Serial Number

Model

Registration

Date of Manufacturing

ATC

Price (USD)

Engine

Propeller

Current Status

History

By way of Atlanta Georgia Ryan Dealer, W.H. Irwin, the airplane was sold new to Homer Stockert, Stockert Flying Service, South bend, Indiana on January 23rd, 1936. He in turn sold it on September 28th, 1937 to Andrews P. Bell and Charles L. Davis and the airplane was then based at the Motor City airport in Detroit.

Mr Davis used the plane for aerobatics and air shows, and also for teaching aerobatics. He then made it into a Sky writer, for use in the Detroit and Southern Michigan area. He wrote “PIX” in quarter mile long smoke letters 10,000 feet above Detroit’s east side. There is no indication as to what “PIX” meant.

He sold the aircraft to Fred B. Simms, and A.L. Vance in February, 1940. Simms had spotted the airplane at an air show, and purchased it soon thereafter. Simms used it mainly for pleasure and sold it about June 1940 to the Aircraft Sales Company where it was used to train Air Corps cadets.

It next went to William Steiner about January or February 1945, and sometime later well known movie actor Randall Scott, then living in Long beach, California.

Another popular flyer, Lee Bowman (an aerobatic pilot at Bowles Airport, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1929) flew this ST often. At the time he was owner of General Aircraft sales of Fort Worth, Texas, where the aircraft was used to train navy instructors.

Eventually it was purchased by Joel McNeal and again restored to flying condition. McNeal sold it to captain (Frontier Airlines) Charles S. Callahan of Denver, Colorado about February 1964.

In August 1965 it was sold to Walter R. Miller of Mitchell, South Dakota. Miller did some more rebuilding, and then sold it to Thomas H. Berry in early 1966. Berry had an unusual experience shortly after he purchased the Ryan. While towing the main parts on a car trailer from South Dakota to his home in Kansas City the trailer blew a tire. The whole thing flipped over doing major damage to the fuselage and it required extensive work to repair. One night after working on the ship in his shop he left for home. He was attached by a bunch of “hoods” who stomped his hands, broke every finger, and beat him up generally.

Nothing has been heard from him since. FAA records showed that he owned it as of July 14th, 1972. The present owner via FAA records is shown as Gordon Autry of Lakewood, Colorado. Now Deceased.

Ownership History

• W.H. Irwin, Atlanta, Georgia;

• Homer Stockert, South Bend, Indiana;

• Andrews P. Bell & Charles L. Davis, Detroit, Michigan;

• Fred B. Simms & A. L. Vance, Huntington, West Virginia;

• Aircraft Sales Company, Fort Worth, Texas;

• William Steiner, Fullerton, California;

• Randall M. Scott Jr., Long Beach, California;

• Hank Antosh and R MacAloon, Los Angeles, California;

• Joel McNeal, Chula Vista, California;

• Charles S. Callahan, Denver, Colorado;

• Walter R. Miller, Mitchell, South Dakota;

• Thomas H. Berry, Kansas City, Missouri;

• Gordon Autry, Lakewood, Colorado

Current Ownership

Mr. Gordon Autry (Mrs. Marbella Autry)

Notes

Mr Gordon Autry was the Founder of Rocky Mountain Airways, he passed away March 10th, 2012

In a conversation with Mrs Marbella Autry, October 4th, 2013, Mrs Autry confirmed that the aircraft was still owned by the family, and is currently stored with the wings removed. She said it is maintained in beautiful condition, and is currently red and white.

Photo Gallery