cabin for the pilot and four passengers.[1] The Brougham prototype was derived from the later M-2 and was powered by a 150 hp Hisso [3226] engine. Originally priced at $12,200, the price was reduced to $9,700 when fitted with a Wright J-5, and $5,750 with Hisso. One Brougham was fitted with floats. [2]The only common parts between the famous Spirit of St. Louis and the first Ryan B-1s were the tail surfaces and a few of the wing fittings. Later B-1 Brougham production versions had no common parts.[2]

Operational history

Prior to Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in the Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, interest in the B-1 Brougham had led to the first orders, initially to a local hotel owner, but when Frank Hawks, a well-known pilot expressed an interest, the first production aircraft, "The Gold Bug" became his. Lindbergh had come to the factory to examine the first B-1 but had instead ordered a completely new aircraft to his specifications. In the aftermath of the record-breaking transatlantic flight, Hawks renamed the first aircraft, the "Spirit of San Diego" and flew to Washington with his wife on board, to greet the triumphant Lindbergh. In the ensuing glare of publicity, Hawks was hired by the Ryan Aircraft company to be its official representative.

With the public idolizing Lindbergh, Hawks toured the country, selling rides in the aircraft "like Lindy flew." His Spirit was actually painted gold, but looked the part to the public.[3] Another reason for the success of the Brougham was its performance at the 1927 National Air Races in Spokane, Washington where Hawks, who had obtained a contract with Maxwell House Coffee, with the now renamed "Miss Maxwell House" came in first for speed in the Detroit news Air Transport Speed and Efficiency Trophy Race.[3] Later, at the 1928 Ford Tudor Reliability Trial and Air Tour, Hawks placed sixth in "Miss Maxwell House".[4]

Hawks popularized the type, which stimulated demand amongst small airlines and charter operators.[5] The Brougham not only sold well in the domestic market, but was exported to China, Guatemala, Mexico and Salvador.[5] Production peaked at 20 per month[1] but was eventually halted by worsening economic conditions in the United States[4] that led to the sale of the Ryan factory in October 1930.[6]

In 2001, only two complete Broughams were preserved,[7] one at the San Diego Air & Space Museum,[8] and the other at the Cradle of Aviation Museum (modified to represent Spirit of St. Louis)[9] Over the next few years, restoration work on another three machines was underway; one by the Yanks Air Museum[10] and two by Scott Gifford of Prescott, Arizona.[11] One the latter machines had been specially modified in September 1927 by replacing the passenger cabin with a cage to transport MGM mascot Leo the Lion on a transcontinental flight.[11] Although the Brougham crashed en route, neither the pilot nor Leo were injured.[11]

Variants

  • B-1 - initial production version with Wright J-5 engine (ca 150 built)[12]
  • B-2 - one-off version with extended wingspan for Charles Lindbergh promotional tour (1 built)[12]
  • B-3 - version with roomier cabin, sixth seat and larger tail (9 built)[12]
  • B-5 - production version with Wright J-6 engine (61 built)[12]
  • B-7 - version with Pratt & Whitney Wasp engine (8 built)[12]

Operators

Data from: Munson 1982a, p. 129.

Specifications (B-1)

Template:Aerospecs

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Taylor 1989, p. 772.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ryan Brougham." www.aerofiles.com, 25 November 2008. Retrieved: 3 March 2009.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Daniels 1969, p. 45.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Munson 1982a, p. 129.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Munson 1982b, p. 24.
  6. ↑ The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft 1985, p. 2835.
  7. ↑ Stoff 2001, p. 20.
  8. ↑ "Collections"
  9. ↑ "Ryan NYP 'Spirit of St. Louis'"
  10. ↑ "Aircraft Restoration"
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Hearn 2006
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Taylor 1989, p. 773.

Bibliography

  • "Aircraft Restoration." Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 3 March 2009.
  • "Collection." San Diego Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 3 March 2009.
  • Daniels, C.M. "Speed: The Story of Frank Hawks." Air Classics, Vol. 6, No. 2, December 1969.
  • Hearn, Gail. "A Brougham fit for a King." Air & Space, 1 March 2006. Retrieved: 3 March 2009.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1985.
  • Munson, Kenneth. Airliners from 1919 to the Present Day. London: Peerage Books, 1982a. ISBN 0-90740-836-2.
  • Munson, Kenneth. U.S. Commercial Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing, 1982b. ISBN 0-86720-628-4.
  • "Ryan NYP 'Spirit of St. Louis'." Cradle of Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 3 March 2009.
  • Taylor, Michael J.H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989. ISBN 0-51710-316-8.

Template:Ryan aircraft

v • d • e
Lists relating to aviation
GeneralTimeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
MilitaryAir forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable incidents
and accidents		Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths
RecordsFlight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft
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