Serial Number
Model
Registration
Date of Manufacturing
ATC
Price (USD)
Engine
Propeller
Current Status
322 (490)
ST-A
NC-18923
September 1939
$7807.00
Menasco C-4 125 HP SN 390 Menasco D4-87 SN 1421 Super Pirate D4B
Sensenich 80-R1 SN 8147
Airworthy
History
Sold on September 30, 1939 as a fly away delivery to Allen Hancock College of Aeronautics. Options included a ROC indicator, a T&B indicator, and a sensitive altimeter. The Airplane was purchased with a trade in ST, NC-14954 S/N 110, with $2500.00 allowed on the new airplane. Total cost to Hancock was $5307.00. Hancock used it mainly for student instruction at the college. The red “imitation” leather trim, backpacks and cushions were specified as installed new on manufacture.
Supplemental Factory documentation mistakenly lists SN 322 as an STM-125
About 1940 it was purchased by the Charles H. Babb company, and resold on August 31, 1940 to Fred Smith, of the Amarillo Air Service. The plane was substantially damaged in an accident in September 1940, and required a complete rebuild. Both stub wings, and wing assemblies were replaced, along with the LH and RH Landing gear assemblies. Shortly thereafter it was again damaged, this time by fire, on the left side.
July 1941 it was sold again to Webb’s Flying Service, of Boise Idaho. Shortly after purchase the aircraft was involved in a minor accident, where the landing gear was damaged in a forced landing.
Next owner appears to have been the Standard Aircraft Company, but not confirmed and then Jack W. Medlin. It was used in the CPTP program.
One record also shows it may have been owned by Caldwell during January 1944, at this time it had a total airframe time of 1706.25 Hours. They paid $4000.00 for the aircraft.
S/N 322 was then obtained by J.M. (Mark) Hoskins, who used it for airshows and pleasure, during which time it was painted all up white with gold trim.
Hoskins had an accident, and practically totalled the aircraft.
This is possibly the accident which occurred while the aircraft was being flown at an airshow by Capt. Jim Moss, a Northwest Airlines pilot, (account to follow)
There is an accident report on file with the FAA, dated 65/5/31, at Olympia, WA. The aircraft is described as undershooting, and colliding with wires on final approach / landing, and suffering substantial damage. No doubt yet another engine failure.
Hoskins learned of an STM-2 in Hong Kong, SN 490, purchased it and brought it back to the U.S.A. and went to work salvaging both aircraft. S/N 490 was basically only a few parts and the fuselage. The result of all the airframe parts became S/N 322, N18923.
Next Owner was Louis W. Dixon, obtaining the aircraft from the Hoskins estate. The ownership after Mr. Dixon to present day indicates that the aircraft has had at least one more complete rebuild. Details required.
Ownership History
- Allen Hancock School of Aeronautics, Santa Maria Airport, Santa Maria, California.
- Charles H. Babb Company, Ryan Dealer, Glendale, California.
- Fred Smith, Amarillo Air Service, Amarillo, Texas.
- Webb’s Flying Service, Municipal Airport, Boise, Idaho.
- Standard Aircraft Company, Central Airport, Los Angeles, California.
- Jack Medlin, Caldwell Flying Service, Caldwell, Idaho.
- J.M. “Mark Hoskins, Tacoma, Washington.
- Louis W. Dixon, Tacoma Washington.
- John Schwamm. Anchorage, AK.
- Plane Fun Inc. TR Trustee, of Snellville, Georgia.
- Dr. Kay Herzog, Quax Flieger, Paderborn, Germany.
- Peter Holloway, England.
Current Ownership
Peter Holloway
Operated from Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Airfield, Bedfordshire, UK
Notes
At one time in its life, N18923 possibly had a ranger engine installed, where and when unknown.
The actual fuselage from S/N 322 is with Fred Barber, Stone Mt. Georgia, in storage. Condition unknown.
Via a note in the October 2005 issue of the Ryan Reflections newsletter:
1939 Ryan ST-A N18923 s/n 322, owned by John Schwamm, IRC923. Recently restored and, as of September 21,2005, with over 20 hours on it and “most bugs flown off.”
As of November 2015, there are now 3 airworthy Ryan ST’s in the United Kingdom. ST-A S/N 118, and STM-2 S/N 458 (143) and ST-A S/N 322 (490)
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