Serial Number

Model

Registration

Date of Manufacturing

ATC

Price (USD)

Engine

Propeller

Current Status

History

Chester B. Rains, purchased the airplane new while a student at the Ryan School on September 7th, 1937. He was enrolled in the commercial pilot course. Later on he used the plane for air show and barnstorming work, throughout the Midwest. Interesting to note is the fact that Rians purchased another Ryan, NC17303,

(SN 137) in 1945 with a partner; William Hambrough.

While performing an air show on July 3rd, 1938 Rians recalled at the conclusion of the act he nosed over upon landing in a “cow pasture” airport, flipping over on his back, doing extensive damage to airplane, (fin and rudder, propeller and landing gear). Another incident while flying over the mountains near San Diego, he thought he switched the fuel selector valve lever to main and instead he turned it off. He had a few anxious moments as the engine sputtered and until he discovered his error.

Rians eventually sold the Ryan to Earl D. McDowell, who was the proprietor of the “Talk of The Town” night club and nude dancers in Peoria. The nightclub was associated with noted gangsters, as well as violence and criminal activity. McDowell then sold it in May 1940 to the Oklahoma Military Academy of Claremore, Oklahoma. McDowell was later charged with Murder in 1949 over the beating death of a patron in his night club.

The next owner appears to have been the American Aeronautical Institute, sometime between August 1940 and April 1942. In June 1942 it was owned by the Air Activities Company.

The in 1943 (?) it was sold to Frank Medlin who used it in the CPTP program with several other ST`s. It was reported to have been in an accident in 1944 in either Utah or Idaho.

The plane finally ended up in a public school in Vernal, Utah as a classroom prop and was eventually scrapped. According to Charles L. Freeman, records show that it was purchased with Federal Funds and run through Salvage at Hill Field, Utah, and written off in that way. No further details known final disposition unknown.

Papers now owned by Fred L. Barber, of Smithville, MO.

Ownership History

• Ryan School of Aeronautics, San Diego, California;
• Chester B. Rians, Peoria, Illinois;
• Earl D. McDowell, Peoria, Illinois;
• Oklahoma Military Academy, Claremore, Oklahoma;
• American Aeronatical Institute, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri;
• Air Activities, Inc., Houston, Texas;
• Frank Medlin, Caldwell, Idaho;
• Public School (name Unknown), Vernal, Utah.

Current Ownership

Fred Barber

Notes

Via FAA records Registration NC17362 is shown as cancelled, with a last registered owner shown as:

Defence Plant Corp.

Lafayette Building, 811 Vermont Ave., Washington, USA 20571

No dates are shown associated with registry or cancellation but the ownership with DPC would most likely have been during 1940-1944?

Photo Gallery