Plane #7 - The Ryan ST.

The plane is a Ryan ST or STA. Built by the Ryan company down on the San Diego airport (Lindbergh Field. Ryan I believe, made the Spirit of St Louis, Lindbergh trans Atlantic plane.) Towards the end of the depression Ryan designed and built 2 all metal planes. The Ryan St and the Ryan SC. The SC model, a 2 place side by side cabin plane.) never really caught on, but the ST became very popular. Ryan pushed the ST as a trainer to replace the old biplanes like the Stearman. The ST designation stood for Sport Trainer. The STA model I believe was a 150 HP.

When pre WW11 activity started to pick up, Ryan started a military contract school on the desert northeast of San Diego. The Ryan St production expanded rapidly. The engines were all 4 cylinder in line and inverted engines. Most in line engines were inverted with the crankshaft at the top and the cylinder heads at the bottom. This put the propeller higher for ground clearance. Menasco engines were built in Southern California around Glendale.

An Aside Here. The Ryan ST was my first love. I read everything about them including all the technical data. One year Tex Rankin won the aerobatic championship in a Ryan ST. I was ecstatic! Ryan ruined the plane as it was redesigned to AAF standards. They widened the fuselage to meet cockpit measurement requirements, they put a 5 cylinder Kinner radial engine in it. And worst of all they did not 'fair' in the landing gear. It made it look like they never finished it at the factory.

But the Air force loved it!